Seek your servant

Good morning and welcome to Coffee and Devotions. This is where every day we get together, we get into God's Word, and we grow in our love for the Lord together. And this year, 2021, we'll make it through all of the wisdom literature. Well, thanks so much for joining me this morning. We're going to try to finish up Psalm 119. Why don't we go ahead and we'll have some coffee, we'll pray, and we'll get into God's Word.
Let's pray. Father, we thank you so much for this day. We thank you for your word. We thank you for the blessing it is to be your people, to get to sit at your feet, and to hear from you. We pray that the words on these pages might be the truth about our hearts. In Jesus' name, amen. All right, here we go. Let's go to Psalm 119. We left off at verse 41. Let your mercies come also to me, O Lord, your salvation according to your word.
So shall I have an answer for him who reproaches me, for I trust in your word. And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for I have hoped in your ordinances. So shall I keep your law continually for ever and ever. And I will walk at liberty, for I seek your precepts. I will speak of your testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed. And I will delight myself in your commandments, which I love. my hands also I will lift up to your commandments which I love and I will meditate on your statutes." Do you meditate on God's word? Do you love God's word? Do you pay attention to his ordinances?
Remember the word of your servant, upon which you have caused me to hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, for your word has given me life. The proud have me in great derision, yet I do not turn aside from your law. I remembered your judgments of old, O Lord, and have comforted myself. Indignation has taken hold of me because of the wicked who forsake your law. Your statutes have been my song in the house of my pilgrimage. I remember your name in the night, O Lord, and I keep your law. This has become mine because I keep your precepts. In the dark hours when trial and tribulation comes, do you go to God's word and do you find hope? Do you remind yourself of the truth of God? Then a letter of Heth. You are my portion, O Lord.
I have said that I would keep your words. I entreated your favor with my whole heart. Be merciful to me according to your word. I thought about my ways and turned my feet to your testimonies. I made haste and did not delay to keep your commandments. The cords of the wicked have bound me, but I have not forgotten your law. At midnight I will rise and give thanks to you because of your righteous judgments.
I am a companion of all who fear you and of those who keep your precepts. The earth, O Lord, is full of your mercy. Teach me your statutes. Do you wake in the night and do you remember God's word? Do you meditate upon it in the night watches? Do you rejoice and when God's word convicts you of sin, do you turn your ways back to him? Let's keep going.
You have dealt well with your servant, O Lord, according to your word. Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe 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." What a beautiful sentence that is. You are good and do good. Teach me your statutes.
Is that the prayer of your heart? The proud have forged a line against me, but I will keep your precepts with my whole heart. Their heart is as fat as grease, but I delight in your law. It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn your statutes. The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of coins of gold and silver. Do you value God's word more than money? Do you value what the Lord has to say more than all else? Yod, your hands have made me and fashioned me. Give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.
Those who fear you will be glad when they see me because I have hoped in your word. I know, O Lord, that your judgments are right and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me. Let, I pray, your merciful kindness be for my comfort. according to your word to your servant. Let your tender mercies come to me that I may live, for your law is my delight.
Let the proud be ashamed, for they have treated me wrongfully with falsehood. But I will meditate on your precepts. Let those who fear you turn to me, those who know your testimonies. Let my heart be blameless regarding your statutes, that I may not be ashamed."
What a beautiful sentence that is, verse 76 and 77. Let, I pray, your merciful kindness be my comfort, according to your word of your servant. Let your tender mercies come to me, that I may live, for your law is my delight." Is that the cry of your heart? God, let me know your law. Let me come to your word and teach me of your mercy, of your loving kindness. Cough. My soul faints for your salvation, but I hope in your word. My eyes fail from searching your word, saying, when will you comfort me? For I have become like a wineskin in smoke, yet I do not forget your statutes.
How many are the days of your servant? When will you execute judgment on those who persecute me? The proud have dug pits for me, which is not according to your law. All your commandments are faithful. They persecute me wrongfully, help me. They almost made an end of me on earth, but I did not forsake your precepts. Revive me according to your loving kindness so that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth."
When you face trial and tribulation, when there are people that are sinfully treating you, do you go to God's word? And do you say, Lord, this isn't right. I know it's not right because in your word, this says that this is unjust and wrong. Can you cry out honestly to the Lord that way? Lament.
Forever, O Lord, your word is settled in heaven. Oh boy, maybe some liberal theologians need to read that. Let me read it again, verse 89. Forever, O Lord, your word is settled in heaven. God is not changing like shifting shadows. His word is true. It is fixed firmly in heaven. Your faithfulness endures to all generations. You establish the earth and it abides. They continue this day according to your ordinances, for all are your servants.
Unless your law had been my delight, I would then 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 wait for me to destroy me, but I will consider your testimonies. I have seen the consummation of all perfection, but your commandments is exceedingly broad. Why is God's word fixed? Because God is eternal. Because we can look around us and see that all creation declares his glory and he is faithful and his faithfulness endures, so does his word. And so he comforts us with it.
Oh, how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. You, through your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep your precepts. I have restrained my feet from every evil way. that I may keep your word. I have not departed from your judgments, for you yourself have taught me. How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey! sweeter than honey to my mouth. Through your precepts I get understanding, therefore I hate every false way." Now we need to stop for a second. We cry this out.
The psalmist writes this out, but it's truly Jesus who lived it out. Every one of us is going to have this imperfectly in our lives, but if we are singing in Christ, this is Jesus' psalm. Jesus is the one who did not live on bread alone, but on every word which proceeded from the mouth of his father. It was Jesus who lived on that word. It was sweet in his mouth like honey. It sustained him while he was in that wilderness temptation and all the days of his life. We sing these words knowing that, well, we can only sing them in Christ. Let's keep going.
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I have sworn and confirmed that I will keep your righteous judgments. I am afflicted very much. Revive me, O Lord, according to your word. Accept, I pray, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord, and teach me your judgments.
My life is continually in my hand, yet I do not forget your law. The wicked have laid a snare for me, yet I have not strayed from your precepts. Your testimonies I have taken as a heritage forever, for they are rejoicing of my heart. I have inclined my heart to perform your statutes forever to the very end. Have you inclined your heart to keep the statutes of God? Not to earn your salvation, no, but in Christ have you inclined your heart to keep the word of the Lord.
Let's keep going. Psalmic. 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, for I will keep the commandments of my God. Uphold me according to your word that I may live, and do not let me be ashamed of my hope. Hold me up, and I shall be safe, and I shall observe your statutes continually. You reject all those who stray from your statutes, for their deceit is a falsehood.
You put away all the wicked of the earth like dross. Therefore, I love your testimonies. My flesh trembles for fear of you, and I am afraid of your judgments. I love verse 115. Depart from me, you evildoers. for I will keep the commandments of my God."
Right? Do we have that type of resolve? Do you have that type of resolve that you would say, you know, I don't care about my enemies. You guys do whatever you want, right? But I'm going to keep the commandments of my God. I don't care where the society's going. I don't care where things are going because I'm going to keep the commandments of my God. I am. I have done justice and righteousness.
Do not leave me to my oppressors. Be surety for your servant for good. Do not let the proud oppress me. My eyes fail from seeking your salvation and your righteous word. Deal with your servant according to your mercy and teach me your statutes. I am your servant. Give me understanding that I may know your testimonies. It is time for you to act, O Lord, for they have regarded your law as void.
Therefore, I love your commandments more than gold, yes, than fine gold. Therefore, all your precepts concerning all things I consider to be right. I hate every false way. Notice verse 122. Be surety for your servant for good. Do not let the proud oppress me.
It is Jesus Christ who is our down payment, our surety. He is the one who has paid the price. He is the one who is loved with a perfect love. He is the one who has kept these commandments perfectly. Let's keep going. Pay. Your testimonies are wonderful. Therefore, my soul keeps them. The entrance of your words give light. It gives understanding to the simple.
I opened my mouth and panted, for I longed for your commandments. Look upon me and be merciful to me as your custom is towards those who love your name. Direct my steps by your word and let no iniquity have dominion over me. Redeem me from the oppression of man that I may keep your precepts. Make your face shine upon your servant and teach me your statutes. Rivers of water run down from my eyes because no man keep. your law.
Sade, you are righteous, O Lord, and upright are your judgments. Your testimonies, which you have commanded, are righteous and very faithful. My zeal has consumed me because my enemies have forgotten your words. Your word is very pure. Therefore, your servant loves it. I am small and despised, yet I do not forget your precepts.
Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness and your law is truth. I'm going to read that verse again. Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness and your law is truth. God is righteous and his law is truth. Every single word that proceeds out of the mouth of God is true because he is righteous. Trouble and anguish have overtaken me, yet your commandments are my delight. The righteousness of your testimonies is everlasting.
Give me understanding, and I shall live." Cough. I cry out with my whole heart. Hear me, O Lord. I will keep your statues. I cry out to you. Save me, and I will keep your testimonies. I rise before the dawning of the morning and cry for help. I hope in your word. My eyes are awake through the night. Watch as I may meditate on your word. Hear my voice according to your lovingkindness. O Lord, revive me according to your justice. They draw near who follow after wickedness. They are far from your law. You are near, O Lord, and all your commandments are truth. Concerning your testimonies, I have known of old that you have founded them forever. Resh.
Consider my affliction and deliver me, for I do not forget your law. Plead my cause and redeem me, revive me according to your word. Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek your statutes. Great are your tender mercies, O Lord. Revive me according to your judgments. Many are my persecutors and my enemies, yet I do not turn from your testimonies. I see the treacherous and am disgusted because they do not keep your word. Consider how I love your precepts. Revive me, O Lord, according to your loving kindness.
The entirety of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous judgments endures forever. Oh man, let me read that again. The entirety of your word is truth, and every one of your judgments endures forever. This is exactly what Jesus said, right? He did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill the law, that not one yod or tittle would pass away. His word endures forever. God is perfect, his word endures.
Shin, princes persecute me without a cause, but my heart stands in awe of your word. I rejoice at your word, as one who finds great treasure. I hate and abhor lying, but I love your law. Seven times a day I praise you because of your righteous judgments. Great peace have come. Great peace have those who love your law and nothing causes them to stumble. Lord, I hope for your salvation and I do your commandments. My soul keeps your testimonies and I love them exceedingly. I keep your precepts and your testimonies for all my ways are before you. I think this is so interesting.
Great peace, verse 165, great peace have those who love your law and nothing causes them to stumble. Do you have peace from God's word? Do you think upon those things that are good, true, noble, just, right, praiseworthy, and do you do them? Does the peace of God that surpasses all understanding reside in your heart because you love him and because you love him, you love his word?
That's what this is pointing us to. Lastly, Tav.
Let my cry come before you, O Lord. Give me understanding according to your word. Let my supplication come before you. Deliver me according to your word. My lips shall utter praise, for you teach me your statutes. My tongue shall speak of your word, for all your commandments are righteousness. Let your hand become my help, for I have chosen your precepts. I long for your salvation, O Lord, and your law is my delight. Let my soul live, that it shall praise you, and let your judgments help me.
I have gone astray like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments. Isn't that the beautiful end to this psalm? Verse 176, I have gone astray like a lost sheep. Seek your servant for I do not forget your commandments. Isn't that the imagery that Jesus uses in the book of Luke about the lost sheep that he goes and he finds the one who's gone astray?
Maybe for you, you know God's word. You heard it. Maybe you were like me. I walked away from the faith. I walked away from the Lord, gone out of the home, left the church, lived in the world. His word was still there, but the Lord chased me down. God's righteousness was still there. He remembers according to his love and kindness. Will you cry out to him? Will you find peace in him? Will you love him? Will you love his word?
Let's pray. Father, we thank you for your mercy, your love and kindness, your righteousness, your justice, your truth. Father, please rescue us. Incline our hearts to your word. Thank you for Jesus Christ, who has done this perfectly. We pray that you give us a great day today as we meditate upon your word. In Jesus' name, amen. Well, thanks. I know this was a long one. Thanks for sticking through the longest chapter of the Bible with me, Psalm 119. I'll see you tomorrow for a much shorter time. Bye.