FOCUSED ON LOVING THE WORD OF GOD
PSALM 119:161-168
(November 17, 2019 – SUN p.m. – MBC baesa)

• The purpose of the writer of this Psalm is to exalt the written Word of God
• There is one verb that shows up several times and it is found in verses 163, 165, 167 that is the verb “love”. The
Hebrew word for “love” means to love something that you desire it and breathe after it.
• We deserve to suffer because of what we have done and due to our bad decisions and choices in our lives. But sometimes we don’t have done anything to deserve suffering.
• We can see in verse 161 that there were powerful. High ranking and prominent leaders or officials who persecute him without a cause and making his life miserable. They were pursuing and tracking him. This leaders would not leave him alone.
• All of what these officials were doing are unjustified, unfair, and without a cause. Now, how can we cope with negative things in our life? The answer is love the Word of God.
• We see the importance of attitudes toward the Word of God. This person had a genuine passion for God’s Word. Let us see the writer’s impressive position toward the Word of God:

I- REVERENCE TO THE WORD OF GOD – v. 161
Psalm 119:161 “Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.”
His tremendous reverence or respect with fear for the Word of God is partly the reason of unreasonable persecution.
→ Noticeably his reverence for God came from his heart. This individual’s heart and mind stood in awe of God’s Word.
→ The phrase “stands in awe” Hebrew word “pa·chad” (פָּחַ֥ד) means he has sch a reverence for God’s Word that he actually approached it with a trembling fear. This writer of this Psalm not only stood in awe for God but also stood in awe of God’s Word.
→ Many churches today’s worship have plays, concerts, movies, bands and politics in replacement for reverence for God’s Word. However, every church should have reverence of God’ Word and should be carefully taught at the church of God.
→ We must bring the Word of God to the church with the fear of God. There is no other book like the bible as the most holy book remained on this earth, we must use our knowledge thereof, not to vain glory of disputations, but honor God, increase of virtue and edification of ourselves and others.

II- REJOICED GREATLY IN THE WORD OF GOD – v. 162
Psalm 119:162 “I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.”
• This Psalm writer is happy to hear God’s Word like the one who found great riches. He considered the Word of God as the most valuable thing in his life.
• As we know that when someone conquered something they expectedly and normally take the spoils. The word “spoil” referring to accumulation of wealth or treasure. The Psalmist viewed the Word of God like as he found “great spoil” because he viewed the Word of God as the greatest treasure on this earth although sometimes his circumstances in life were not joyful but he always found joy in the Holy Scriptures.

III- REPUGNANCE OF FALSEHOOD BECAUSE OF THE WORD OF GOD – v.63a
Psalm 119:163a “I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love.”
• Whosoever love God and loves the Word of God develop a proper dislike lying. Since God hates liars, the mind of godly people must have that same mind of God. The verse 160 says “Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.” It means everything in the Word of God is truth from beginning to end it is all truth.
• The word “lying” in KJV is “false” in NASB. Therefore this Psalmist hated and despised falsehood in any form whether it is doctrinal, about life or speech. Falsehood is offensive and detestable to this writer.
• God hates those who are false but granted grace and mercy who admitted truth. God hates liars and lying according to both The Old Testament, Exodus 20:16 “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.”; and the New Testament, Colossians 3:9 “Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;”

IV- REAL LOVE FOR THE WORD OF GOD – v.163b
Psalm 119:163b “I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love.”
• The Psalmist loved the Word of God that is why He hates liars and lying. The Bible in the only book that teaches the whole truth and nothing but the truth about sin and about salvation.

V- RENDERED PRAISE TO GOD BECAUSE OF THE WORD OF GOD – v.164
Psalm 119:164 “Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments.”
• We should not forget in verse 161 that this writer was being persecuted by those high ranking officials but he was still praising God because he was moved by the Word of God. This writer knew that the just God will never forsake those God’s people who love God and the Word of God but deliver them from unrighteous enemies.
• The phrase “seven times a day” probably was literal in that the writer thought about God and seven times a day praised God. Since number seven is the number of completion, this psalmist wants his daily life was lived in complete praise to God because the Word of God is true, straight, just, righteous and holy.

VI- RECEIVED GREAT PEACE IN LOVING THE WORD OF GOD – v.165a
Psalm 119:165a “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.”
• Any believers who are committed and dedicated to the Word of God will have an internal great peace regardless of external experiences he had. The Bible teaches there is specific peace given to the lovers of God and lovers of the written Word of God.
→ Peace with long life and length of days – Proverbs 3:2 “For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.”
→ Peace of God not the peace of the world.- John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
→ The wicked have no peace – Isaiah 57:21 “There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.”

VII- RUINED NOT IN LOVING THE WORD OF GOD – v.165b
Psalm 119:165b “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.”
• The word “offend” in KJV is “stumble” in NASB with Hebrew word “miḵ·šōl” which means is the idea of falling to the point where one is ruined. God is promised that those who love His Written Word will never stumble or fall to the point that he is ruined.
• God has His sovereign reasons if He allows someone to be ruined. Incase it happened that individual does not love God or do not love His Word.
→ Solomon said that God will never let someone who loves God and His Word to be ruined. Proverbs 2:10-22 “When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; 11 Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: 12 To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things; 13 Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness; 14 Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked; 15 Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths: 16 To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words; 17 Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God. 18 For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead. 19 None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life. 20 That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous. 21 For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it. 22 But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.”

VIII- RETAINED HOPEFUL FOR GOD’S SALVATION IN THE WORD OF GOD – v.166
Psalm 119:166 “Lord, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments.”
• The writer realizes that salvation is God’s salvation therefore he kept on hoping and obeying God even in the midst of storms of trials in his life. In spite of all the persecution without a cause, all his pressures and surrounding problems he faced, he remained faithful and hopeful and never lose hope in the Lord.

IX- REMAINED OBEDIENT IN THE WORD OF GOD – v.167a
Psalm 119:167a “My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly.”
• The writer loved and obeyed the Scriptures, besides he protected and guarded the Scriptures and thus guarded his soul.
• When God look into the soul of David:
1. God see David’s reverence – v.161
2. God see David’s rejoicing – v.162
3. God see David’s love – v.163, 165
4. God see David’s praise – v.164
5. God see David’s commitment to righteousness – v.164b
→ God knew the truth of the soul of David and likewise God see and knew the real truth of our heart. What God sees in your heart?

X- RANKED HIGH KIND OF LOVE TO THE WORD OF GOD – v.167b
Psalm 119:167b “My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly.”
• It is highly ranked kind of love to the written Word of God. The writer love to God’s Word at a great level so His soul was sincerely dedicated to the Holy Scriptures of God.

XI- REALIZED TO LIVE THE WORD OF GOD KNOWING HE LIVED BEFORE GOD – v.168
Psalm 119:168 “I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my ways are before thee.”
• The writer of this Psalm is faithful and dedicated to protect and keep the Word of God because he realized that all his ways are naked and visible before the eyes of God everywhere at all times.