Focus Verse (Psalm 119:8):
“I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.”
—-Psalm 119:8 (KJV)
Context for Psalm 119:8
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 119:8
Who:
(8) “I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.”
Key Words for Who:
"I" and "me" - This represents the author/believer.
"thy" - This refers to the "LORD" mentioned in verse 1.
What:
(8) I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.
Verse can be broken down into 2 pieces:
1.) "I will keep thy statutes:" - This represents a vow or a promise to keep God's statutes or commands.
2.) "O forsake me not utterly" - The believer doesn't want to be forsaken by God due to disobedience.
You have the theme of obedience and the consequence of not being obedient to God represent in this verse.
Key Words:
1.) "keep" - The word "keep" indicates obedience.
2.) "statutes" - The word "statutes" indicates God's commands. The Word of God is a repeated theme in Psalm 119.
3.)"O" - This letter seems to indicate an earnest appeal.
4.)"forsake" - This means to be forgotten.
5.)"utterly" - Utterly means “completely” and “absolutely”, according to dictionary.com.
Where:
(8) “I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.”
Key phrase for where:
The where can be described by the phrase "in the way" in verse 1.
(1) “Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.”
Other verses to consider:
Below, John 1:1-4 (KJV) indicates that nothing is outside the jurisdiction of God. God's Word doesn't change no matter where we travel in the Universe. Everywhere we travel, the Christian believer are sinners saved by grace. Additionally, Jesus is our Lord and Savior no matter where go in this entire Universe:
(1) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
(2) The same was in the beginning with God.
(3) All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
(4) In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
Why:
(8) “I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.”
The believer keeps God's statutes out of love. He sent his Son to die for sins on the cross. I John 4:18-19 (KJV) states:
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us.”
Love and faithfulness to God's commands are fruits of the Holy Spirit which we the believer receive upon accepting Christ as our Savior. Our works are as filthy rags without the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith (faithfulness), Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
—-Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV)
God does not like disobedience. God in his holiness has to judge sin. We are all sinners living in a condemned world. However there is hope. We are made righteous through precious blood of Jesus who died for our sins and rose again on the third day:
“Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
—-Titus 2:14 (KJV)
If our faith isn't built on the solid rock that is Jesus, he will say to us that "I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity" according to Matthew 7:23 (KJV) (see passage below).
This goes beyond "utterly forsaken". Jesus is saying he never knew the non believer. They were dead spiritually. Sin creates separation between us and God. Reconciliation only comes through the narrow gate that is Jesus Christ. The non believer who rejects the gospel of Jesus will spend an eternity in the lake of fire.
Jesus lives out his ministry through the willing vessels of the believer. The Holy Spirit creates fruits within the believer which indicates to the world that we are God's children bought and paid for with the blood of Jesus Christ. Matthew 7:20-27 (KJV) states:
(20) Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
(21) Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
(22) Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
(23) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
(24) Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
(25) And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
(26) And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
(27) And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
When:
(8) “I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.”
Key Word:
1.) "will" - This indicates a willingness to commit to an action going forward.
Takeaway for Psalm 119:8
(8) "I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly."
1.) Obedience and Judgement
A Holy and righteous God demands perfect Holy Obedience. Unfortunately, we cannot keep God’s commands in our fleshly power. No one is righteous in God’s eyes. Romans 3:10 (KJV) states, “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:”
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.” Sin is an “enmity against God”. Enmity means “hostile” according to Dictionary.com. When we sin we create a hostile act towards God. God demands that sin be judged. People who doesn’t trust Jesus as their Savior will forever be an outcast tormented in the Lake of Fire.
The unbelieving dead will reside in the Lake of Fire separated from God, essentially forgotten and tormented by fire in the second death. Revelation 21:8 (KJV) states:
“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
2.) Jesus is Our Only Hope
Since we have no righteousness in our own power, our only hope is in Jesus Christ who died for our sins on our behalf so that we could be made righteous in him. God sees those who are in Christ as righteous and Holy. Our souls are purified by his blood:
"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."
---2 Corinthians 5:21 (KJV)
We the believer have that blessed hope of spending an eternity with a Savior who loved us so much that he left the glory and riches of Heaven and was made flesh so that he could die for our sins. He rose again on the third day.
In that blessed future day, there will be life and joy everlasting. We (the believer), will forever be God's people and he will be our God. We will never have to worry about wars that topple his reign. We won't have to worry about losing friends and loved ones to death. We will forever serve a just and righteous God. Let's take a look at Revelation 21:1-4 (KJV):
(1) And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
(2) And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
(3) And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
(4) And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Prayer
Dear Lord, I pray that we will be willing vessels for your precious Holy Spirit. Remind us to walk in the Spirit so that the world will see Christ through us. I pray that your name will be glorified through us. Finally, whosoever is willing will come and drink of the Fountain of the Water life. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
For Further Reading
Comments
Post a Comment