Psalm 119
Aleph 1 Blessed are those whose way is blameless,who walk in the law of the LORD!
2Blessed are those who keep his testimonies,
who seek him with their whole heart,
3who also do no wrong,
but walk in his ways!
4You have commanded your precepts
to be kept diligently.
5Oh that my ways may be steadfast
in keeping your statutes!
6 Then I shall not be put to shame,
having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.
7I will praise you with an upright heart,
when I learn your righteous rules.
8I will keep your statutes;
do not utterly forsake me!
We live in an age where freedom is idolised, and where boundaries are a great evil. “Cause I’m free, to do what I want, any old time”. That’s what most people think freedom is all about, the allowance to be where they like, say what they like, and do what they like - in other words, give in to your ‘likes’, your pulsations and desires. Anything short of that is evil and restrictive, and…’outdated, religious, laughable’. That’s why the internet is one of the most revered gods of our age. You can watch anything and express your opinions about anything to everyone. And you can buy just about anything. The internet is a faceless, cheap and simple way to have endless freedom and pleasure - that’s what it looks like. But it’s not just the internet, it’s everywhere.
We need to stand back and be simply awestruck and broken by the comparison between our age, and what the bible clearly teaches. It must make us angry. It must make us distraught. It must blow our worlds apart.
1 Blessed are those whose way is blameless,who walk in the law of the LORD!
2Blessed are those who keep his testimonies,
who seek him with their whole heart,
3who also do no wrong,
but walk in his ways!
This is almost EXACTLY opposite to what our world believes. “Blessed is the man who walks without care for middle age ideas like sin! Who walks in the way he likes! Blessed are those who listen to their own testimonies and beliefs – whatever you WANT to think! Blessed are those who seek after their own hearts, their own dreams, their own desires and delight in them! Blessed are those who are free and unrestricted!”
We have then, before us in life, two entirely opposed pathways to a blessed life. They cannot both be right. If one is right, the other is entirely wrong. If you’re a Christian, that means to stand up for the Word of God is going to hurt, alot.
I’ve been challenged this morning to set myself against the gospel of the world. The supposed gospel of freedom from rules. We must not be deluded. It does not lead to freedom, but horrible enslavement, enslavement to sin, and “the wages of sin is death”. Eternal death, and the stink of death in this life. Satan is loving the current age of lawlessness and freedom, because it is reaping for him a great harvest of slaves (who think they’re free). How shall we stand confidently against the oncoming and growing opposition to the true gospel? We must heed the words of Psalm 119, continuing on.
4You have commanded your preceptsto be kept diligently.
5Oh that my ways may be steadfast
in keeping your statutes!
6 Then I shall not be put to shame,
having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.
7I will praise you with an upright heart,
when I learn your righteous rules.
8I will keep your statutes;
do not utterly forsake me!
Remember, pray, fix, praise.
(v4) Remember that it is the living, creator God that has commanded we should live by his precepts if we want a blessed life. To live by his laws diligently is not a restriction to be scoffed at, but a call to repent at our lax attitude towards holiness! (v5) Pray that your ways may be steadfast. Long for perfection. It’s not going to happen in this life, but long for it in your prayers, groan and weep for it. Thank God for the perfect, blessed Christ who IS ours, and has stepped in to cancel the debt of our imperfections and sinful ’freedom’. (v6) Fix your eyes on the Word! I need to start listening more to God than to the world. Reflect upon how much time you listen to the world, listen to its false gospel. Who are you listening to more? (v7) Praise your great God. For all the world to see. Worship him on Sundays, worship him on Mondays and every day. Be a living sacrifice, declaring the praises of Jesus Christ to all the world, the true freedom found in the new life of the Spirit – where God transforms our nature, that we can indeed follow his precepts and his laws, to begin living the truly blessed life in Christ.
I’m keen to work all the way through Psalm 119, so please, subscribe and read on! I pray this psalm will transform our thoughts about life, blessing, freedom, the Word, and Christ.
