Bible Study - Rhythm (6) - GOD'S Word is Truth - Psalm 119:153-160 - January 8, 2017

Bible Study – Rhythm (6) – GOD’S Word is Truth – January 8, 2017

This is our sixth and final lesson in our series entitled “Spoken: The Rhythm of GOD’S Word.”

Our focus scripture is Psalm 119:153-160.

I can fully rely on what the Bible teaches.

“GOD has not left us alone to determine truth: HE has given us HIS Word to reveal truth. The verses for this session make up the 20^th strophe of Psalm 119. In the midst of his own despair, the psalmist turned to GOD’S Word for direction. He cried out to be delivered from persecution and prayed that his life might be spared. He based his appeal on GOD’S Word, which is true and enduring, and GOD’S love, which is abundant and available.” [Herschel Hobbs Commentary, page 57, winter 2016-2017, published by LifeWay, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0175.]

We must keep in mind that the Bible is not GOD but reflects GOD. Each of us must have a personal relationship with GOD through faith in JESUS the CHRIST. Then, when we study the Bible the indwelling Holy Spirit can help us discern truth and help us build an intimate, personal relationship with GOD through our faith in CHRIST.

The Good News is that, as non-Christians, when they search for truth and read GOD’S word, the Holy Spirit will lead them to truth, which is JESUS the Christ.

As I begin a New Year, my prayer is that I will get to know GOD even more during this coming year. This series of lessons has helped me to see the importance of GOD’S Word in building a personal intimate relationship with HIM. It is vital that we see GOD’S Word as truth and applicable to our lives as we seek to obediently follow HIM. This does not mean that all will go according to our plans but that GOD is in all things to bring about an even closer daily walk with HIM regardless of our circumstances/situations.

Let’s continue to explore GOD through the Spiritual eyes of the psalmist!

Although the psalmist had discovered truth through GOD’S Word, he still had struggles with issues in his life. GOD uses struggles in our lives to bring us into an even closer relationship with HIM.

In last week’s study, the LORD led me to refer to 2 Corinthians 5:21:

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

This prompted me to consider the question, “Since we are made righteous at the instant of salvation, why do Christians go through the process of sanctification?”

What are your thoughts?

Here are some of my thoughts:

-         At the instant of salvation we are born Spiritually into GOD’S family. Christians immediately become GOD’S Sons or Daughters but we live in this body of flesh.

-         Sanctification sets our body of flesh apart from the world to magnify, glorify and obediently serve GOD through our faith in JESUS.

-         All humans are just that, humans and contain natural instincts and abilities. Even though Christians have been born-again into GOD’S family, they remain upon earth as GOD’S representative which is captured by the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 5: 20: Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ; certain that God is appealing through us, we plead on Christ's behalf, "Be reconciled to God."

-         Sanctification is the process of reconciliation as the Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:16-19: 16 From now on, then, we do not know anyone in a purely human way. Even if we have known Christ in a purely human way, yet now we no longer know Him like that.

-         17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come.

-         18 Now everything is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:

-         19 that is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed the message of reconciliation to us.

-         Christians are to share the Good News of salvation with everyone as GOD gives them opportunity. Sanctification is the ongoing process of our humanness being fashioned into CHRIST likeness.

GOD’S Word is a mirror such that as we peer into it, it reflects our true Spiritual image and reveals areas in our lives still in need of work. But do not despair. When we were young most of us wondered what we would grow up to be like. Human growth and Spiritual growth require good nourishment, exercise, work and study.

JESUS stated it well in John 15:1-8:

The Vine and the Branches

1 "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vineyard keeper.

2 Every branch in Me that does not produce fruit He removes, and He prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit.

3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.

4 Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me.

5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me.

6 If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

7 If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you.

8 My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be My disciples.

Spiritual growth and connectedness is vital for Christians to grow and develop Spiritually. All Christians are a work in progress and encounter bumps along the road of life.

Let’s read Psalm 119:153-155:

Resh – This is the twentieth (20) letter in the Hebrew alphabet. 

153 Consider my affliction and rescue me, for I have not forgotten Your instruction.

The psalmist was asking GOD to know his heart and for HIM to search his heart to make a judgment whether or not his situation/circumstances were the result of his disobedience toward GOD. The psalmist seemed to be asking, “GOD, if my circumstances are not the result of my doing, then I ask YOU to deliver me.” That is “take away or remove.” The flip side is, if I am in my situation as a result of either my doing or YOU allowing me to learn from it please either rescue me or come close to me during this time in my life. 

Rescue carries the idea of “equipping him to face the battle” if this was something GOD desired for him to endure. 

From the psalmist point-of-view, he was not aware of being disobedient because he was living according to GOD’S instructions/ The Torah.

154 Defend my cause, and redeem me; give me life, as You promised.

The psalmist needed for GOD to reassure him that he was in GOD’S favor and for HIM to restore the joy and assurance of his relationship with GOD.

To “defend” carries the idea of breaking a contract. In this case, was the psalmist being accused of violating the covenant between GOD and Israel. The psalmist knew the charges were not true and he asked GOD to come to his defense. He did not ask HIM to “plead” his case but to “defend” him because he knew GOD would win because GOD knew him.

Redeem as used here means to “buy back.” It involves relationship. It carries the idea of GOD’S action toward HIS people. This is made clear to us today, when we realize that JESUS gave HIS life to redeem all who place their faith in HIM to redeem them from the consequence of sin.

Redemption involves a family relationship. GOD’S desire is for every human to remain a member of HIS family. Consider Revelation 3:5:

5 In the same way, the victor will be dressed in white clothes, and I will never erase (blot out) his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before My Father and before His angels.

JESUS gave HIS life in order for that to take place. Each person has the choice to either accept or reject GOD’S invitation to be redeemed from eternal death. 

Those who accept JESUS as their Savior are “made alive eternally” or as the King James Version states “quicken.” Only GOD can restore life e.g. GOD raised JESUS from the dead.

There is nothing wrong in reminding GOD of HIS promises. That is not because GOD forgets but it reveals that we know the promises of GOD and their application to us. It reminds us of HIS promises and reassures us of HIS faithfulness and ability. GOD keeps HIS promises as stated in Matthew 28:20:

20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

And Hebrews 13:5:

5 Your life should be free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for He Himself has said, I will never leave you or forsake you.

And 1 John 5:5 and 13:

5 And who is the one who conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?  

13 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

And John 10:10-11:

10 A thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and have it in abundance.

11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

JESUS gave HIS life so that all who place their faith in HIM will live eternally. Do you want eternal life? If so, ask JESUS to forgive you for your sins and ask HIM to come into your life believing that HE gave HIS life for you that you may have life eternal. When you do a miracle takes place which is confirmed by the indwelling Holy Spirit as written in 2 Corinthians 1:20-22:

20 For every one of God's promises is "Yes" in Him. Therefore the "Amen" is also through Him for God's glory through us.

21 Now the One who confirms us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, is God;

22 He has also sealed us and given us the Spirit as a down payment in our hearts.

Christians are sealed with GOD’S seal and promise that they belong to HIM for eternity. That is salvation or redemption from eternal death which resulted from sin.

155 Salvation is far from the wicked because they do not seek Your statutes.

The wicked are blinded by Satan and their selfish desires, which come from the flesh or their unredeemed nature. They do not seek truth from GOD’S Word and have no desire to do so. The psalmist was reassuring himself and confessing to GOD that he had not abandoned HIS Word.

Let’s read Psalm 119:156-159:

156 Your compassions are many, Lord; give me life, according to Your judgments.

The psalmist seeks GOD’S compassion, mercies or tender mercies from the “LORD” which is the covenant name for GOD. He seeks reassurance from GOD and acknowledges GOD in terms, compassions, that a mother or father would use toward their child. This, in turn, reflects the relationship between the psalmist and GOD. The psalmist trusts GOD to give him life “according to” HIS “judgments.”

157 My persecutors and foes are many. I have not turned from Your decrees.

The psalmist looks around and sees nothing but trouble through human eyes. 

His “persecutors” carries the idea that those who are pursuing him are bent on “bringing him down.” He seems to be puzzled as to why that is happening because he has not turned from GOD’S decrees. Often, as Christians, we can get the idea that we are to have a trouble free life. Trouble can be used to build our relationship with GOD though CHRIST. But when trouble hits, it is natural for us to try to figure out why trouble is coming our way. There is nothing wrong with going before the LORD and asking HIM to examine our hearts to reveal any wrong doing in our lives.

158 I have seen the disloyal and feel disgust because they do not keep Your word.

The psalmist continued to build his case before GOD that those who do not honor HIM, disgust him. The disloyal do not keep GOD’S Word. This implies that they might have knowledge of GOD’S Word but they choose to ignore the application of GOD’S Word or from his perspective, he knows the truth and he knows they are not obedient to HIS Word and will face judgment.

159 Consider how I love Your precepts; Lord, give me life, according to Your faithful love.

The psalmist loves GOD’S Word because he had found it to be true, therefore LORD make YOUR presence known to me in the midst of this trouble. The psalmist seems to be desperate for GOD to restore or reassure him of their relationship. The psalmist seems to be searching for a reason why he does not have that relationship that he had apparently experienced earlier in his walk with GOD.

This is easy to happen and when it does Christians do search for a reason why. 

There are times when GOD seems to be away from us and that is not good. But in the words of Dr. Vance Havner, “We must practice in the dark what we learn in the light.” Often, it is in the dark that we grow Spiritually.

Let’s read Psalm 119:160:

160 The entirety of Your word is truth, and all Your righteous judgments endure forever.

The psalmist reassures himself that GOD’S Word is truth and GOD righteous judgments are eternal. These conclusions are the healing balm that is applied to his needs.

Truth is truth and never ends. If what we have thought was truth but turns out to be different, then it was not truth. Satan attempts to fill our minds with notions that sound good but are not truth. When our notions are tested they fail simply because they were not based upon truth. GOD’S truth is eternal. GOD does not leave it up to us to determine truth. HIS Word determines truth and GOD’S truth is eternal.

This has been an exciting study. My prayer is that all who have studied it have been drawn into a closer relationship with GOD through it. GOD’S Word is eternal and just as relevant today as the day it was written because the Holy Spirit gives understanding and application.

GOD’S desire is for no person to perish but for all to have eternal life and live with HIM as HIS Son or Daughter when life upon earth is over. It is our choice. I chose eternal life by placing my faith in JESUS the CHRIST. How do I know it is true? It is because it is confirmed by the indwelling Holy Spirit Who is my guarantee from GOD.

If you have not made that decision, now is your opportunity. Blessings!!!