Psalms 119:137-160 - Homiletics

Earnestness.

Much is said in this psalm about seeking and serving "with the whole heart." This is, indeed, the secret of real success, of ultimate victory. Many will fail to reach the goal and to wear the prize because they set out in a languid, half-hearted spirit, or because they started with nothing more than religious excitement. What is needed is genuine earnestness of soul. This—

I. INCLUDES A PROFOUND REGARD FOR THE WILL AND WORD OF GOD . To this the psalmist gives utterance here ( Psalms 119:137 , Psalms 119:138 , Psalms 119:140 , Psalms 119:142 , Psalms 119:144 , Psalms 119:151 , Psalms 119:152 , Psalms 119:159 , Psalms 119:160 ).

1. It is the truth itself.

2. It makes perfectly just and righteous demands.

3. It offers only that which is certain to be granted, and requires only that which is truly necessary; it is "very faithful."

4. It is free from everything that would wound sensitiveness or hurt the conscience, and it makes for absolute goodness and virtue; it is very pure.

5. It blesses and sustains through all the changes of a human life, and it outlives the changes of the centuries. It is as needful now as it ever was, and it will be the stay and strength of human souls forever; it is "everlasting."

6. It is worthy of our deep and true affection; it is something we "love."

II. TRIUMPHS OVER OUR SENSE OF PERSONAL INSIGNIFICANCE . ( Psalms 119:141 .) Religious earnestness does not dwell upon, and is not arrested by, a sense of personal obscurity. Every human soul is great, because related intimately to God, and because bound to duty and capable of holy service. The most despised individual soul can hold in its mind the thoughts and illustrate in its life the truth and principles of God himself (see Psalms 40:17 ).

III. TRIUMPHS OVER THE DEPRESSION OF GREAT SORROWS . ( Psalms 119:143 .) Troubles may accumulate, heavy burdens may weigh down the soul, saddest losses may darken the way, but the earnest spirit that trusts in God and looks to him for help will not be overwhelmed.

IV. INVOLVES DEVOTEDNESS TO THE CAUSE OF GOD AND TRUTH . ( Psalms 119:136 , Psalms 119:139 , Psalms 119:158 .) The reverent study of God's Word will make us increasingly conformed to the likeness and deepeningly interested in the cause of God. Hence there will be growing in our hearts a profound grief as we witness the sins and the consequent sorrows and miseries of mankind. This will rest on our heart and sadden our life, even as it did with our Lord. The woe of the world will be our trouble; and the cause of Christ, so often defeated and so long arrested, will be the source of great and lifelong solicitude. Of ourselves, as of our Master, it will be relatively true that "our zeal has consumed us," has worn us out ( Psalms 69:9 ; John 2:17 ).

V. SHOWS ITSELF IN A STRONG SENSE OF GOD 'S NEAR PRESENCE AND GREAT GOODNESS . ( Psalms 119:151 , Psalms 119:156 .)

VI. SHOWS ITSELF IN CONTINUAL DELIGHT IN DIVINE TRUTH . ( Psalms 119:148 .) Whether taken hyperbolically or literally, the text indicates a deep unbroken delight in meditating on the revealed truth of God; even weariness and sleep give way to the eagerness and interest which is taken in these high themes, in these precious promises,

VII. SHOWS ITSELF IN FERVENT PRAYER . ( Psalms 119:145-147 , Psalms 119:149 , Psalms 119:154 , Psalms 119:156 , Psalms 119:159 .) The psalmist tells us how much and how earnestly he cried and pleaded with God; he continually breaks into the strain of his song with the prayer, "Quicken thou me!" If we are in earnest in the service

1. Not the displeasure or the opposition of man; though this may be incurred without cause, and we may feel that the suspicion, or the ill feeling, or the attack is altogether wanton and unprovoked.

2. But the displeasure of God. Undisturbed by human ill will or intrigue, we "stand in awe" of Divine disapproval; we shrink from thinking the thought, cherishing the feeling, taking the course, which Christ would condemn; we are afraid of leaving undone or unattempted that to which he is calling us with his sovereign voice.

II. THE TRUE TREASURE . ( Psalms 119:162 .)

1. Not the "spoils" of wealth, or rank, or power, or learning, or a round of pleasurable excitements; these soon lose their relish, and they too often leave a bitter taste behind.

2. But the revelation of God's grace, of his mind, of his purpose and promise, as made known in his Word.

III. THE TRUE WORD . ( Psalms 119:163 .) Falsehood is utterly offensive to God, and it is most hurtful to ourselves; it spells spiritual ruin to him that indulges in it; it is an evil weed that grows with saddening rapidity. Truthfulness in utterance is a large and essential part of all spiritual worth.

IV. THE TRUE SPIRIT . That of thankfulness. ( Psalms 119:164 .) It is not, of course, the number of times we offer praise that is acceptable; for mere mechanical thanksgiving is worthless, though rendered a hundred times a day. It is the spirit of gratitude which is everything—the recognition by the mind that it is by God's grace we are what we are, and the feeling of thankfulness dwelling in the soul; it is the inner sense of God's goodness, carried with us everywhere, uttering itself simply and unaffectedly.

V. THE TRUE SECURITY . ( Psalms 119:165 .) In the ordering of our life, we want these two things among others—peace and integrity. The love and the practice of Divine truth will yield both of these.

1. It will save us from stumbling (nothing will "offend" us); we shall not fall into the vices or faults which lead down to shame and self-reproach; we shall not give way to the contentiousness which ends in feuds and separations.

2. Hence we shall have peace—the approval of our own conscience, the good will of men, the "well done" of God.

VI. THE TRUE HOPE . ( Psalms 119:166 .) The final "salvation" for which we hope (see Romans 13:11 ) is the true hope for man. The "peace of the grave" is not a true peace, but a false one. Mere unbroken unconsciousness is not a thing to be desired by us. But the hope of eternal life, based on the firm promises of God, and secured by "doing his commandments," by fidelity to the end (see Hebrews 4:1 ; 2 Peter 1:10 , 2 Peter 1:11 ; Revelation 3:11 ), by being "faithful unto death."

VII. THE TRUE SOURCE OF SANCTITY . ( Psalms 119:168 .) If we would maintain our obedience everywhere and always, we must realize the truth that "all our ways are before God." We must "stand before God," must "walk with God," as the saints of olden time did. We must take with us everywhere the truth that we think our thoughts, speak our words, live our life, in the near presence and under the approving or disapproving eye of our Lord himself.