WEBVTT 00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:06.560 All right, we're in the middle of Psalm 119, very long chapter, and as a reminder of the Psalms, 00:00:06.900 --> 00:00:10.580 and we're studying verses 89 through 96, if you guys want to open up, so 89, 96. 00:00:12.040 --> 00:00:18.320 A reminder, the Psalm is a wisdom composition, so it's teaching us here about right living and right faith, 00:00:18.780 --> 00:00:22.699 and it makes clear that wise living centers around the instruction of God. 00:00:23.059 --> 00:00:27.539 So this is the Word of God that gives us wisdom, and we all want that, right? 00:00:27.539 --> 00:00:32.019 We want to live wisely, live well, so let's jump in. 00:00:32.280 --> 00:00:35.359 So verses 89 through 96. 00:00:37.299 --> 00:00:40.679 Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. 00:00:41.479 --> 00:00:43.340 Your faithfulness endures to all generations. 00:00:43.799 --> 00:00:46.000 You have established the earth, and it stands fast. 00:00:46.820 --> 00:00:50.099 By your appointment they stand this day, for all things are your servants. 00:00:50.679 --> 00:00:54.179 If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. 00:00:54.179 --> 00:00:58.060 I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life. 00:00:58.859 --> 00:01:02.579 I am yours, save me, for I have sought your precepts. 00:01:03.019 --> 00:01:06.460 The wicked lie in wait to destroy me, but I consider your testimonies. 00:01:06.939 --> 00:01:10.960 I have seen a limit to all perfection, but your commandment is exceedingly broad. 00:01:10.959 --> 00:01:18.259 So the first three verses speak about the sovereign and unchanging nature of God's Word. 00:01:18.899 --> 00:01:22.579 It's firm, it's powerful, it maintains all creation. 00:01:23.339 --> 00:01:26.519 It reminds me of Hebrews 1.3, where it talks about Jesus. 00:01:26.939 --> 00:01:32.719 So He, Jesus, is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature. 00:01:33.239 --> 00:01:36.079 And He upholds the universe by the Word of His power. 00:01:36.419 --> 00:01:38.719 So Jesus upholds the universe by the Word of His power. 00:01:38.719 --> 00:01:39.799 So, hey, James. 00:01:41.700 --> 00:01:45.179 And I'm reminded of God's creative power, too, through His Word. 00:01:45.640 --> 00:01:54.579 So in Genesis 1, it talks about how all the Father had to do to create the universe was speak it into being. 00:01:55.500 --> 00:01:59.719 So Genesis 1.3, and God said, let there be light, and there was light. 00:01:59.900 --> 00:02:00.700 That's all God has to do. 00:02:00.700 --> 00:02:09.539 And John chapter 11, when His friend Lazarus died, all Jesus had to do to bring him back to life was give His Word of command. 00:02:09.979 --> 00:02:12.000 He said, Lazarus, come out, and He came out. 00:02:13.039 --> 00:02:16.539 And that's what God did for each of us when we heard the gospel. 00:02:16.539 --> 00:02:18.560 And we trusted in Jesus. 00:02:18.560 --> 00:02:19.719 We were dead in our sin. 00:02:20.459 --> 00:02:29.879 And we were unresponsive, unable to respond to God, as much as a dead person is unable to hear and respond to a command. 00:02:31.099 --> 00:02:33.359 But God breathed life into us. 00:02:33.659 --> 00:02:34.519 He made us born again. 00:02:34.520 --> 00:02:38.880 And He made us able to see and adore and trust in Jesus. 00:02:40.100 --> 00:02:41.719 So God is strong. 00:02:41.840 --> 00:02:42.400 He is powerful. 00:02:43.020 --> 00:02:44.740 He sustains all of creation. 00:02:45.320 --> 00:02:48.300 He's the one who sustains you and me and is sovereign over all life. 00:02:48.439 --> 00:02:54.939 So we can be encouraged in the ups and downs of life that our Heavenly Father cares for us and has us. 00:02:54.939 --> 00:02:59.859 So that's the first three verses and the latter half of the psalm. 00:03:01.780 --> 00:03:05.620 The psalmist talks about finding hope and life in God's Word. 00:03:06.439 --> 00:03:10.979 So verse 92, if your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. 00:03:11.139 --> 00:03:14.379 We're 89 to 96. 00:03:17.000 --> 00:03:22.520 So when we face life's hardships, we can be tempted to disconnect from God. 00:03:22.719 --> 00:03:23.719 I think that's an easy temptation. 00:03:23.719 --> 00:03:24.599 We want to withdraw. 00:03:25.800 --> 00:03:30.599 Maybe we're too busy, so we get crowded out or we're too stressed. 00:03:32.079 --> 00:03:34.699 Or we become bitter towards God. 00:03:35.219 --> 00:03:40.240 We hear the lies that we can handle it on our own or God doesn't care about us. 00:03:40.319 --> 00:03:41.379 And so we disconnect from Him. 00:03:43.520 --> 00:03:48.639 Or we can also disconnect from other people, community. 00:03:48.960 --> 00:03:52.280 But I think these are both unwise things. 00:03:52.280 --> 00:03:57.039 With God, God's Word is a lamp unto our feet. 00:03:57.219 --> 00:03:58.860 And God gives us wisdom and instruction. 00:03:59.699 --> 00:04:02.979 In those times, we should be seeking Him more. 00:04:02.979 --> 00:04:06.639 I love the psalmist's cry in verse 94. 00:04:06.639 --> 00:04:08.119 He says, I am yours. 00:04:08.340 --> 00:04:09.019 Save me. 00:04:09.639 --> 00:04:12.120 And we can use that reasoning with God. 00:04:12.120 --> 00:04:15.020 We can say, God, we are yours. 00:04:16.319 --> 00:04:18.060 We are yours in Christ, your child. 00:04:18.699 --> 00:04:21.060 You are our God in Christ. 00:04:21.060 --> 00:04:27.519 And we can use that to leverage God's compassion and mercy towards us. 00:04:27.519 --> 00:04:31.139 And also with other people. 00:04:31.339 --> 00:04:33.180 We don't want to retreat from others. 00:04:33.299 --> 00:04:34.939 We want to stay connected. 00:04:35.060 --> 00:04:35.579 It's super hard. 00:04:35.659 --> 00:04:37.139 It can be when times are tough. 00:04:37.519 --> 00:04:45.120 But instead of retreating, thinking that we'll be a burden upon other people, we can let others support us and love us and serve us in our time of need. 00:04:45.120 --> 00:04:51.780 The last verse says, I have seen a limit to all perfection, but your commandment is exceedingly broad. 00:04:53.860 --> 00:04:55.300 Life is short. 00:04:56.240 --> 00:04:59.600 All of this world and its enjoyments are but a breath. 00:04:59.879 --> 00:05:09.879 Even like the most beautiful sunset or like the best piece of music or like whatever we come across. 00:05:09.980 --> 00:05:10.540 It's so short. 00:05:10.840 --> 00:05:11.459 It's just a breath. 00:05:11.459 --> 00:05:14.680 But God is infinite. 00:05:15.239 --> 00:05:17.459 In his scope and duration, his love is infinite. 00:05:17.620 --> 00:05:18.579 And we get to enjoy him forever. 00:05:19.560 --> 00:05:28.060 And I love in Ephesians 2, verse 7, just this glimpse into what God has in store for us. 00:05:28.060 --> 00:05:32.439 So it says that in chapter 2, God made us alive together with Christ. 00:05:33.120 --> 00:05:40.039 So that in the coming ages, he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace and kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 00:05:40.040 --> 00:05:41.740 A little bit of a mouthful. 00:05:41.740 --> 00:05:48.319 But in the coming ages, his plan, his purpose is to shower us with kindness. 00:05:49.540 --> 00:05:51.200 I think it's just cool to think about. 00:05:51.340 --> 00:05:54.240 Like that's what God wants us to do when he brings us into eternity. 00:05:54.379 --> 00:05:55.760 He's just going to give us kindness. 00:05:55.900 --> 00:05:56.860 That's what he wants to show us. 00:05:57.740 --> 00:05:59.939 And I think that's really amazing. 00:05:59.939 --> 00:06:08.779 So these truths of God's boundless love and his power, the hope that he gives, the promises that he gives, they're all in his word. 00:06:09.319 --> 00:06:15.240 So as we've been reminded throughout this chapter, let's read and meditate on God's word. 00:06:15.339 --> 00:06:18.079 Let's be satisfied with himself as we seek him. 00:06:18.079 --> 00:06:22.979 And with that, Anna, could you lead us in a song? 00:06:23.279 --> 00:06:23.659 Mm-hmm. 00:06:23.660 --> 00:06:24.660 Mm-hmm.