Bible Study - Questions - Why Should I Trust The Bible? - Psalm 119:1-8, 137-144 - February 9, 2014

Bible Study – Questions – Why Should I Trust The Bible? – February 9, 2014

This is lesson four (4) in our series entitled “Questions People Ask.”

Our scripture is Psalm 119:1-8, 137-144.

The only safe place to build your life is on GOD’S Word, the Bible.

The Old Testament was written over 1,000 years and the New Testament over 60 years by one author: GOD but by many scribes. Those who study Old Testament prophesy, regarding the coming of the Messiah, and apply that prophesy to its fulfillment in the life of JESUS, it is undeniably true. The Bible is as relevant today as the day it was written. How can that be possible? The Holy Spirit makes it relevant. GOD is eternal and HE knows all that is going on not only what can be seen but what is going on in the hearts of mankind. Therefore, HIS guidance is beyond our ability.

I recall a story I read many years ago of a man who needed to know what to do about a certain situation and he thought he would use the Bible. He said he would just open the Bible randomly with his eyes closed and place his finger on a verse of scripture and do what it said. He did and his finger landed on “---- and he went out and hanged himself.” The man thought that was drastic and said he would do it again because that could not be correct. So he did and his finger landed on “-- what thou must do, do quickly.” The Bible is not to be used in this fashion but it is to be studied and applied to one’s life as revealed by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

GOD has preserved HIS Word, the Bible, over thousands of years. Those who seek guidance, enlightenment, understanding, application, wisdom and the list goes on, find it in the Bible. The more you read the Bible the more meaningful it becomes.

Let’s explore GOD’S Word!

We know that in Hebrews 4:12 we find:

12 For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the ideas and thoughts of the heart.

In 2 Timothy 3:16-17 we find:

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

In John 1:1-5,

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created. 4 Life was in Him, and that life was the light of men. 5 That light shines in the darkness, yet the darkness did not overcome it.

14 The Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We observed His glory, the glory as the •One and Only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John (the Baptizer) testified concerning Him and exclaimed, “This was the One of whom I said, ‘The One coming after me has surpassed me, because He existed before me.’”)

The author of Psalm 119 is not known but some Bible scholars suggest Ezra, the priest, David and a number of others. It is not as much as who wrote it but seeing the heart of the writer express what he had learned over the years by experiencing the presence of GOD in his life.

Each Christian who has walked with JESUS could write about his or her experience with GOD. Christians need to take Spiritual inventory or pray and ask GOD to search their hearts and reveal their true relationship with HIM. The search within often occurs when we read the Bible.

The Bible is a lamp to guide us through the dark times in our lives and a mirror which reflects our Spiritual growth and maturity. Our lives and relationship with GOD is still being formed and shaped but in the Bible we can see the beginning and end of people’s lives, GOD’S involvement in them, both good and bad, depending upon the choices they make. We can learn about GOD and HIS nature because HE says what HE means and means what HE says and utmost is that HE loves you and allowed HIS only Son, JESUS to give HIS life just for you.

When we study the Bible, we see the revelation of GOD and HIS involvement in the lives of people. Some read the Bible and see GOD’S wrath but fail to see the love of GOD in HIS wrath. HE always warned that bad things were going to happen if the people did not change their hearts as reflected in their lives toward HIM. HE patiently waited for the person or people to change. HE continued to warn him, her or them. We get to read the result.

When you study the Bible you read of the things that you should not do in order for you to live healthy and fulfilling lives upon earth in harmony and relationship with mankind and GOD. You read that every person is under an eternal death sentence because of original sin. But you also read about the extent of the love of GOD to redeem mankind by allowing HIS only Son, JESUS to come to earth, live as a human and give HIS life to redeem those who place their faith in JESUS from sin and death. Faith in CHRIST is every person’s opportunity for a second opportunity to have eternal life and live as GOD intended when HE first formed man. GOD did not make salvation complicated. It is simple “LORD JESUS please forgive me for my sins and come into my life.” So why is it so hard? Every human has an adversary, Satan, whose desire is for you to join him in Hell. The Bible has much to say about Hell and it is not a place that GOD wants any human to go. Hell was made for the devil or Satan and his angels. Is it real or just something to frighten people? It is real and while you are upon earth, it is your opportunity to avoid it but it requires a decision. What about children? They will go to Heaven. But the question you need to consider is where will you spend eternity? Focus upon you and not on the many questions that keep you from giving your life to JESUS.

If you wrote a poem to express your experience with GOD, what would you write?  Some may say, “It would not be pretty!” That is just what you need to write. Express to HIM all your disappointments and heart aches. Let HIM have it but when you do also listen, read HIS Word, the Bible and give HIM an opportunity to respond and reveal truth.

Psalm 119 is the longest of all the Psalms. It is a love poem written about the Law of GOD. It was written in poetic form. It is written in acrostic style which means that it was written such that each stanza begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Using the English alphabet, the first stanza would begin with the letter A and then each of the lines within that stanza would also begin with the letter A. The second stanza would begin with the letter B. Psalm 119 has 22 separate stanzas, with eight lines in each stanza.

When we understand the love of GOD for us, it is then we begin to see in our hearts the kind of relationship GOD desires to have with each person – Father/son/daughter or husband/wife. For those married and love their spouses intently, they do not want to share them with anyone else. That is the relationship GOD desires to have with each of us because HE is jealous. When we chase the things that block or compromise our relationship with HIM, it hurts GOD to HIS very core. When we recognize the thing or things that compromised our relationship with GOD and confess it and repent, GOD forgives and restores. So what happens when we repeat it or them? We confess it and ask GOD to forgive us. Keep in mind that HE knows the intent of our hearts. We will not con GOD.

All Christians are sinners saved by grace. Grace is GOD’S gift to those who accept CHRIST as his or her Savior. Now that is Good News!

Let’s explore how the psalmist sees GOD based upon his experience with GOD!

Let’s read Psalm 119:137-144:

137 You are righteous, Lord, and Your judgments are just. 138 The decrees You issue are righteous and altogether trustworthy. 139 My anger overwhelms me because my foes forget Your words. 140 Your word is completely pure, and Your servant loves it. 141 I am insignificant and despised, but I do not forget Your precepts. 142 Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your instruction is true. 143 Trouble and distress have overtaken me, but Your commands are my delight. 144 Your decrees are righteous forever. Give me understanding, and I will live.

The writer was expressing what he had experienced by having an intimate relationship with GOD. Having such a relationship is not exclusive to him but is available to everyone. Let’s explore what he concluded. He saw the love of GOD through his experiences with GOD. He listed the attributes of GOD and his experiences:

-         You are righteous, Lord, and Your judgments are just. Life brings tough experiences but the psalmist had come to the conclusion that GOD could be trusted. GOD did not have a hidden agenda to do him harm but HE had his best interest in mind in HIS decrees.

-         The decrees You issue are righteous and altogether trustworthy. Because GOD has your best interest in mind, you can trust and rely upon what HE reveals to you through HIS Word and/or in your heart.

-         My anger overwhelms me because my foes forget Your words. The psalmist sees that if his enemies would only be obedient to GOD, their lives, his life and the world would be much better.

-         Your word is completely pure, and Your servant loves it. The psalmist rejoiced in the truth of GOD’S Word and delighted in it because it could be trusted.

-         I am insignificant and despised, but I do not forget Your precepts. In comparison to GOD, the psalmist considered himself insignificant and despised by his enemies but GOD’S Word restored his sense of value and worth. GOD’S precepts or properly appointed principles guide those who obey them through life.

-         Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your instruction is true. GOD is eternal, consistent and HIS instructions can be trusted. GOD is the beginning and the end.

-         Trouble and distress have overtaken me, but Your commands are my delight. When life brought trouble and distress, GOD’S Word rekindled his relationship with GOD and renewed his trust that GOD was in charge. We have to practice in the dark what we learn in the light.

-         Your decrees are righteous forever. Give me understanding, and I will live. The psalmist acknowledges that GOD’S Word is eternal and his desire was to understand it and continue to apply it in his life. It is one thing to read and understand GOD’S Word but it is quite another to put HIS Word into practice. 

These verses represent the heart of the psalmist.

Now let’s go back to the opening verses Psalm 119, which are directed to the community of believers.

Let’s read Psalm 119:1-8:

1 How happy are those whose way is blameless, who live according to the Lord’s instruction! 2 Happy are those who keep His decrees and seek Him with all their heart. 3 They do nothing wrong; they follow His ways. 4 You have commanded that Your precepts be diligently kept. 5 If only my ways were committed to keeping Your statutes! 6 Then I would not be ashamed when I think about all Your commands. 7 I will praise You with a sincere heart when I learn Your righteous judgments. 8 I will keep Your statutes; never abandon me.

It seems to me that the psalmist is hanging onto GOD and he is fearful that GOD will abandon him. Christian friends, what a heritage we have in CHRIST. GOD will never leave us or forsake us. We belong to HIM for eternity. The psalmist longed for what we have in salvation through faith in CHRIST.

Living in right relationship with GOD through JESUS equals happiness. Christians have the indwelling Holy Spirit to empower, enlighten, assure, lead, guide, confirm and so much more, as they journey through life. That does not mean that those who are in right relationship with GOD through faith in JESUS will have smooth sailing through life. The Apostle Paul stated it well in Romans 8:12-17:

12 So then, • brothers, we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh, 13 for if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 All those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. 15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “• Abba, Father!” 16 The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, 17 and if children, also heirs —heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—seeing that we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

The psalmist wrote this long before the passion of CHRIST. The psalmist’s audience was the community of believers and their relationship with GOD depended upon their ability. So what was the message to the community of believers, let’s consider, as we review the list below:

(As you read these verses think of the great heritage Christians have as the result of placing their faith in CHRIST. JESUS paid the price for sin and broke the sin barrier that separated mankind from GOD. CHRIST fulfilled the law when HE gave HIS life upon the cross. We are no longer under the law but the law is still present as a measuring stick.)

-         4 You (GOD) have commanded that Your precepts be diligently kept. Precepts refer to principles or commands given by GOD as general rules of action for those HE loves and cares for. HIS precepts are to be kept diligently.

-         5 If only my ways were committed to keeping Your statutes! The psalmist longed to have the assurance, empowerment and confirmation given to Christians by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

-         6 Then I would not be ashamed when I think about all Your commands. The palmist longed to have that assurance of his worth and acceptance to GOD to embolden him to live for GOD and to reach out to others in the name of GOD. The psalmist thought of all he had to do to be acceptable to GOD and it overwhelmed him because he saw how far short he came in being fully obedient to GOD.

-         7 I will praise You with a sincere heart when I learn Your righteous judgments. The psalmist did not feel that he was good enough to approach GOD. What a heritage Christians have in CHRIST – Romans 8:14-15 - All those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons (and daughters). 15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “ • Abba, Father!”

-          8 I will keep Your statutes; never abandon me. The psalmist was clinging to GOD and fearful that GOD would abandon him. Deuteronomy 31:8 - Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” In our humanness we fail but when we have the right relationship with GOD through CHRIST we are triumphant in CHRIST.

Consider the solid assurance GOD has given to all who have placed their faith in CHRIST and build your life upon the solid rock of JESUS as revealed in the Bible:

2 Corinthians 5:21:

21 He (GOD) made the One (JESUS) who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we (those who place their faith in JESUS) might become the righteousness of God in Him.

John5:24:

24 “I assure you: Anyone who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life.

1 John 4:13 - 13 This is how we know that we remain in Him and He in us: He has given assurance to us from His Spirit.

Romans 8:16 - 16 The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children,

2 Corinthians 1:22:

22 He has also sealed us and given us the Spirit as a down payment in our hearts. (GOD has sealed us and claimed us as HIS own by giving us a security deposit in our hearts. Christians are HIS!!!)

Do you belong to GOD through faith in CHRIST? If not, now is the moment. Ask JESUS to forgive you for your sins and ask HIM to come into your life. If you did, then thank HIM. Begin your new relationship with CHRIST by reading the Bible. I suggest the Gospel of John. Talk with CHRIST and ask HIM to open your Spiritual eyes to truth and teach you. It is an awesome journey. It will not necessarily be an easy journey but a journey where HE always walks with you. Blessings!!!