We've been working this summer together through the book of Nehemiah.
And I've got to tell you that honestly, I thought we would complete it.
That we would be wrapping it up at the end of the summer,
and we would be starting something altogether new together.
But I think that providentially, we have remained and we've tarried,
and there's been so much richness in here for our church.
And I think for those of you that are joining us now,
you're not going to be behind.
We're going to get you sped up and caught up.
And I think that you're coming back at a very perfect time
to pick up what's happening in the book of Nehemiah.
So as a quick recap, just to get your minds caught up to where we are.
This is post-exile.
Israel was carried off into exile by Assyria and then Babylon.
You know some of the classic stories.
A lot of the prophets take place during this exilic period.
The story of Daniel, for example, takes place during this period.
And then we see a return to the land.
Because the world power is turned over.
It's now under the power of Persia.
And the Persians are a little softer by God's providence.
Their hearts are being moved by a number of kings.
King Darius, King Artaxerxes.
And they've allowed the people to begin to return to their land,
even though they still rule over it.
And this is where we find the story of Nehemiah picking up.
Some 90 years since the first movement back to Israel, back to Jerusalem.
And Nehemiah has found himself, by God's sovereign hand,
serving as the cupbearer to King Artaxerxes.
Serving as his trusted right hand who's tasting his wine
to be sure it's not poisoned before he partakes of it.
And he receives news from his brother, we see in chapter 1,
that the wall around the city has yet to be rebuilt.
That it's still in ruins.
And therefore, the city of Jerusalem itself is not occupied.
We see that there aren't many houses built.
If you read previously in Ezra,
there has been a work to rebuild the temple.
And the temple has been completed.
But there's nobody living in the city.
They travel to worship at the temple,
go back to their homes in the suburbs to live.
And so the city's not thriving.
And this grieves Nehemiah.
Not because the glory of the city.
Not because he cares so much about stone and how it's erected.
But that in this day, the physical state of God's people
was proportionate to God's glory.
So he says, our God is a great God.
A mighty God.
Who's full of loving kindness and goodness towards his people.
And yet the people are in shambles.
They're not put together.
Something must be done for the sake of the glory of God.
He must be shown as he is.
We must build the wall.
So he boldly asked King Arxerxes,
after a bunch of time of prayer, months of prayer,
he asked King Arxerxes if he can go back and do this work.
Now recognize that the king had already issued an edict,
I believe if I'm remembering correctly,
14 years previously,
to stop the building of the wall.
He was convinced that it was a rebellion against him
to fortify the city of Jerusalem.
And so he had issued an edict to stop it.
And for a king in this day to reverse his edict
would be a great admission of his wrong to begin with.
So this is a bold thing that Nehemiah asked of the king.
And the king not only granted him to go back,
made him the governor over Jerusalem,
gave him his credit card, so to speak,
gave him the credit he needed to get the wood to rebuild,
by God's sovereign hand.
So Nehemiah goes back,
and this is where revival really begins to happen.
We see a spiritual revival that many would say
really starts in chapter 8,
but I would argue it's already begun
because the work has begun.
People have seen the need to build the wall.
They've joined in that fight.
We see through the chapters
there's much opposition to the work,
both with rumor,
with threat,
and actual physical opposition.
We see the people of Israel carrying stones on one shoulder
and a sword on the other,
really working.
And they complete the wall in 52 days.
Something that had yet to be completed in 90 years.
It gets done in 52 days.
You can see that in chapter 6.
We found ourselves last week in chapter 8.
And I brought to everybody last week
the evidences of God-sent revival.
And that's where we are.
That's what we're working ourselves through.
And we addressed two of them.
Now hear me clearly.
You have to be careful about how you think
about the term revival.
As revival is seen in the Scriptures,
we see ten movements of the Spirit of God
turning the people of God
whose hearts have grown cold
back to Him.
We find America in that state today.
Praise God that our church seems to be growing.
But churches all over America
are on the decline.
Religion itself,
devotion to God,
is on the decline in America.
And a revival is when the Spirit of God
visits in a special way
and turns the hearts of God's people
back to Him.
So hear me.
You cannot schedule a revival on a calendar.
It is impossible to do such a thing.
So don't think that's what I'm talking about
when I talk about a revival.
They held some events here,
but that wasn't the revival.
It was the power of God at work in them.
The sovereign Spirit working in them
that accomplished these things.
So we want to look at these evidences
because if we desire to be the people of God,
these people had a special visitation of the Spirit
and they lived in a certain way.
Shouldn't we also desire to live in that way?
I want to see revival come.
I want to see it come and sweep through
North Georgia,
the campus,
the region,
the southeast.
I want to see that happen.
I want it to go out to all the world
because our God is worthy to be proclaimed.
We want our Christ to be proclaimed
amongst all the peoples of the world.
I want to see revival happen in that way.
It may not in our lifetime.
I want to believe we're poised for it
and it's on its way.
And that's a near possibility for us.
But just the same,
we ought to press on to do these things.
We see that Ezra had a 14-year ministry
preaching the Word of God
to the people of God
with very little fruit
until we get to chapter 8 in Nehemiah.
The four evidences.
We addressed last week
that if revival is God sent,
God's people will be praying.
We've seen this as we've worked up to chapter 8.
Much prayer.
I didn't even realize that Nehemiah
really seems to be more than anything
a book of prayer.
I didn't know that going into it
and my soul has been blessed
by the study of that.
that God's people will be praying.
Secondly, we saw that if revival is God sent,
God's people will reestablish
the Word of God
as the ultimate authority
in their lives.
They will stop making excuses.
They will stop justifying every action.
They will stop comparing themselves
to the standard of the world
because I can tell you this,
if you compare yourself
to the standard of the world,
everyone in this room
is doing wonderful.
You place yourself under the authority
of the Scriptures,
we are all wretched,
wretched sinners.
We have betrayed God
in so many ways.
So these people reestablish
the Word of God
as the ultimate authority.
They don't look at the other things
around them,
the periphery things.
They look to God's Word
as the authority
in their lives.
The next two.
They recognize their defiance of God
and view His chastisement,
His correction,
as just.
And finally,
they turn from their defiance
to obedience.
And that's where I was headed this week.
Getting to chapter 9.
Looking at their repentance
in chapter 9.
But I couldn't do it.
God kept arresting my study.
Praise Him,
I'm a little ahead for next week
because I've been looking at chapter 9
quite in depth.
But kept drawing my mind back
to how vitally important it is
that we reestablish
the Word of God
as the ultimate authority
in our lives.
I could not get away from it.
In fact,
last Sunday,
I had had,
just as an example,
as the way we ought to be devoted
to the Word of God,
I was going to show you a bit
from Psalm 119.
And at the last minute,
I just realized
this is way too much information
and I cut it out.
And so guess where I ended up
all week?
Psalm 119.
So we're going to look at
Psalm 119 together.
Before you turn there,
I want to show you
just four quick observations
we looked at last week
to bring you up to speed.
And then we'll go there.
I want you to see,
in chapter 4,
I want you to see
their eagerness.
Their eagerness
for the Word of God.
Verse 1,
And they told Ezra the scribe
to bring the book of the law
of Moses
that the Lord had commanded Israel.
They built a platform.
They were celebrating
a prescribed feast
called the Feast of Trumpets.
You may have heard
the term Rosh Hashanah before.
This was a feast
that was to happen in Israel
nine days before
the Day of Atonement
when the high priest
would go into
the Holy of Holies
make an atoning sacrifice
for the nation of Israel.
This was to be
a great day of celebration.
And they knew this
so they put together an event.
All the people came, right?
It's estimated
that 30,000 to 50,000 people
were gathered
for this event.
But at the center of it
was the reading of the Word of God.
They were eager to hear it.
So much so
that they built a platform.
They elevated Ezra
high up above.
And they took turns,
I believe,
reading from early morning
until midday.
You'll see that in verse 3.
This was five to seven hours
that they met together.
All the people.
Every one of them.
Five to seven hours.
We are not eager
for the Word of God.
In this way.
It's hard to get us here
at 1030 too often.
Notice also in verse 13
they come back
on a second day.
They come up with a new way
to disseminate the Word of God.
But they come back
in verse 13.
The fathers of the houses
return to receive the Word
and take it back out
to their families.
They were eager
for the Word of God.
Notice their reverence.
Verse 5.
Ezra ascends.
He gets up on the stage.
The church opens up
the Word of God
and it says,
And as He opened it,
all the people stood.
Not because He asked them
to stand,
but because they were reverent.
And I'm not suggesting
that you have to stand
when the Word of God
is read, right?
But our hearts certainly
should stand at attention
when the Word of God
is read.
These are the very words
of our Lord.
We ought to be reverent
when they're being read.
Verse 6.
We see that their bodies
become engaged
in this activity.
They're lifting up
their hands.
They bow their heads.
They worship the Lord
with their faces to the ground,
which is a position
of reverence
which communicates
we are not even worthy
to be in your presence.
Right?
Your Word has been opened
and they recognize
that by the Word of God
being opened
that they were
in the presence of God
and that's why
they worshiped
on their faces.
Notice their responsiveness.
Verse 9.
Second half.
For all the people wept
as they heard
the Word of the Law.
I said last week
as Ezra and the men
that were helping him
read the Word of God,
the people saw
an ever-expanding chasm
in front of them.
It was opening up
wider and wider and wider.
As the holiness of God
was being elevated,
they recognized
their own sinful state.
They recognized
how very short
they came of this
and they wept over it.
They actually responded to it.
They allowed it
to enter through their minds
and affect their hearts
rather than sitting numb,
doodling,
clipping your fingernails.
That's happened here.
I found fingernails.
Balancing your checkbook.
Reading some other text
because you've checked out
and you're bored.
They allowed the Word of God
to permeate in them.
Consider that if you're not
getting anything
out of the sermon,
it might be your fault
and not mine.
Verse 9 and 10 and 11,
we see that this day
was a day that was meant
for celebration.
As they were realizing
how very sinful they were,
this was a day
that was to celebrate
the atoning work
that was coming.
This foreshadow
of the final atoning work
of Christ.
And so they're told repeatedly
that this should be
a day of joy.
That they ought to
turn from their weeping.
And there is a time
we see coming
that they're properly responsive
in repentance,
but this was a day
that their fear of God,
the fear of the holiness
of God,
was turned to joy
because of the atoning
work of Christ.
And then we see
their obedience.
They didn't just receive this,
stack a bunch of knowledge
into their head,
but they actually did
something with it.
They discover,
in verse 14,
we see they discover
another feast,
the feast of booths
that they were meant to practice.
Because I won't get into
all the details of that,
but they did
with the Word of God,
told them to do,
which is the true mark
of Christian maturity,
that you are obedient.
Not just a hearer,
but a doer
of the Word of God.
And then notice in verse 17
the result of their obedience.
And there was great rejoicing.
So that's where we were at
last week.
So here comes part two.
So there's the intro to it.
Here comes part two.
I want you to turn
to Psalm 119.
Psalm 119 is the longest psalm.
It's 167 verses,
or excuse me,
176 verses in total.
It has a very unique structure.
If I'm getting this correctly,
I think there are eight other,
or maybe nine other.
I think there are eight other
that kind of follow this structure,
other psalms.
But this psalm was written
in 22 stanzas,
each containing eight verses
or lines,
if you prefer.
Each one beginning with
a different letter
of the Hebrew alphabet.
So notice in your Bible,
probably,
you have a heading
right above verse 1
that says Aleph.
It would have been there,
A, so to speak.
And each of the lines in here
began with that letter.
It was an acrostic
that way.
So it's a very unique structure here.
We don't actually know
who wrote Psalm 119.
There's a lot of conjecture out there.
Two major ones.
Number one being
that David wrote it.
It's very Davidic
in its language.
It seems to follow
some of the events
of his life.
There's a proposition
that he wrote it
over a great period of time
as he reflected on
the Word of God,
his statutes,
his law,
and how it was
that it gave him life
in the midst of all
of these things
that he was experiencing.
That's the way
I tend to lean,
mostly because men
I respect lean
in that direction.
Sometimes I don't have
an opinion of my own
on something.
The other possibility,
though,
is that Ezra,
the priest scribe
that was reading
from the Word of God
in Nehemiah 8,
actually wrote it
and did so
as a way
to re-ingrain
in people
the value
of the Word of God
during this period
of exile
and the return
during this 14-year ministry
where this is basically
what he's been doing
is ministering to people
the Word of God.
People suppose
that potentially
he wrote it.
A few think
maybe Ezekiel did,
but most would say
of Ezra.
Now, either way,
Ezra,
as the priest scribe,
was the one responsible
for bringing back together
the words of Scripture
and that would have
included this
if David had written it.
So recognize that
during this 14-year period
of time,
it is most likely,
and this is,
I don't know this for sure,
but it is most likely
that this psalm
was being used
to minister
to the people of God.
These people
that decide
to get together
to celebrate Rosh Hashanah
and say to Ezra,
bring the book of the law.
We want to hear from it.
We're being fed
these words.
That their hearts
were being pricked
by the emotion
that goes in
to Psalm 119.
I wish
that all of us
could write
this psalm.
Not that we necessarily
have the writing ability.
I know that I don't
have the writing ability
to write in this way.
But that our hearts
could be united
with the psalmist's heart.
That we could really say,
this is true
of me.
Psalm 119.
Amen.
So let's pray together
and then we're going
to read it together.
It is long
and I'm going to read it
well to you.
But let me remind you.
I've been practicing.
Let me just remind you
as even maybe now
you're thinking,
oh my gosh,
it's going to take
about 15 minutes
to read it.
Five to seven hours.
hours.
Right?
Do you have such
a short attention span
that you can't look
at a copy
and follow along
with me
for 15 minutes?
And I'm going to ask
that you try to let
the words
permeate your heart.
Let's pray together.
Father God,
truly your word
is a gift to us.
And we recognize
as a church
that it is your word,
that it's inspired,
was written by a man,
but carried along
by your spirit.
And as such,
Lord,
help us to stand
underneath it.
Have it speak
into our lives.
Make it
the ultimate authority.
And Lord,
please,
prick our hearts
where our hearts
need pricking.
I know everyone
in this room
is not devoted
to your word
the way they ought to be.
And I pray
that our time together
will be a remedy
to that.
And I pray this
in Christ's name.
Amen.
Now,
before we get into this,
I want to read to you
a quote from
Charles Hattie Spurgeon.
There's much repetition
throughout Psalm 119,
but listen to what
he had to say.
Many superficial readers
have imagined
that it harps
upon one string
and abounds
in pious repetitions
and redundancies.
But this arises
from the shallowness
of the reader's own mind.
Those who have studied
this divine hymn
and carefully noted
each line of it
are amazed
at the variety
and profundity
of the thought.
Using only a few words,
the writer has produced
permutations
of combinations
of meaning
which display
his holy familiarity
with his subject
and the sanctified ingenuity
of his mind.
Have I made you feel bad yet
if you're going to be bored?
All right.
Let's go to work.
Verse 1.
Blessed are those
whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law
of the Lord.
Blessed are those
who keep his testimonies,
who seek him
with their whole heart,
who also do no wrong
but walk in his ways.
You have commanded
your precepts
to be kept diligently.
Oh, that my ways
may be steadfast
in keeping your statutes.
Then I shall not
be put to shame,
having my eyes fixed
on all your commandments.
I will praise you
with an upright heart
when I learn
your righteous rules.
I will keep your statutes.
Do not utterly forsake me.
How can a young man
keep his way pure?
By guarding it
according to your word.
With my whole heart
I seek you.
Let me not wander
from your commandments.
I have stored up
your word in my heart
that I might not
sin against you.
Blessed are you,
O Lord.
Teach me your statutes.
With my lips
I declare all the rules
of your mouth.
In the way of your testimonies
I delight as much
as in all riches.
I will meditate
on your precepts
and fix my eyes
on your ways.
I will delight
in your statutes.
I will not forget
your word.
Deal bountifully
with your servant
that I may live
and keep your word.
Open my eyes
that I may behold
wondrous things
out of your law.
I am a sojourner
on the earth.
Hide not your commandments
from me.
My soul is consumed
with longing
for your rules
at all times.
You rebuke
the insolent,
accursed ones
who wander
from your commandments.
Take away from me
scorn and contempt
for I have kept
your testimonies.
Even though princes
sit plotting against me,
your servant
will meditate
on your statutes.
Your testimonies
are my delight.
They are my counselors.
My soul clings
to the dust.
Give me life
according to your word.
When I told
of my ways,
you answered me.
Teach me
your statutes.
Make me understand
the way of your precepts
and I will meditate
on your wondrous works.
My soul melts
away for sorrow.
Strengthen me
according to your word.
Put false ways
far from me
and graciously
teach me your law.
I have chosen
the way of faithfulness.
I set your rules
before me.
I cling to your testimonies,
O Lord.
Let me not be put
to shame.
I will run
in the way
of your commandments
when you enlarge
my heart.
Teach me,
O Lord,
the way of your statutes
and I will keep it
to the end.
Give me understanding
that I may keep your law
and observe it
with my whole heart.
Lead me in the path
of your commandments
for I delight in it.
Incline my heart
to your testimonies
and not to selfish gain.
Turn my eyes
from looking
at worthless things
and give me life
in your ways.
Confirm to your servant
your promise
that you may be feared.
Turn away the reproach
that I dread
for your rules
are good.
Behold,
I long for your precepts
and your righteousness
give me life.
Let your steadfast love
come to me,
O Lord,
your salvation
according to your promise.
Then shall I have
an answer for him
who taunts me
for I trust
in your word.
And take not the word
of truth utterly
out of my mouth
for my hope
is in your rules.
I will keep your law
continually
forever and ever
and I shall walk
in a wide place
for I have sought
your precepts.
I will also speak
of your testimonies
before kings
and shall not be put
to shame
for I find my delight
in your commandments
which I love.
I will lift up my hands
toward your commandments
which I love
and I will meditate
on your statutes.
Remember your word
to your servant
in which you have
made me hope.
This is my comfort
in my affliction
that your promise
gives me life.
The insolent
utterly deride me
but I do not turn away
from your law.
When I think
of your rules
from old
I take comfort,
O Lord.
Hot indignation
seizes me
because of the wicked
who forsake your law.
Your statutes
have been my songs
in the house
of my sojournings.
I remember
your name
in the night,
O Lord,
and keep your law.
This blessing
has fallen to me
that I have kept
your precepts.
The Lord
is my portion.
I promise
to keep your words.
I entreat
your favor
with all my heart.
Be gracious to me
according to your promise.
When I think
on my ways
I turn my feet
to your testimonies.
I hasten
and do not delay
to keep your commandments.
Though the cords
of the wicked
ensnare me
I do not forget
your law.
At midnight
I rise to praise you
because of your
righteous rules.
I am a companion
of all who fear you,
of those who keep
your precepts.
The earth,
O Lord,
is full of your
steadfast love.
Teach me
your statutes.
You have dealt well
with your servant,
O Lord,
according to your word.
Teach me good judgment
and knowledge
for I believe
in your commandments.
Before I was afflicted
I went astray
but now I keep
your word.
You are good
and do good.
Teach me
your statutes.
The insolent
smear me with lies
but with my whole heart
I keep your precepts.
Their heart
is unfeeling
like fat
but I delight
in your law.
It is good for me
that I was afflicted
that I might learn
your statutes.
The law of your mouth
is better to me
than thousands
of gold
and silver pieces.
Your hands
have made
and fashioned me.
Give me understanding
that I may learn
your commandments.
Those who fear you
shall see me
and rejoice
because I have hoped
in your word.
I know, O Lord,
that your rules
are righteous
and that in faithfulness
you have afflicted me.
Let your steadfast love
comfort me
according to your promise
to your servant.
Let your mercy
come to me
that I may live
for your law
is my delight.
Let the insolent
be put to shame
because they have
wronged me with falsehood.
As for me,
I will meditate
on your precepts.
Let those who fear you
turn to me
that they may know
your testimonies.
May my heart
be blameless
in your statutes
that I may not
be put to shame.
My soul longs
for your salvation.
I hope
in your word.
My eyes long
for your promise.
I ask,
when will you
comfort me?
For I have become
like a wineskin
in the smoke,
yet I have not
forgotten your statutes.
How long
must your servant
endure?
When will you judge
those who persecute me?
The insolent
have dug pitfalls
for me.
They do not live
according to your law.
All your commandments
are sure.
They persecute me
with falsehood.
Help me.
They have almost
made an end of me
on earth,
but I have not
forsaken your precepts.
In your steadfast love
give me life
that I may keep
the testimonies
of your mouth.
Forever,
O Lord,
your word is firmly
fixed in the heavens.
Your faithfulness
endures to all
generations.
You have established
the earth
and it stands fast.
By your appointment
they stand this day
for all things
are your servants.
If your law
had not been my delight,
I would have perished
in my affliction.
I will never forget
your precepts
for by them
you have given me life.
I am yours.
Save me
for I have sought
your precepts.
The wicked lie
in wait to destroy me,
but I consider
your testimonies.
I have seen a limit
to all perfection,
but your commandment
is exceedingly broad.
I love that one.
Oh, how I love
your law.
It is my meditation
all the day.
Your commandment
makes me wiser
than my enemies
for it is ever with me.
I have more understanding
than all my teachers
for your testimonies
are my meditation.
I understand more
than the aged
for I keep your precepts.
I hold back my feet
from every evil way
in order to keep
your word.
I do not turn aside
from your rules
for you have taught me.
How sweet
are your words
to my taste,
sweeter than honey
to my mouth.
Through your precepts
I get understanding.
Therefore,
I hate every false way.
Your word
is a lamp to my feet
and a light
to my path.
I have sworn an oath
and confirmed it
to keep your righteous rules.
I am severely afflicted.
Give me life,
O Lord,
according to your word.
Accept my freewill
offerings of praise,
O Lord,
and teach me your rules.
I hold my life
in my hand continually,
but I do not forget
your law.
The wicked have laid
a snare for me,
but I do not stray
from your precepts.
Your testimonies
are my heritage forever,
for they are the joy
of my heart.
I incline my heart
to perform your statutes
forever to the end.
I hate the double-minded,
but I love your law.
You are my hiding place
and my shield.
I hope in your word.
Depart from me,
you evildoers,
that I may keep
the commandments
of my God.
Uphold me
according to your promise
that I may live,
and let me not be put
to shame in my hope.
Hold me up
that I may be safe
and have regard
for your statutes continually.
You spurn all
who go astray
from your statutes,
for their cunning
is in vain.
All the wicked
of the earth
you discard like dross.
Therefore,
I love your testimonies.
My flesh trembles
for fear of you,
and I am afraid
of your judgments.
I have done
what is just and right.
Do not leave me
to my oppressors.
Give your servant
a pledge of good.
Let not the insolent
oppress me.
My eyes long
for your salvation,
for the fulfillment
of your righteous promise.
Deal with your servant
according to your steadfast love,
and teach me your statutes.
I am your servant.
Give me understanding
that I may know
your testimonies.
It is time
for the Lord to act,
for the law
has been broken.
Therefore,
I love your commandments
above gold,
above fine gold.
Therefore,
I consider all your precepts
to be right.
I hate every false way.
Your testimonies
are wonderful.
Therefore,
my soul keeps them.
The unfolding
of your words
gives light
and imparts understanding
to the simple.
I open my mouth
and pant
because I long
for your commandments.
Turn to me
and be gracious to me
as is your way
with those
who love your name.
Keep steady my steps
according to your promise
and let no iniquity
get dominion over me.
Redeem me
from man's oppression
that I may keep
your precepts.
Make your face
shine upon your servant
and teach me
your statutes.
My eyes shed
streams of tears
because people
do not keep your law.
Righteous are you,
O Lord,
and right are your rules.
You have appointed
your testimonies
in righteousness
and in all faithfulness.
My zeal consumes me
because my foes
forget your words.
Your promise
is well tried
and your servant
loves it.
I am small
and despised
yet I do not forget
your precepts.
Your righteousness
is righteous forever
and your law
is true.
Trouble and anguish
have found me out
but your commandments
are my delight.
Your testimonies
are righteous forever.
Give me understanding
that I may live.
With my whole heart
I cry.
Answer me, O Lord.
I will keep
your statutes.
I call to you.
Save me
that I may observe
your testimonies.
I rise before dawn
and cry for help.
I hope in your words.
My eyes are awake
before the watchers
of the night
that I may meditate
on your promise.
Hear my voice
according to your
steadfast love,
O Lord.
According to your justice
give me life.
They draw near
who persecute me
with evil purpose.
They are far
from your law.
But you are near,
O Lord,
and all your commandments
are true.
Long have I known
from your testimonies
that you have founded
them forever.
Look on my affliction
and deliver me
for I do not forget
your law.
Plead my cause
and redeem me.
Give me life
according to your promise.
Salvation is far
from the wicked
for they do not
seek your statutes.
Great is your mercy,
O Lord.
Give me life
according to your rules.
Many are my
persecutors
and my adversaries,
but I do not swerve
from your testimonies.
I look at the
faithless with disgust
because they do not
keep your commands.
Consider how I love
your precepts.
Give me life
according to your
steadfast love.
The sum of your word
is truth
and every one
of your righteous
rules endures
forever.
Princes persecute me
without cause,
but my heart
stands in awe
of your words.
I rejoice
at your word
like one who
finds great spoil.
I hate
and abhor
falsehood,
but I love
your law.
Seven times a day
I praise you
for your righteous
rules.
Great peace
have those
who love your law.
Nothing can make
them stumble.
I hope for your
salvation, O Lord,
and I do
your commandments.
My soul
keeps your
testimonies.
I love them
exceedingly.
I keep your
precepts and
testimonies,
for all my
ways are
before you.
Let my cry
come before you,
O Lord.
Give me
understanding
according to
your word.
Let my plea
come before you.
Deliver me
according to
your word.
My lips
will pour
forth praise,
for you teach
me your
statutes.
My tongue
will sing of
your word,
for all your
commandments
are right.
Let your hand
be ready to
help me,
for I have
chosen your
precepts.
I long for
your salvation,
O Lord,
and your law
is my delight.
Let my soul
live and praise
you,
and let your
rules help me.
I have gone
astray like a
lost sheep.
Seek your
servant,
for I do
not forget
your commandments.
Can you
honestly join
in with
everything the
psalmist says
in that psalm?
I can't.
I've read it
a number of
times in the
last couple of
days,
getting ready
to not
make any
mistakes.
And even
still,
as I read
it again,
I go,
some of
those.
The way
he speaks
of the
word of
God,
there's all
these synonyms
used here,
word,
law,
commandments,
statutes,
ordinances,
testimonies,
precepts,
all of these
things are
synonymous.
He's talking
about the
written word
of God.
This is what
he is referring
to.
That it is
the source
of joy
and life.
That it is
a comfort
to him.
That it
builds him
up.
That he
can stand
firm because
of it.
In the
light of
any obstacle.
That he
stays up
late,
awakes at
midnight,
rises early
because the
word of
God is
a salve
to him.
It's a
solution that
gives him
strength,
that helps
him go on,
that helps
him persevere
in the
light of
these
things.
You hear
the way
he praises
the God
of the
word
throughout
all of
this?
He has
a clear
understanding
of the
holiness
of God.
He stands
under the
word in
fear and
trembling.
Your
word has
spoken.
I love
it.
I delight
in it.
I fear
it.
I want
to know
it.
I want
to have
it permeate
all of
my being.
rather than
much of
us who
stand over
the word
of God.
We spend
a paltry
15 minutes
a day
and then
we want
to tell
people what
it says.
You have
no right
if that's
the way
we love
God's
commands.
This is
a precious
psalm and I
hope that
it's working
in your
heart.
Let me
draw your
attention to
just a few
verses as
we move
on.
Have you
ever considered
the very
interesting
language that
the gospel
of John
uses?
The apostle
John uses
a language
that's unique
in the
scriptures.
As he
begins the
book of
John,
he says,
in the
beginning was
the word.
And the
word was
with God
and the
word was
God.
Speaking of
Jesus Christ
and he calls
Jesus Christ
the word,
the logos
in Greek.
And this is
the only place
that we see
this in the
scriptures and
it causes
me often
to try to
figure out
the interplay
with that.
What is
being communicated
to us?
Why is it
that John
was moved
to use
those
particular
words?
Let me
draw your
attention
here in
Psalm 119
to two
phrases that
reoccur.
I hope
in your
word,
logos,
right?
This would
have been
in Hebrew.
The Greek
translation of
it would
have used
the word
logos here.
I hope
in your
word and
give me
life according
to your
word.
We see
this verse
25,
verse 81,
verse 107.
I'm doing
this for the
sake of
those taking
notes.
Jot these
down.
Verse 25,
81,
107,
114,
154.
We see
these phrases
repeated
here.
And it
draws a very
clear connection
in my mind
to what's
happening in
this case.
We could
read it,
I hope,
in your
logos,
the very
being of
who you
are,
your
representation
here on
earth,
because we
can come
to understand
what John's
trying to
communicate by
simply looking
at the
text.
So do
that.
Turn to
John,
chapter 1.
Keep you
on your
toes.
Those of
you who
only brought
your New
Testament
version of
the Bible,
you're on
the same
page with
us now.
All right,
let's read it
together.
John chapter
1,
starting in
verse 1
through verse
5.
In the
beginning
was the
Word,
and the
Word was
with God,
and the
Word was
God.
He was in
the beginning
with God.
All things
were made
through him,
and without
him was
not anything
made that
was made.
In him
was life,
and the
life was
the light
of men.
The light
shines in
the darkness,
and the
darkness
has not
overcome it.
Skip down
to verse
14.
And the
Word became
flesh,
and dwelt
amongst us.
And we
have seen
his glory,
glory as
of the
only Son
from the
Father,
full of
grace and
truth.
I have a
painting that
Sam did
for me.
Well,
she didn't
do it for
me.
She did
it for
a show,
and I
took it
in my
study downstairs
that simply
says,
And the
Word became
flesh,
and dwelt
amongst us.
And it's
this constant
reminder to
me that as
I preach,
what I
preach is
Christ
crucified.
That's
the point.
The
Word of
God
here simply
testifies,
the words
of God
testify of
the Word
of God.
So understand
that God
and Word
go together
because the
Word is
his
manifestation.
It's his
showing of
himself.
And John,
here,
chapter 1,
would seem
to say to
us that
there cannot
be God
without Word,
that God
cannot be
oligos,
but he is
in fact
logos,
that the
Word and
God go
together.
The Word
is the
agent by
which God
makes himself
known.
And this
is why
both our
scriptures and
Jesus Christ
are called
the Word
of God.
The words
of God.
They testify
of our
great Lord.
Jesus Christ
himself is
the subject
matter of
this entire
thing.
From
beginning
to end,
this is all
about Jesus
Christ.
God
is the
Lord.
Sometimes people
try to press
him into
some text
where he
may just
not exactly
belong.
Sometimes the
text is really
about me,
but ultimately
it's about how
much I need
Jesus Christ.
This is what
the Bible
is about.
And therefore,
if you love
Jesus Christ,
you'll love
the Bible.
If you love
the Word,
you're going
to love
the Word.
Are you
with me
on that?
We see a
really beautiful
picture.
the road
to Emmaus.
I think most
of you are
probably familiar
with this.
Luke 24,
27.
We see some
disciples traveling
and who shows
up after
resurrection?
But Jesus
Christ,
they don't
recognize him,
but he sits
down and he
schools them.
Oh,
would I have
loved to have
been a part
of that
conversation.
It would
have been
precious.
Verse 27
says,
And beginning
with Moses
and all the
prophets,
he interpreted
to them in
all the
scriptures the
things concerning
himself.
How good
would that
have been
as we
preach through
Nehemiah?
Be like,
Jesus was
telling me
that this
means,
we're going
to tell you
all the
places that
he's typed
and foreshadowed
and all of
those things,
but the
scriptures are
ultimately and
finally about
Jesus Christ.
And beloved,
if we love
him, we
will love
his word.
One more
spot.
Turn to
Hebrews chapter
three.
We get a
similar language
here.
Again, we
don't know
who the
author of
Hebrews was.
I'm picking
a lot of
unknown
authored books
here.
The same
is true
of Nehemiah,
in fact.
But certainly
the writer of
Hebrews was
a pastor to
these people,
to these
Jews that
he's writing
to.
So he's
bringing about
some correction
for them.
He's keeping
them from
wanting to
turn back
away, to
turn from
their new
found life
in Christianity
back to
Judaism,
because that
was the
temptation
here at
this time.
There was
much persecution
going on for
the Christian
church, but
none for the
Jews.
So it's very
easy just to
go back into
being Jewish
and practicing
those things and
saying, well,
it's the same
God, right?
We're still
worshiping the
God of Abraham
and Isaac and
Jacob.
We're just
taking out the
Jesus Christ
thing.
And so the
book of Hebrews
is really about
saying, no,
no, this thing
that you've
entered into is
a whole new
thing.
It's a better
thing.
It's a higher
thing.
Don't go back
to that lesser
thing.
It doesn't
deliver.
And he
talks here in
chapter 3, if
you look at
verses 7
through 11,
about a rest,
entering into
rest.
And he's
quoting here from
Psalm 95,
verses 7
through 11.
It says,
therefore, as the
Holy Spirit
says, today, if
you hear this
voice, do not
harden your
hearts as in
the rebellion on
the day of
testing in the
wilderness, where
your fathers put
me to the test
and saw my
works for 40
years.
Therefore, I
was provoked
with that
generation and
said, they
always go astray
in their heart.
They have not
known my ways.
As I swore in
my wrath, they
shall not enter
my rest.
The people of
Israel wandering
in the wilderness,
putting God to
the test, not
trusting him,
pursuing him as
they ought to.
Does it sound
familiar to the
people in this
room?
And he's saying
to them, he
swore an oath to
say, I'm not
going to let them
enter into the
rest.
And the author
here of Hebrews
is saying, but
there is a rest.
Please know that
there is a rest
for the people of
God if we will
continue in his
ways.
If we're caught
up in Christ,
having placed our
faith in him,
there is a rest.
So he goes on to
talk about this
and he quotes a
couple of other
times from the
Old Testament and
then we arrive at
the classic verse
that I think
everyone knows,
verse 12.
For the word of
God is living and
active, sharp
with any two-edged
sword, piercing to
the division of
soul and of spirit,
of joints and of
marrow, and
discerning the
thoughts and
intentions of the
heart.
True and amen.
What does he say
right before that?
Let us therefore
strive to enter that
rest, so that no
one may fall by the
same sort of
disobedience.
So what is he
driving them to,
right?
He's driving them
to a reverence for,
an eagerness,
a responsiveness,
an obedience to
the word of God.
That's exactly what
he's trying to say to
them here.
That's where we pick
up verse 12.
I think probably all
of you know verse 12
but haven't really
read the chapter
preceding that.
That's what he's
driving us to.
But watch what he
does.
This is so cool.
So verse 12 again,
for the word of God,
he's speaking about
this Old Testament
scripture that he
just got done
quoting.
Again,
logos,
this manifestation of
God, his very words
to us, Old Testament
telling us to be
obedient, to pursue,
enter into the rest.
Verse 12,
for the word of God
is living and active,
sharper than any
two-edged sword,
piercing to the
division of soul and
of spirit, of joints
and of marrow, and
discerning the thoughts
and intentions of
the heart.
It treats all of us
holistically.
And no creature is
hidden from what?
His sight.
Not its sight.
But from his sight.
But all are naked
and exposed to the
eyes of him to whom
we must give account.
He just changed.
What is he talking
about now?
Did he just totally
stop one thing and
start talking about
another thing?
Of course not.
Right?
He's talking about
the very same thing.
But rather than
saying that we're all
hidden from its
sight, being the
word of God,
we're not hidden
from his sight.
Who is he talking
about?
Keep reading.
Context, context,
context.
Verse 14,
Since then, we have
a great high priest
who has passed
through the heavens.
Jesus, the Son of
God, let us hold
fast our confession.
Jesus, the word of
God, let us hold
fast our confession.
For we don't have a
high priest who is
unable to sympathize
with our weaknesses,
but one who in every
respect has been
tempted as we are,
yet without sin.
Let us then with
confidence draw near
to the throne of
grace, that we may
receive mercy and find
grace to help in time
of need.
The word of God,
himself, Jesus Christ.
Christ.
The gospel of God
that's found here.
It's the motivation,
the great catalyst for
wanting to know him in
his word.
I had a conversation
this week with a
brother I love who goes
to this church that his
fear sometimes is that we
get too top heavy.
We know too much and we
don't do.
And I think that is a
warranted fear.
It's something I don't
want to see happen with
our church.
But I think often we
don't know enough,
which is why we don't
do anything.
Because we haven't
devoted ourselves to
the word.
We don't really know the
standard to which we're
supposed to live.
We're not really thankful
for the salvation we
have because we don't
see that ever-widening
chasm that the people
in the Amayas day were
experiencing.
They didn't really
behold the glory of
God.
We don't see it.
And therefore we kind
of go about our
normal, average,
everyday Christian
lives.
Not caught up in the
splendor of the
kingdom.
Where do you find it?
How do you get moved
to that?
Here.
Right?
Say to Nehemiah,
come and open the book.
Come read to us.
You guys ever feel like
planning an event and
building a stage and
asking me to read the
word of God to you for
seven hours?
I'll do it.
This is precious for our
living.
We need it.
It is our sustenance.
We must devote ourselves
to the word of God.
Remember the psalmist.
The psalmist didn't say,
and it's a drudgery.
I've got to set my alarm
early and get up and roll
out of bed.
I don't have class till
eight o'clock, but I've got
to get up at six o'clock.
It was a joy to him to
relish the word of God.
Right?
To live abiding with it.
To meditate it throughout
the day.
Remember the record that he
praised God seven times a
day for his word?
Just that.
What other things that he
praised God for?
All the things that the
word had to tell him about
who God is.
I am deeply convicted.
I don't know that I will
listen to a seven hour
sermon.
I would probably press
pause a lot during that
time.
I couldn't stand still for a
15 minute reading of Psalm
119.
I had a pace.
I just got antsy.
How do I?
We need to be praying that
this becomes a reality for
us.
That we could say yes and
amen to every word of
Psalm 119.
That that will actually be
reality in our lives.
we have been delivered by
the word of God.
Let us relish the word of
God.
Let's pray together.
Amen.