Psalm 119:169-176 The Word of God: The Word that Works

Psalm 119:169-176 The Word of God: The Word that Works
God's Word:
I. Invites our prayer (v. 169-170)
II. Evokes our praise (v. 171-172)
III. Exposes our preferences (v. 173-174)
IV. Achieves our preservation (v. 175-176)
Psalm 119 isn’t just the longest Psalm in the Psalter, it's the longest chapter in the whole of Scripture. 176 verses, every single one of them, in some sense or another, devoted to this Word of God, in its varied forms, such as precepts, laws, testimonies. It's composed of 22 stanzas, each stanza set forth with a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet, in order to aid memorization so its readers might store up God's word in their hearts.
God is approachable, not because He’s safe, but because in His goodness, He has provided a way for us sinners to approach Him, by giving the greatest gift of all, His Son. We see God’s goodness displayed in full when we gaze at the cross. And only because of this gracious act of infinite goodness and mercy are any of us able to approach this Holy God. This Word, and this Word alone, tells us just what Jesus’ death on the cross accomplished for us-access to God. The psalmist, looking forward to the cross, prays. And as believers, looking back at the cross, we pray.
The psalmist can’t help but ‘bubble up’-that’s the word in verse 171-The psalmist can’t help but bubble up praise for having such a gracious God who teaches His people His law. In contrast, the idols of the nations were dumb! They’re mute. They didn’t teach their people anything. They couldn’t teach them anything! They were but the work of human hands! What can a creator learn from its creation? The psalmist doesn’t just praise God for instructing him. The psalmist recognizes that all the commandments of the Lord are righteous. So, the psalmist can’t help but sing of them, relaying them to the world in song.
Why is it important that the psalmist comes to terms with his preferences? Well, the psalmist, in learning the ways of God, has discovered that he's not just being saved from something, but that he's being saved to something. He’s being saved from the kingdom of darkness ruled by the prince of the power of the air-Satan himself. And he’s being saved to the kingdom of light where Jesus reigns as Lord.
You know, Jesus doesn't leave us the option of receiving him as Savior without also receiving him as Lord. Yet there are so many who try. Jesus refuses to allow himself to be just another deity on the mantle of our life, to have a place beside other gods-the other things you and I tend to worship.
We were made to reflect, to shine forth, God’s image. But since the Fall that image has been compromised. The serpent led Eve to think that God couldn’t be trusted, that He was withholding something good from her. And this distorted view of God has caused us to shine forth a distorted image.
The psalmist recognizes the importance of this Word if he is to shine forth God’s image aright.
This Book has been given to you that in seeing God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ, you might long all the more to see Him in person. You see, this Word has been given to you, to see you to the end.
O, but being in the Word is no guarantee that you or I won’t stray. Final verse.
I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments.
This last verse seems so out of place. What a strange way for the psalm to end! How is this even possible?
After 175 verses of praising God's Word, how is it that he’s gone astray? Did he take his eyes off the Word that’s a lamp to his feet and a light to his path?
It’s because the psalmist has not forgotten the Lord’s commandments that he knows he’s off course and in desperate need of help. He’s in need of being sought.
God draws His children back when we go astray. He seeks us with His Word that has been stored up in our hearts.
Maybe you’re sitting here this morning, realizing that you have strayed.
Hear this Word! God is sending out his Word right now, to seek you, and to bring you back to the fold. And He has the best of robes waiting for you, as He longs for nothing more than to clothe you with the righteousness of His Son, indeed, to clothe you as His son. That is what Jesus purchased for you. Turn around. It’s not too late. May His grace lead you home.
This Word invites our prayers, it evokes our praise, it exposes our preferences, and it achieves our preservation. . May it be there, stored up in your heart for that hour when maybe you’ve wandered a little off course. And may God use it to seek you and lead you home, all the way to His celestial city.