Friendship In The Word

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Friendship In The Word

Psalm 119:57-64

 

In the past few weeks we have studied Psalm 119 as:

  1. The Psalm of the Word
  2. How Does It Work?
  3. The Strength Of God’s Word
  4. A Godly Man
  5. The Value Of God’s Word, and
  6. Hope In The Word

This Psalm was written to instruct those who returned from exile in the value’s of God’s Word.

  • They had been away from the homeland and away from God’s instruction
  • God used this Psalm to reintroduce them to the value and importance of His Word

This morning we come to the 8th section of this Psalm.

  • 176verses divided into 22 sections of eight verses each.
  • A letter of the Hebrew alphabet prefaces each section
  • It is much like we use our alphabet today
  • To emphasize importance of basics we often talk about the ABC’s of something

FRIENDS - THIS IS THE ABC’S OF GOD’S WORD.

This morning we will look at the Friendship Of God’s Word!

 

OUR PORTION – 57-58

“Thou art my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words. 58I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word.”

A. The Nature Of Our Relationship With God

Proverbs 18:24 – “A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”

  1. The Lord is our friend – that is our portion

Two wonderful thoughts here:

 (a) Those who have friends must take the initiative and be friendly first -  friendliness develops friendships;

  • Friendship is a relationship between ourselves and others – it is never a one-way street

 

(b) There is a friend who is better than any brother. That Friend is the Lord Jesus. He is the greatest Friend of all.

John 14:23 - "Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him."

B. V.58 - Benefits of this unique relationship with God

  1. We are committed to Him totally
  • David prayed to God with his whole heart
  1. We receive favor and mercy from Him according to His Word
  • The basis of David’s fervent prayer was founded in God’s Word

FRIENDS – God has made promises to us that we can count on

  • He will not go back or renege on the promises He has made in His Word

 

OUR WALK  - V.59-60

 “I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.

 60I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.”

A. It Begins With Thoughts Of Our Own Lack Of Goodness

Psalm 14:3 – “They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”

Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

  1. When we consider our ways we will conclude that we cannot walk for Him in our own strength and power

Isaiah 53:6 – Indeed, all we like sheep have gone astray: we have turned everyone unto his own way.”

FRIENDS - In other words – we cannot do it on our own.

  • When we attempt to do so – we will stray from the path

B. V. 60 - Once We realize How far Off Track We Are, We Should Strive To Correct Our Course

  1. Warning signs abound to get us to correct our ways – Ex. Road signs
  2. We need to turn to friendly paths of God’s Word with its promises

Proverbs 4:18 – “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto a perfect day”

FRIENDS – Hurry up and correct it now

  • The longer we wait – the further off course we will stray

 

 

OUR REMEMBRANCE – V.61-62

 “The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law.  62At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.”

A. V.61 – Bad Things Happen To Good People – mark it down!

  1. That doesn’t mean that God doesn’t care or that He has forsaken us
  2. It should cause us to remember His Word – His promises

FRIENDS – David never forgot the Word hidden in his heart.

  • Therefore – he could draw upon it when times of trouble come

B. V. 62 - Remembering Him at Midnight – He is a friend for all times

QUESTION – HAS GOD EVER WOKEN YOU UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WITH SOMETHING?

  1. He is still God – even when it is dark outside
  2. He is still God – in the midst of the storms of life
  3. The God of the mountain is still God in the valley

FRIENDS  - We need to remember because of His righteous ordinances

Proverbs 30:5 – “Every word of God is pure: He is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him.”

Philippians 4:8-9 -  “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

  • We need to think on these things and do them!

 

OUR COMPANIONS – V.63-64

“I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts. 64The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes.”

A. v. 63 - We Are Not Alone

  1. David describes his associations
  2. It was with those who feared God and were obedient to His Word

HEAR ME CHURCH/YOUTH – That lesson remains particularly true for this day.

  • Our associates and friends ought to be those who fear God and are completely obedient to His Word
  • A walk with Christ is better if others walk with you
  • We can strengthen and encourage each other along the way

B.  V. 64 - Look Around and See The Mercy Of God

  1. One need not look far to see the mercy of God all about
  2. His goodness in creation itself is evident for any of us who will look for it
  3. David thus praised God for such mercy to us – His creatures

FRIENDS – David concludes this paragraph by once again imploring God to teach him His statutes.

  • This is the fourth of nine times in this blessed Psalm that David besought God to teach Him.

If David – the man after God’s own heart – the man with whom God made a covenant – needed instruction from God

HOW MUCH MORE DO WE?

  • This prayer of David’s ought to be upon our lips continually

 CLOSE

FRIENDSHIP IN THE WORD:

  1. Begins with our relationship with God
  2. Continues with our walk with Him
  3. Is evidenced as we remember His Word in our lives daily, and
  4. Is strengthened by our companions in Christ
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