Psalm 119:17-24 Second & Third Read...

Our Sunday School lesson is in John 1:19-51 and the main question placed before us is "What do you seek"?  Crowds ran out to John the Baptist to here him preach. Crowds followed Jesus as well.  At the very beginning He turns and asks "What do you seek"? The disciples reply was basically "We want to go where you go", "Where are you staying", and they followed after His invitation to "Come and see"...

So what does this have to do with Psalm 119? Listen to his heart:

That I may live and keep Thy word...

Open my eyes that I may see...

Do not hide Thy commandments from me...

My soul is crushed with longing after Thine ordinances...

Thy servant meditates on Thy statues...

Thy testimonies also are my delight; They are my counselors.

In the midst of trial and affliction the only thing he cares about is his relationship with his God. He doesn't make any comment about the exact circumstance; only his yearning for spiritual maturity (119:17-18) and restoration (119:19-22).

So "What do you seek"? Read J.C. Ryle's tough words to youth.  Ryle wanted kids to know that they were accountable for their actions... in other words - "What you seek each day is important no matter how old you are"

5 Dangers from Thoughts for Young Men by J.C. Ryle

1. Pride
 "Young men, take to heart the Scriptures just quoted. Do not be too confident in your own judgment. Stop being so sure that you are always right, and others wrong. Don't trust your own opinion, when you find it contrary to that of older men, and especially to that of your own parents. Age gives experience, and therefore deserves respect. "

2. Love of Pleasure 
"Youth is the time when our passions are strongest—and like unruly children, cry most loudly for indulgence. Youth is the time when we have generally our most health and strength: death seems far away, and to enjoy ourselves in this life seems to be everything... "I serve lusts and pleasures:" that is the true answer many a young man should give, if asked, "Whose Servant are you?" 

3. Thoughtlessness
 "Not thinking is one simple reason why thousands of souls are thrown away forever into the Lake of Fire. Men will not consider, will not look ahead, will not look around them, will not reflect on the end of their present course, and the sure consequences of their present days, and wake up to find they are damned for a lack of thinking.
Young men, none are in more danger of this than yourselves. You know little of the perils around you, and so you are careless how you walk. You hate the trouble of serious, quiet thinking, and so you make wrong decisions and bring upon yourselves much sorrow.""

4. Contempt of Religion 
"This also is one of your special dangers. I always observe that none pay so little outward respect to Christianity as young men. None take so little part in our services, when they are present at them—use Bibles so little—sing so little—listen to preaching so little. None are so generally absent at prayer meetings, Bible Studies, and all other weekday helps to the soul. Young men seem to think they do not need these things—they may be good for women and old men, but not for them. They appear ashamed of seeming to care about their souls: one would almost fancy they considered it a disgrace to go to heaven at all. "

5. Fear of Man's opinion
 "The fear of man" will indeed "prove to be a snare" (Proverbs 29:25). It is terrible to observe the power which it has over most minds, and especially over the minds of the young. Few seem to have any opinions of their own, or to think for themselves. Like dead fish, they go with the stream and tide: what others think is right, they think is right; and what others call wrong, they call wrong too. There are not many original thinkers in the world. Most men are like sheep, they follow a leader. If it was the fashion of the day to be Roman Catholics, they would be Roman Catholics, if it was to be Islamic, they would be Islamic. They dread the idea of going against the current of the times. In a word, the opinion of the day becomes their religion, their creed, their Bible, and their God."

Deuteronomy 4:9 - "Give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently..."

-scott

Psalm 119:17-24 First Read...

I must admit I fell into the habit of "zooming in" on each verse looking for a "nugget" and almost missed the context of it all... I haven't been able to focus on anything until I read through it so many times all the dots began to connect:

...that I may live

Open my eyes...

I am a stranger...

...do not hide

My soul is crushed...

Take away reproach and contempt from me...

Thy testimonies are my counselors.

This is the heart in the midst of affliction crying out.  Looking for understanding, looking for help and comfort.  A real man going through real trouble looking and longing for his God. Oh that I would sound like this in the midst of a storm... He only seems to be affected by the absence of God.  God has seemed to pull away from him and he is desperate to get Him back... Searching hard after God no matter the circumstances... this is a man truly blessed (119:2,10)

-scott

Psalm 119:9-16 Thoughts after Pastors sermon

Our pastor spoke from Hebrews 12:11 on affliction in the life of a believer.  How we view it and the dangers of falling into sin, unbelief, and possible apostasy with our reaction to the trial that God allows to come our way. Being in the valley is tough, but necessary. Several things came to mind in relation to Psalm 119:

The first question presented in verse 119:9 - "How can a young man keep his way pure".  I made the comment in a previous post that the word pure doesn't always mean only sexual purity. Of course it does contain that, but it's not restricted to only that.  How can our walk each day be pure unto the Lord? How can we keep our walk unmixed with the world's way of thinking?  By "keeping it according to God's word". (see also Romans 12:1-2)

Notice that in these verses ( 9-16 ) that the term "I have" is used:

I have sought... 

I have treasured...

I have told...

I have rejoiced...

This is something that He 'has been' (past tense) doing... Not something he runs to when difficulty comes, but something that seems to be a daily habit. So he is now ready when affliction / trials come his way.  He already knows Who is behind the trial. He knows that the outcome will be for his good and God's glory.  He doesn't get shaken off the path very far, and if he does he doesn't lose sight of it.  The trial drives him closer to his Lord and deeper into the word. This is how you keep your way pure; keeping each day by God's word.  Looking through the light of scripture at everything; asking God questions as you go and waiting quietly for His answer.  This is truly seeking Him... Does your heart ache for this type of relationship with God? (Psalm 119:2, 5, 8, 10) What is getting in the way if it doesn't.

Now look at the present tense and future tense of 119:15-16:

I will meditate on Thy precepts and regard Thy ways

I shall delight in Thy statutes

I shall not forget Thy word

He's been in the word...He sees the value of it...He is determined to stay the course.

What if we had the same determination in scripture that Michael Phelps has in swimming?

One more thing...I'm not trying to be a "Great Bible Teacher" with all kinds of insight...

I "have been" reading this and meditating on it.  God drew a parallel from our Pastors sermon to what I had been meditating on... and it really excited me!  "With my lips I am telling of the ordinances of His mouth"(119:13) "I am rejoicing in His testimonies" (119:14) "I see the supreme value in His word" (119:14) "I am even more determined to keep going" (119:15-16)

I pray you will do the same...   -scott

Psalm 119:9-16 Fourth Read...

This is the end of 9-16... beginning Monday morning I'll start 17-24.

119:10 - "Do not let me wonder" = Do not let me sin through ignorance, unintentionally breaking God's law.

Sin is sin...even though we may not mean to do something, or don't realize what we have done... if it's sin not knowing it doesn't change anything; you're still guilty. Psalm 19:12 confirms..."Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults."... Sin weaves it's way through the fabric of our life. It hides itself in our motives, attitudes, behavior, and will. It's so much a part of us that we don't even see it when it's right before our eyes. We know how to spot the obvious...but we don't even look for what is hidden. This is what brings a man to tears and puts him on his knees begging Christ for help and forgiveness. It's truly frightening when the Holy Spirit shows you just how deep your sin goes... Only He can help you... Only He can get into your heart and the source.

Spending time in the word will up-root many hidden sins. Submitting yourself daily to God's word and meditating on it will expose the dark areas that you never new were there. If you long to rid your self of sin and desire to be pure... you will learn that the word of God is a real treasure... a close friend that will keep you from wandering. And when you do wander; it comes after you to bring you back.

It will be your delight... it will become something that you won't forget: Wisdom

-scott

Serving

We have this "Serving God" idea all wrong.  We think serving God is teaching a Sunday School class or singing a solo in church.  Things like feeding the homeless in food lines, and buying a gift for a needy child at Christmas often enter the picture as well.  While these are all fine and good the list could go on of Christian 'actions' to be involved in, but this is not what Christ had in mind when he said I'm sending you out as sheep among wolves.  He didn't send us out to picket abortion clinics or argue with a homosexual. He didn't send us out to get in political debates or boycott those we don't agree with. He sent us out 'to be like Him' in front of those who never met Him.  Those who are broken and hurting.  Those who are living life like a sheep without a shepherd... sheep are often messy. He sent us out to be kind, gentle, patient, full of self-control and love. He sent us into the schools, workplaces, and broken homes to love them the way He would... they need to be introduced to Him. They need to meet the One who heals, mends the broken heart, and saves.  They need to see what is most treasured and valuable... Him.

The best way we can serve others is to spend as much time with Him as we possibly can. To know Him... to be like Him. To treasure Him ourself.  To let others see us going through difficult circumstances in a way like they have never seen before.  They need to see us honoring our parents, teachers, employers, and pastors not running them down.  They need to see Christ in us...  "Be ready in season and out of season"  "Always be ready to give an account of the hope that is in you" ( if it is in you )  

Remember where the term "Christian" came from?  It was a 'put-down'... it was an insult thrown upon those who 'looked like that man Christ'.  It actually wasn't an insult at all... it was a great honor.  Would this 'insult' stick if it was thrown at you?

-scott