Focus Verse (Psalm 119:3)
"They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways. "
—-Psalm 119:3 (KJV)
Context for Psalm 119:3:
ALEPH (Psalm 119:1-8)
(1) Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.
(2) Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
(3) They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.
(4) Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.
(5) O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!
(6) Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.
(7) I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.
(8) I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.
Notes for Psalm 119:3
Who:
(1) "Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD."
(2) "Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.”
(3) “They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways”.
—-Psalm 119:1-3 (KJV)
The word “They” is mentioned in both phrases of verse three and is in reference to the follower of God who “do no iniquity” and “walk in his ways”.
“They” also seems to reference Psalm 119:2 via the word “also” "His" is referencing "LORD" in verse 1:
1.) “they that keep his testimonies”
2.) “that seek him with the whole heart”
3.) “His”- “LORD” (see Psalm119:1)
What:
“They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.”
“They” the believer “do no iniquity” and “walk in his ways”.
When:
"They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways."
Doing no iniquity and walking in the ways of Jesus should be an ongoing reality for the believer.
Where:
"They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways."
I think the phrase "in his ways" is key to this verse.
This contrasts with our ways which are the ways of death. Scripture has concluded all under sin. The only way we can "do no iniquity" is through Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:22 (KJV) states, "But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe."
Our fellowship with Christ, begins at the Cross, where Jesus was humiliated, suffered and died for our sins. John 14:6 (KJV) states "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me". Three days after he died for our sins on the cross, he rose from the grave for our justification.
After the someone accepts Jesus as their savior by believing that he died for our sins and rose again on the third day, he walks with them in their daily walk making them more like him:
"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."
---2 Corinthians 3:18 (KJV)
The believer resides in Jesus. He is our (the believer) all in all. We are nothing without him We "walk in his ways" and we will have eternal life with him in Heaven:
"But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord."
----1 Corinthians 1:30-31 (KJV)
Why:
“They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways”.
There will always be iniquity present without the purifying blood of Jesus which takes away our sins. The only way we can have fellowship with God is "his [Jesus's] ways". The Bible states in 2 Corinthians 5:21 (KJV), "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."
Takeaways for Psalm 119:3
"They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways."
1.) Our fellowship with God starts at the Cross - We all have sinned and fell short of the glory of God, and this creates a division between man and God. Scripture, as well as personal experience, has testified of this fact in my personal life. Romans 8:7 (KJV) states, "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be". It is not possible for us to "do no iniquity" in our own power. We are weak in the flesh and are incapable of pleasing God on our own due to our sinful nature.
The phrase "his ways" is key to this verse in my opinion.
There's hope at the Cross, which is where our "walk" with Jesus begins.
Jesus gave up the privileges of Heaven to come down here on Earth to die on a cross so that we may have eternal life with him. He rose from the grave on the third day and sits at the right hand of the Father. The believer, who walks in "his [Jesus's] ways" has been cleansed from iniquity. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life.
2.) Jesus grants us the power to be faithful - We learn from 1 Corinthians 1:30 that Jesus isn't finished with us when he saves us. He sanctifies us and makes us more like unto him. Our walk with Jesus continues into eternity where we will actually be like him. Unfortunately, we will never be perfect here on Earth.
3.)There's a powerful relationship between love, faith and obedience -
"Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD."
"Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.”
“They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways”.
—-Psalm 119:1-3 (KJV)
The first three verses of Psalm 119 go together and seems to illustrate the dynamic relationship between love, faith and obedience. God loves it when our heart bends in his direction. If we "seek him with the whole heart", God will make a way for the gospel to be presented to us. The verse to remember here is from Matthew 6:33 (KJV), "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
I also believe that the Holy Spirit gives us (the believer) the desire to read the Bible so that we may understand God's will and character. Moreover, the Holy Spirit gives us the desire to be obedient.
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