Sunday School: Psalm 119:121-136 Hebrew letters Ayin and Pe. Bart Lester.
Ayin: v.121-128 Reward, Trust, Commitment.
There is reward for those who live in obedience to God's law. But this obedience often lands us in trouble with God's enemies.....the insolent (arrogant) who live life as though they are god and that He isn't. Other psalms speak of this attitude....they think God doesn't see, hear, or know what they are about. And they tend to make life miserable for those who do live in obedience to God' law.
It is appropriate for us to plead for God's justice against them.....for they oppose God.
God doesn't seem to be in a hurry to judge them, which doesn't play well with the psalmist's desire to see justice quick! He asks for help in understanding God's ways and to discern good and evil. The urgency of the situation causes the writer to ask God to act now! He declares that he loves God's law and will not be swayed to not love it by the blatent disregard of it around him. The more he sees this, the more loyal he will be.
If we love God's law, we hate double-mindedness (verse 113) and anything that opposes Him. "Hate" is indeed a biblical word, if directed at the appropriate thing....false ways, double minded, etc. (I would love to do a study on the word 'hate' in the Scriptures.......)
An example of the words of Christ to the church @ Laodicea was raised, Rev 3:14ff. They were lukewarm....neither hot nor cold....neither adhering to nor denying God's Word. And He spit them out in disgust.
Oh my I not be lukewarm! But I fear this is where most of the church in America is! May I be hot.....longing for and loving God's law and precepts and living by them!
Pe: v. 129-136 God's law is wonderful (i.e. supernatural) therefore I keep it! There is a quality of Scripture that sets it apart from all other writings. It gives me light and understanding. i.e. it illumines the right path, and teaches me how to walk there for I am vulnerable (simple).
My longing for God's Word is like the longing for food and water. It is the very bread of life. Without it I am empty and malnourished, weary and dehydrated. Satisfy me with Your Word! Apply it to my heart! Help me keep Your commandments in spite of the oppression (persecution for righteousness sake). Show favor to me! The breaking of God's law grieves me, bringing me to tears.
So.........what makes you cry? Something to think about.....a very convicting thought.
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Worship, Eph 2:1-10 Bart Lester.
Just the reading of this Word, and all I wanted to say is this....."'nuf said." Powerful! and oh so humbling.......
Bart spoke of amnesia.....and wondered if we have it regarding the message of this passage.
Our nature is from birth death. In hostility toward God.
Walking in sin.
But God, saved us by the gift of grace, and resurrected us to life through Jesus Christ.
We have forgotten to recognize that the rot problem of humanity is spiritual.....our dead state. We are helpless, and cannot heal, rescue, redeem ourselves......
But God, who is rich in grace and mercy, loves us who are unlovable....in opposition it Him at our core. God is active in the transaction, we are passive. He has done this. Not of ourselves, no room to boast, it is a GIFT. We are not self made (as our society preaches to us non-stop) but we are HIS workmanship. All of God, and none of me. Let Him be our boast!
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