PSALMS LESSON 128
 
     We will continue the verse by verse study of the 119th Psalm.
Psalms 119:105 "{NUN.} Thy word [is] a lamp unto my feet, and a light
unto my path."

     We are living in a very darkened world. The path of life would be
obscured from our view, were it not for the Light of Jesus which
lights our way. John 8:12  "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying,
I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in
darkness, but shall have the light of life." The Word {spoken of in
John chapter 1} and the Light are the same. The One we know as Jesus
Christ the righteous is both. The Light that directs my every step is
not only that flaming torch of a light mentioned in the first of verse
105 above, but the Bible {God's Word} guides me by enlightening my
understanding. If I continue to study His Word, then I will see the
path that I am to walk brighter and brighter. It is very important not
to go any where, unless the light guides you there. Stay in the
presence of Light, until you are like Moses' head: full of His Light.
Look, with me, at one more Scripture on this. Ephesians 5:8 "For ye
were sometimes darkness, but now [are ye] light in the Lord: walk as
children of light:" You see, we not only walk in His Light, but His
Light is in us and shines forth from us.

     Psalms 119:106 "I have sworn, and I will perform [it], that I
will keep thy righteous judgments."

     When the day star shines in our lives, it causes us to understand
so fully that we will be committed, such as the psalmist is here to
keep the judgements of the Lord. II Peter 1:19 "We have also a more
sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto
a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day
star arise in your hearts:"  When this day star, {Jesus, the Light},
shines forth within you, it does away with all darkness. It completely
changes you from within.

     Psalms 119:107 "I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD,
according unto thy word."

     This is not the psalmist being pushy with God, he is just
claiming the promises that God has made in His Word. He says, your
Word says that you will quicken me, I believe your Word, so it is
done. Remember, that the quickening is of the spirit, and not the
flesh.

     Psalms 119:108 "Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of
my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgments."

     This is speaking of the sacrifice of praise. Some sacrifice is of
obligation, but the sacrifice of praise is a freewill offering. This
is not an obligation. The psalmist desires to praise, and so it is
spoken of as a sacrifice of praise. Hebrews 13:15 "By him therefore
let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the
fruit of [our] lips giving thanks to his name."

     Psalms 119:109 "My soul [is] continually in my hand: yet do I not
forget thy law."

     The soul of man is his will. The flesh of man is always trying to
take control of the soul of man. The spirit of man is in mortal battle
against the flesh, and it, too, is trying to control the soul or will.
It is in the psalmist hands what controls the soul. The psalmist
decides what he will follow. Will his flesh rule him, or will his
spirit rule him? This is, also, a decision that each of us must make,
as well. The condition of our soul is in our hands as well. The
psalmist has no trouble deciding, because he remembers God's law.

     Psalms 119:110 "The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred
not from thy precepts."

     The wicked are continuously trying to get us to follow the call
of our flesh. They try to find out what your weakness is, and lay a
trap for you. The man, that has thoroughly studied and accepted God's
ways, will not be fooled into falling into this trap.

     Psalms 119:111 "Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for
ever: for they [are] the rejoicing of my heart."

     The teachings of God are, possibly, the greatest heritage we
could have. Parents that truly love their children and teach them the
ways of God have left their children a wonderful heritage. They may
not have great material blessings to leave their children, but they
have given them the greatest gift a person can have, the knowledge of
how to acquire Eternal life. Testimonies, in the verse above, is
speaking of the covenant of God with man. This covenant promises us
eternal life.

     Psalms 119:112 "I have inclined mine heart to perform thy
statutes alway, [even unto] the end."

     He has made a lifetime commitment to God. He has caused his heart
to listen to the teachings of the Word. We see a man whose heart is
stayed upon God. We are what our heart is.

     Psalms 119:113 "{SAMECH.} I hate [vain] thoughts: but thy law do
I love."

     This is saying, that he rejects vain thoughts. Vain thoughts are
thoughts of one's self. I suppose everyone occasionally have a thought
they must reject. Satan tempted Jesus with vain things, and Jesus
rebuked him with the Word of God.

     Psalms 119:114 "Thou [art] my hiding place and my shield: I hope
in thy word."

     The only hiding place that any of the believers have, is in the
Lord. We could run and hide and the Lord would protect us, but it is
time to stand and fight and God will be our shield. This shield covers
our heart, where we are the most vulnerable. For the believer in
Christ, He builds a hedge around us and over us of the precious shed
blood of the Lamb. The blood of Jesus the Lamb, is what defeated Satan
on the cross. He is afraid of the blood of Jesus. We must stand and
fight for the Truth of God. He will protect us with His blood.

     Psalms 119:115 "Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the
commandments of my God."

     Do not fellowship with those of unbelief. Witness to them and go
home. Do not fellowship with them. When you fellowship with them, it
is as if you are approving of their life style. Fellowship with
believers, so you can build each other up in the most holy faith. He
is determined to keep the Word of God. We, too, must determine in our
heart to live for Jesus. We must refuse to be part of the evil that
goes on around us.

     Psalms 119:116 "Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may
live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope."

     I believe the psalmist is more concerned about what the world
will think about him placing his hope in the word of God, than he is
concerned about living. He does not want the worldly people around him
to have any comeback at him, because of what he believes.

     Psalms 119:117 "Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will
have respect unto thy statutes continually."

     He knows the promises of the Word so well, that he knows if God
upholds him, he definitely will be safe. I don't believe this is
saying that he would lose respect for God, if God doesn't keep him
safe. I believe he is saying, if God does not save him, he will die,
and from the grave, he cannot uphold the Lord. If he does live, he
will spend all of his time uplifting God.

     Psalms 119:118 "Thou hast trodden down all them that err from thy
statutes: for their deceit [is] falsehood."

     There are those who pretend to be of God, and are not. These are
the ones spoken of here who are deceitful. Usually, someone who
professes to be a believer and is not, does not keep the laws of God.
Even ministers, who do not have the right relationship with God, will
sometime deceive their people into believing they are doing right,
when, in fact, they are sneaking around committing sins against God.
Falsehood and deceit are near kinsman. Both are products of Satan.
This Scripture is about those who pretend to be of God, and are really
of their father, the devil.

     Psalms 119:119 "Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth
[like] dross: therefore I love thy testimonies."

     When silver or gold is heated to a very hot temperature, the
dross comes to the top, and you can skim this trash off of the metal
and leave the metal pure. This then, is speaking of God separating the
evil people from His followers. The dross {trash} {sinners} are just
thrown away. They must be separated from the pure in heart. This is
spoken of in heaven when Jesus separates the sheep from the goats. The
Bible teaches that the wheat {believers} live in the earth with the
tares, until that day when God separates them and burns the tares. The
wheat is carried into the great barn called heaven. He is saying, that
he has read in God's Word where this will happen, and he knows he will
not always have to be tormented by them. This is a promise he is
looking forward to having fulfilled.

     Psalms 119:120 "My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am
afraid of thy judgments."

     Fear, or reverence, of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. The
fear that a believer has of the Lord is similar to the fear a son has
of his father. We know that even the earth trembled before the Lord.
We know that when the presence of God was on the mountain, the
mountain would tremble before Him. It would be more unnatural for us
not to tremble before Him. The judgements of God are righteous. We are
not righteous in our own right. The only thing that makes us able to
stand before the Judge of all the world, is the fact that we are
clothed with His righteousness.
































                             Questions 128

1.  Quote Psalms chapter 119 verse 105.
2.  What lights the way of the believer?
3.  The Word and the Light are the ______.
4.  The Word of God enlightens my ____________.
5.  Quote Ephesians chapter 5 verse 8.
6.  Quote John chapter 8 verse 12.
7.  What had the psalmist sworn in verse 106?
8.  Quote 2 Peter chapter 1 verse 19.
9.  Who is the Day Star?
10. Remember that the quickening is in the _______.
11. What are the freewill offerings of the mouth?
12. Quote Hebrews chapter 13 verse 15.
13. How is his soul in his hand?
14. What two things, in a man, are in constant battle?
15. What are they fighting over?
16. Why does the psalmist have no trouble deciding between the flesh
    and the spirit?
17. What is the snare the wicked tries to lay for those who follow
    God?
18. What has the psalmist taken as his heritage?
19. What is the greatest gift your parents can give you?
20. What is testimonies, in verse 111, speaking of?
21. What kind of commitment is spoken of in verse 112?
22. What are vain thoughts?
23. Thou art my ________ ________ and my ______, I hope in the Word.
24. What is the protection that the believer in Christ has?
25. If we fellowship with those of unbelief, it is as if we are saying
    what?
26. Uphold me according to thy _____.
27. What is verse 117 really saying?
28. Their deceit is ___________.
29. Who is verse 118 speaking of?
29. What is dross?
30. How is dross removed from silver or gold?
31. Give two more examples when the evil and those who love God are
    symbolized, when a separation is made?
32. What type of fear is verse 120 speaking of?