Psalm 119. The Greatness and Glory of the Word of God. Part 7

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Tree of Life
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Psalm 119. The Greatness and Glory of the Word of God. Part 6.

Psalm 119 - The Greatness and Glory of the Word of God.Acrostic file # 13. The Mem file: PSA 119:97-104.
The Samech and the Ayin file.

As we continue our study of this acrostic Psalm we are now ready for the Mem file which is the 13th letter in the Hebrew alphabet which signifies water. The traditional meaning of Mem is the mother, the origin, the sea, the waters, and everything that is fertile. Mem is the reformer of life by successive transformation and by the changes it causes. Mem assures movement of life.

This of course takes us to the water of the word,

EPH 5:26, that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

JOH 15:3, “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.

PSA 119:9, How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Thy word.

The first phrase in PSA 119:97, O how I love Thy law!

The first word is the Hebrew pronoun maah which means How? Why, When or What! He loves God’s word and yet neglects the study of it, and therefore he realizes that he is revealing the grossest of hypocrisy. We many know, read, hear, speak even preach the word even perform it but not love it. Love must be our ultimate motivation, 2CO 5:14.

2CO 5:14, For the love for Christ controls or motivates us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died;

PSA 119:97,  the Psalmist says, O how I love Thy law! It is my meditation all the day.

The word for meditation is the Hebrew noun    ‎siychah which means that the word of God is constantly what he reflects upon, his devotion and meditation, or what is constantly in his thoughts. The principle is that what we truly love we think upon. He loved the word of God and that was his thoughts and meditation daily.

PSA 119:97, O how I love Thy law! It is my meditation all the day.

John Calvin - “If any person boasts that he loves God’s word and yet neglects the study of it, he reveals the grossest hypocrisy.

Remember whoever loves TLJC is willing to forsake their father, mother, brother, sister, even their own life, LUK 14:26.

PSA 119:98, Thy commandments make me wiser than my enemies, For they are ever mine.

In other words, the Word of God gives him a super weapon. He has no physical weapons and yet inside of him is the greatest weapon of all—Bible doctrine. In fact, we read about a very important principle concerning this in JOB 32:7-9, “I thought age should speak, And increased years should teach wisdom. But it is a spirit in man, And the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding. The abundant in years may not be wise, Nor may elders understand justice.

It is a false concept when a person thinks that age gives you wisdom. The antithesis is that some of the smartest people I know are young and in their youth because of the humility that they have to learn from their smart elders. So, the point is that age is not a guarantee of wisdom.

PSA 119:98, Thy commandments make me wiser than my enemies, For they are ever mine.

His enemies march alongside him, they are the soldiers and they are dumb.

PSA 119:99, I have more insight than all my teachers, For Thy testimonies are my meditation.

Even some of the teachers who went before him taught him Bible doctrine but they did not go through the things that he did. He went through maximum disaster conditions and therefore he saw experientially the truth of Bible doctrine more than anyone before him.

This does not mean that he actually understood more doctrine but it means that he actually experienced more doctrine with understanding than anyone else. And notice that he says “for thy testimonies are my meditation” - meaning Bible doctrine is with him through every one of these disasters.

PSA 119:100, I understand more than the aged, Because I have observed Thy precepts.

The aged or the ancients were Jewish believers who lived prior to the writer. They had never faced such a thing as he had. The guards were guarding the prisoners but this prisoner was guarding Bible doctrine.

PSA 119:101, I have refrained my feet from every evil way.

Refrained is the Qal perfect of the Hebrew verb kala which means to separate. He separated himself form every evil way. Evil way here actually means false doctrine. He separated himself from false doctrine that is why he was able to learn so much so rapidly.

Have you ever considered (without getting legalistic) what the Bible has to say about separation?

1. Separation from certain types of carnal believers, 1CO 5:10-11. These are the one if you stay with will destroy your morals and values.
   2. Separation from believers who reject doctrine, 2TH 3:6; 3:14-15.
   3. Separation from believers who try to make emotionalism spirituality, ROM 16:17-18.
   4. Separation from religious people and religion, 2CO 6:17; 2TI 3:5.
   5. Separation from human viewpoint thinking known as worldliness, ROM 12:1-2.
   6. Separation from the fast crowd, 1PE 4:4; PRO 1:10-19. These groups influence and attack the conscience of the believer.
   7. Separation from unbelievers where doctrine is compromised, 2CO 6:14; HEB 13:13. Now, why did he therefore in verse 100 separate himself from every evil way?

Satan has a field day hindering Christians through lack of separation, especially through the use of relationships. Be very careful that people emphasis doesn’t take priority over God emphasis.

Now this brings us to a very important principle concerning people emphasis over God emphasis.

The problem of relationships originates from the trend to emphasize relationship with people over relationship with God.

This is when interaction with people becomes the criterion of the Christian way of life instead of the execution of the PPOG and the glorification of God. This is usually manifested by such statements as we must love others over our study of the Word of God. Or the issue is not doctrine but love.

This is even an excessive emphasis on the Church or the body of Christ. It’s not that fellowship or relationships with people are wrong, but it is overemphasized so that today believers are not growing spiritually. There are two problems related to the myth of personal relationships.

1. The problem of unrealistic expectation.
   b. The problem of role model arrogance.

Unrealistic expectation is defined by people not being loved the way the want to be loved or treated the way they want to be treated. As a result, they develop an interposing frustration which destroys interaction in human relationships.

Unrealistic expectation becomes the motivation for at least three things.

Unrealistic expectation becomes the basis for selecting a local church that emphasizes fellowship, young people’s programs, etc. Church hopping results as people continue to seek being treated and loved the way they want. In this demand syndrome, they demand that you love them even though they are obnoxious. They demand attention from a pastor or a group. This demand syndrome from arrogance means any interaction with people will be disastrous.

Unrealistic expectation is a problem in every human relationship, including marriage, friendship, romance, and Christian fellowship.

Always remember when it comes to relationship with others that you cannot change people. You cannot change people to conform to your standards and expectations. Such an attempt only makes you miserable. You cannot change other people; you can only change yourself. Your relationship with God is the major issue. When that is straight, then your relationships with people will fall into line.

PSA 119:102, I have not turned aside from Thine ordinances, For Thou Thyself hast taught me. Thou Thyself has taught me means he recognizes all doctrine is from the Lord.

Taught is the Hebrew verb yarah which means to flow as water, to point out continually through exegetical teaching. To flow as water follows the landscape, in fact,  this is a principle of tactical warfare, to know the landscape or geographical advantages and disadvantages as the water knows, leads to victory.

Psa 119:103, How sweet are Thy words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Sweet is the Hebrew verb malats which means to be smooth and pleasant. The word taste is the Hebrew noun chek, it refers to taste, kissing. The word connotes intimacy. It’s interesting that a lot of people don’t understand the origin or the purpose of a kiss. The custom of kissing in the ancient world originated from what is known as an animistic idea.

Animism is the belief that all objects

possess life by the indwelling or possession of a soul. Kissing only occurred where people were intelligent. There are various kinds of kisses.

PSA 119:103, How sweet are Thy words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Honey in the ancient world was known for the following:

1. Stimulating the taste buds. Honey was the candy of the ancient world. He is making an analogy between honey and B.D. Just as honey stimulates the tastes buds and taste glands so does B.D. stimulate the believer.
2. Honey also provided energy for the body so does doctrine provide spiritual energy that the believer needs.
3. Honey also was used to protect against local allergies so doctrine protect us from false doctrine and the diseases that are going around spiritually.

You see when you live in some area and you eat the honey of that area the bees pollinate from the plants in that area, their honey from the various plants around protect you from the allergies in that particular area.

4. Honey was also used to improve the complexion.

Doctrine is not only beneficial for the inner beauty of the soul but for the outward beauty including the countenance.

5. Honey also has something to do with the prevention of tooth decay so the believer is protected from decay through B.D.

The final verse of the file marks a great advance in character and show this man is growing even stronger.

PSA 119:104, From Thy precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.

There is only one reason why so many are deceived with false doctrine which is because they have not learned wisdom from the word of God.

The false way here is a way that deceives and ruins lives even though it seems right to a man,

PRO 14:12, There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.

The Samech and the Ayin file.

PSA 119:113-120

The next file is what is known as the Samech which is the 15th letter of the Hebrew Alphabet and it represents what is known as a fulcrum -  The fulcrum was used for leverage in the ancient world. Here Bible doctrine is the fulcrum because doctrine can lift the heavy loads and burdens of life. It was also used for support. Samech is both that what strains the string of the bow, and the humming of the string. Samech is also the hissing of a snake, the physical life force, the egotistic impulses, and the seductive instincts. Giving way to the lower energies and the snake pulls you down. However they can be transformed, and then the snake will pull you upwards.

As a prop it is the life force that sustains everything, through that process it links the above with the below. By now the writer has learned some very valuable lessons. The lesson is that God will do whatever he has to awaken the believer to the facts of life. He’ll take away money, success, pleasure, friends, loved ones, social-life, materialism etc...if they become a hindrance to the believer. And in place of all these things he gives you pressure.

PSA 119:113, I hate those who are double‑minded, But I love Thy law.

Doubleminded thoughts are manifested by doubts and instability.

PSA 119:114, Thou art my hiding place and my shield; I wait for Thy word.

Hiding place means a place where he can retreat when pressured. The shield represents our defense in time of disaster. The shield protects us from fiery darts. The shield also bounces back what others fire at us.

PSA 119:114, Thou art my hiding place and my shield; I wait for Thy word.

Wait is the Hebrew verb yachal which means to use the faith-rest drill in a situation of total Confusion and disaster. This is the confidence to concentrate on the promises of God and the plan of God while everything is falling apart around you. In verse 115 he realizes the importance of separating from those influenced by evil.

PSA 119:115, Depart from me, evildoers, That I may observe the commandments of my God.

There are those in the slave line who are freaking out and influenced by evil. They are panicking, screaming, murmuring, complaining and freaking out! He is separating himself from these people and will have nothing to do with them.

Now, evildoers are those who do not have divine viewpoint  or if they do have they refuse to apply it. And why does he want to separate from these evildoers?...

PSA 119:115...That I may observe the commandments of my God.

What’s more important to you? Your friends? Your family? Or the Word of God.

PSA 119:116, Sustain me according to Thy word, that I may live; And do not let me be ashamed of my hope.

Remember this the Samech file...the support file.

He is asking to be sustained not according to his faith but according to the word. He doesn’t have a crutch he has a lever and there is a tremendous difference between a crutch and a lever. A crutch is dependence on the things of this world while a lever is God’s word lifting off the pressure.

PSA 119:116, Sustain me according to Thy word, that I may live; And do not let me be ashamed of my hope.

We may be ashamed of our thoughts, words and deeds because they come from our self-life. But we shall never be ashamed of our hope in God.

PSA 119:117, Uphold me that I may be safe, That I may have regard for Thy statutes continually.

Uphold me means to support in the sense of refreshments. And the word safe refers not to deliverance out of the disaster but deliverance in the disaster. This is inner happiness in the midst of the disaster!

PSA 119:117, Uphold me that I may be safe, That I may have regard for Thy statutes continually.

The word regard means to concentrate and give your attention to the word through respect. And notice what he has learned to respect...Thy statues.”

PSA 119:118, Thou hast rejected all those who wander from Thy statutes, For their deceitfulness is useless.

Again we see a vital principle concerning Gods attitude toward those who have rejected His doctrine. Because they had rejected and wandered from doctrine they ended up in slavery.  And when he says “For their deceitfulness is useless,”...this is not deceitfulness toward others but deceitfulness tow themselves.

PSA 119:119, Thou hast removed all the wicked of the earth like dross; Therefore I love Thy testimonies.

Wicked of the earth refers to those Jews who died the sin unto death! The godly and the wicked live together in the visible church today. Just like the wheat and the tares. But God who is the purger of the church will bring situations in to separate them.

PSA 119:120, My flesh trembles for fear of Thee, And I am afraid of Thy judgments.

This reveals something very vital! Many believers fail to realize what grace is all about. Many think they can live their life anyway they want to after they’re saved.

The spiritual life that God has provided just for you has all the solutions to every single problem you will ever face. Solutions that are not only designed to solve your problems but to make you a better person as well! When you are involved in the plan of God and the living spiritual life that God has provided, you will have all kinds of afflictions and difficulties to deal with. If it’s just you, you’ll have to deal with these things personally. If your marriage is based on doctrine, you’ll have to deal with these things in your marriage.

If your family is involved in doctrine, you’ll have to deal with these things as a family. If your church is teaching doctrine, you’ll have to deal with these things as a church.

But the fact of the matter is, if you use the problem solving devices instead of defense mechanisms, you will prosper and be a better person for it! It’s like the children of Israel in EXO 1:12, But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread out,

This is what the apostle Paul meant when he said in 2CO 1:3-7, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; who comforts us in all our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer; and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort.

So, a very important principle. Choosing to use any defense mechanism is volition going in the opposite direction from your spiritual life. Defense mechanisms are the function of your volition when you are living outside of your spiritual life. There is a tremendous conflict between defense mechanisms and metabolized doctrine. This is one of the great battles fought in the soul of the believer. A major soul conflict exists in the life of every believer between defense mechanisms and metabolized doctrine at any stage of growth. This is the battle of application.

Think of it, how can a believer have an effective and wonderful relationship with God apart from the filling of the Spirit, personal love for God the Father, and occupation with Christ? The answer is that he can’t! How can a believer have wonderful interaction and a great relationship with other people without doctrinal orientation and grace orientation? He can’t!

How can the believer have a life of meaning, purpose, and definition apart from a personal sense of destiny? He can’t!

So, every believer has an option in his postsalvation experience: defense mechanisms to avoid reality in life and become a loser (even though you think you are always right and have a pseudo self-esteem) or the function of the ten problem solving devices to become a winner.

If you do not know how the ten problem solving devices function, then you cannot apply metabolized doctrine to your spiritual life and Christian experience and you can only fall back on the defense mechanisms which function in your soul.

Now, at the moment any person believes in Jesus Christ, God does at least forty things for that person. And one of the most overlooked things is that God forgives and forgets all past sins and failures. This is why it is useless for a believer to probe his pre-salvation experience for answers to his current failures because it is old garbage.

In ISA 43:25, the Lord says “I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins.”

Now, the Hebrew word to wipe out is the word machah which also means to abolish, blot out, destroy, to obliterate, and to exterminate.

All of our sins, failures, and even reactions to injustices were wiped out at salvation.

So why would you want to go back into your childhood and into your past when every bit of that was blotted out at salvation?

Now look at ISA 44:22 “I have wiped out [same word] your transgressions like a thick cloud, And your sins like a heavy mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.”

By the way ISA 43:25 is before salvation, ISA 44:22 is after salvation.  That’s why this verse says Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.” Now, if you believe the word of God, why probe into your past to find answers instead of probing into the future through perception and metabolization of Bible doctrine?

Many people do not want to face the fact that they’ve made some  bad decisions. They want to justify themselves. They feel better if they feel righteous but that is not how to solve your problems. Now then, the soul, and especially the heart, is the location of the spiritual life. In fact, the heart is the battleground of your spiritual life.