Wednesday
Evening Bible Study
March 31, 2004
Introduction
Psalm 119 is the longest psalm and the longest chapter of the entire Bible.
It is an acrostic psalm
The verses are in groups of eight.
Each group begins with the same letter, the first group starting with the
first letter of the Hebrew alphabet (aleph), and for the most part, each line
begins with a different word that starts with that first letter. Then the next
eight start with the next letter (beth), and so on
until there are 22 sections of eight verses.
We think this was done as a way of teaching the alphabet.
It is an “ode” to the Word of God.
There are only two verses (Ps. 119:122,132) where the Word of God aren’t
mentioned. All the rest of the verses contain a reference to the Word of God.
The Word of God is going to be referred to by a number of various synonyms.
It will be called the “law”, “word”, “saying”, “commandment”, “statutes”,
“judgments”, “precepts”, “testimony”, “way”, and “path”.
:25-32 DALETH God’s Word Strengthens
:25 My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou
me according to thy word.
quicken – chayah – (Piel) to preserve alive, let live; to give life; to quicken,
revive, refresh; to restore to life
(Psa 119:25 NLT) I lie in the dust, completely discouraged; revive
me by your word.
:28 My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou
me according unto thy word.
melteth – dalaph – to drop, drip
heaviness – tuwgah – grief, heaviness, sorrow
Lesson
God’s Word lifts us
It give gives us life.
It lifts us out of the dust.
It strengthens us.
King Jehoshaphat had a problem …
(2 Chr
20:1-24 NLT) After this, the armies of the Moabites, Ammonites, and some of
the Meunites declared war on Jehoshaphat. {2}
Messengers came and told Jehoshaphat, "A vast army from Edom
is marching against you from beyond the Dead Sea. They are already at Hazazon-tamar." (This was another name for En-gedi.) {3} Jehoshaphat was alarmed by this news and sought
the LORD for guidance. He also gave orders that everyone throughout Judah
should observe a fast. {4} So people from all the
towns of Judah
came to Jerusalem
to seek the LORD. {5} Jehoshaphat stood before the people of Judah
and Jerusalem
in front of the new courtyard at the Temple of the LORD. {6} He
prayed, "O LORD, God of our ancestors, you alone are the God who is in
heaven. You are ruler of all the kingdoms of the earth. You are powerful and
mighty; no one can stand against you! {7} O our God, did you not drive out
those who lived in this land when your people arrived? And did you not give
this land forever to the descendants of your friend Abraham? {8} Your people settled here and built this Temple for you. {9} They said, 'Whenever we are faced with any calamity such as
war, disease, or famine, we can come to stand in your presence before this Temple where your name is
honored. We can cry out to you to save us, and you will hear us and rescue us.'
{10} "And now see what the armies of Ammon, Moab,
and Mount Seir
are doing. You would not let our ancestors invade those nations when Israel
left Egypt,
so they went around them and did not destroy them. {11} Now
see how they reward us! For they have come to throw us out of your land, which
you gave us as an inheritance. {12} O our God, won't you stop them? We are
powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know
what to do, but we are looking to you for help." {13} As all the men of
Judah stood before the LORD with their little ones, wives, and children, {14}
the Spirit of the LORD came upon one of the men standing there. His name was
Jahaziel son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a
Levite who was a descendant of Asaph. {15} He said,
Jahaziel is going to prophecy. He is going to speak for God. He has a
message from God. He has a word from God. We’re going to hear God’s Word and
see it’s affect.
"Listen, King Jehoshaphat! Listen, all you people of Judah
and Jerusalem!
This is what the LORD says: Do not be afraid! Don't be discouraged by this
mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God's. {16} Tomorrow,
march out against them. You will find them coming up through the ascent of Ziz
at the end of the valley that opens into the wilderness of Jeruel. {17} But you
will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch
the Lord's victory. He is with you, O people of Judah
and Jerusalem.
Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out there tomorrow, for the LORD is with
you!"
This was Jahaziel’s message from God. This was
God’s Word for the people.
{18} Then King Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground.
And all the people of Judah
and Jerusalem
did the same, worshiping the LORD. {19} Then the Levites from the clans of Kohath and Korah stood to praise the LORD, the God of
Israel, with a very loud shout. {20} Early the next
morning the army of Judah
went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. On the way Jehoshaphat stopped and said,
"Listen to me, all you people of Judah
and Jerusalem!
Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be able to stand firm. Believe in
his prophets, and you will succeed."
Jehoshaphat encouraged the people to trust in what God had spoken.
{21} After consulting the leaders of the
people, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the
LORD and praising him for his holy splendor. This is what they sang: "Give
thanks to the LORD; his faithful love endures forever!" {22} At the moment they began to sing and give praise, the LORD
caused the armies of Ammon, Moab,
and Mount Seir
to start fighting among themselves. {23} The armies of
Moab
and Ammon turned against their allies from Mount Seir and killed
every one of them. After they had finished off the army of Seir, they turned on
each other. {24} So when the army of Judah
arrived at the lookout point in the wilderness, there were dead bodies lying on
the ground for as far as they could see. Not a single one of the enemy had
escaped.
God had done an amazing thing, but it wouldn’t have happened if the people
hadn’t paid attention to God’s Word. Standing back and praising God in a
terrible situation is not normal. They only did it because they were willing to
trust God’s Word. And because they were willing to stay out of the way and let
God work, God could do an amazing things.
:32 I will run the way of thy commandments, when
thou shalt enlarge my heart.
enlarge – rachab – to be or grow wide, be or grow large
(Gen 26:17-22 KJV) And
Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt
there. {18} And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in
the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the
death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father
had called them. {19} And Isaac's servants digged in the valley, and found
there a well of springing water. {20} And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac's herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name
of the well Esek; because they strove with him. {21} And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and
he called the name of it Sitnah. {22} And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for
that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the LORD hath made room for us, and
we shall be fruitful in the land.
The name “Rehoboth” means “broad place”, based on the word translate
“enlarge” (rachab)
in Ps. 119:32.
Isaac saw that God had brought them to a “broad place” where there was no
more strife.
Lesson
Enlarged heart
I wonder if God doesn’t want to bring us to a place in our hearts where we
aren’t striving any more with Him, but where our hearts have been opened to
what He wants to do in our lives.
:33-40 HE Change of Heart
:36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not
to covetousness.
Incline – natah – (Hiphil) to stretch out; to spread
out; to turn, incline, influence
covetousness – betsa‘– profit, unjust gain, gain (profit) acquired by violence
Lesson
Pray for a change of heart
Sometimes our hearts are simply not where they should be. We aren’t willing to do what God wants us to
do.
Illustration
The spirit is willing
Actually, for most of us, our spirit isn’t
always even willing.
When you sincerely ask God to change your
heart, I believe He will honor that prayer.
Illustration
“Make me willing”
Years ago I remember being impressed by the attitude of
one of the kids in my youth group. The kids were telling me about their
homework load in school, and one kid shared that he prayed that God would give
him a desire to do his homework. By looking at that kid’s grades (he was a top
student), I believe God honored that prayer.
If you’re faced with something you know you need to do,
but you struggle with your heart, ask God to change
your heart.
:37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and
quicken thou me in thy way.
vanity – shav’ – emptiness, vanity, falsehood
quicken – chayah – (Piel) to preserve alive, let live; to give life; to quicken,
revive, refresh; to restore to life; to cause to grow; to restore; to revive
:38 Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is
devoted to thy fear.
(Psa 119:38 NLT) Reassure me of your promise, which is for those
who honor you.
Another translation carries the idea that it’s God’s Word that produces a
fear of God in us.
(Psa 119:38 NASB) Establish Thy word to Thy servant, As that which produces reverence for Thee.
:40 quicken me in thy righteousness.
quicken – chayah – (Piel) to preserve alive, let live; to give life; to quicken,
revive, refresh
:41-48 VAU Sharing the Word
:45 And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy
precepts.
Freedom comes from God’s Word.
(John 8:31-32 KJV) Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on
him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; {32} And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you
free.
:46 I will speak of thy testimonies also before
kings, and will not be ashamed.
Lesson
Bold Witness
Jesus talked about speaking before kings as something that would happen in
the last days:
(Luke 21:12-15 KJV) But before all these, they shall lay their
hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into
prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake. {13} And it shall turn to you for a testimony. {14} Settle it
therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: {15} For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your
adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
Jesus also said that we would be able to be bold witnesses if we allow the
Holy Spirit to empower us:
(Acts 1:8 KJV) But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy
Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the
uttermost part of the earth.
The boldness comes as we yield ourselves to the Holy
Spirit.
:49-56 ZAIN Comfort in the Word
:50 This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy
word hath quickened me.
comfort – nechamah – comfort
:52 I remembered thy judgments of old, O LORD; and
have comforted myself.
comforted – nacham – to be sorry, console oneself, repent, regret, comfort, be
comforted
Lesson
Comfort in the Word
One of the components of prophesying, speaking forth God’s Word, is
comfort.
(1 Cor 14:3 KJV) But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and
exhortation, and comfort.
God wants to comfort us:
(2 Cor 1:3-5 KJV) Blessed be God, even
the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all
comfort; {4} Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to
comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves
are comforted of God. {5} For as the sufferings of
Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
God will use His Word to comfort us. See if God doesn’t give you some
comfort as you read His Word:
(Isa 40 KJV) Comfort ye, comfort ye my
people, saith your God.
The things God is going to say through Isaiah are intended
for comfort.
{2} Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto
her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she
hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins. {3} The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye
the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. {4} Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill
shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places
plain: {5} And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see
it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
This was the message of John the Baptist as he prepared
the way for Jesus to come. Jesus was the ultimate Comforter.
{6} The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness
thereof is as the flower of the field: {7} The grass
withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of
the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.
{8} The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
God’s Word never fades.
{9} O Zion, that bringest good tidings,
get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest
good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say
unto the cities of Judah,
Behold your God! {10} Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his
arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before
him. {11} He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs
with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are
with young.
God cares for His people.
{12} Who hath measured the waters in the
hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the
dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills
in a balance? {13} Who hath directed the Spirit of the
LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him? {14} With
whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of
judgment, and taught him knowledge, and showed to him the way of understanding?
{15} Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the
small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little
thing. {16} And Lebanon
is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof
sufficient for a burnt offering. {17} All nations before him are as nothing;
and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity. {18} To whom then will ye liken God? or
what likeness will ye compare unto him? {19} The
workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold,
and casteth silver chains. {20} He that is so
impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree
that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven
image, that shall not be moved. {21} Have ye not known? have
ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the
beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations
of the earth? {22} It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the
inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a
curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in: {23} That bringeth the
princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity. {24} Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown:
yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon
them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble.
{25} To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be
equal? saith the Holy One. {26} Lift
up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth
out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his
might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.
We have an incredibly powerful God.
{27} Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is
hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God? {28} Hast thou
not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting
God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is
weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
{29} He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. {30} Even the youths shall faint and
be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: {31} But they that wait upon
the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles;
they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Our incredibly powerful God cares about us. He will give
us strength if we learn to trust and wait on Him.
:53 Horror hath taken hold upon me
Horror – zal‘aphah – burning heat, raging heat
:57-64 CHETH Midnight Songs
:59 I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto
thy testimonies.
(Psa 119:59 ICB) I thought
about my life, and I decided to obey your rules.
:62 At midnight
I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.
judgments – this is one of the words the
Psalmist uses for God’s Word.
Lesson
Midnight praise
(Acts 16:16-25 KJV) And
it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit
of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: {17}
The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of
the most high God, which show unto us the way of salvation. {18} And this did
she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I
command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out
the same hour. {19} And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was
gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the
rulers, {20} And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being
Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, {21} And teach customs, which are not
lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. {22} And the multitude rose up together against them: and the
magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. {23} And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast
them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: {24} Who, having
received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet
fast in the stocks. {25} And at midnight
Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
How could Paul and Silas do such a crazy thing like praising God after
having been arrested and beaten?
I wonder if the psalmist isn’t giving us a clue that when
we learn to trust in God’s judgment, when we learn to trust what He says in His
Word, then we can praise God even at midnight
in a prison.