Sermon Cloud

Scholarship From The Word

Psalm 119:97-104

 In our society a premium is placed upon education.

• In my parent’s generation, it was fine for a person to only finish high school – but it wasn’t considered necessary
• Of my generation there is a greater emphasis placed on finishing high school, and if you were able or your parents were able to send you to college, you went.
• In today’s generation, we encourage all our young people to, not only finish high school, but also go on to college.
• Our world is such that even with experience – a person finds they need a college degree to really advance in many fields.

One would think that with such an emphasis on education people would be much wiser.

• Unfortunately, it is not education that produces wisdom
• Wisdom comes from GOD!
• James tells us that wisdom is available to all who ask of God.

James 1:5 – “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all [men] liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

FRIENDS – God has preserved for us His Holy Word.

• We have the source of true scholarship in the pages of this Holy Bible!

READ PSALM 119:97-104

Whereas earlier paragraphs of this monumental Psalm were dark and overcast, the clouds surely had broken and the sunlight of God’s blessings is evident in these verses.

• In this passage we are going to see David proclaim His love for the Word of God

 WISER THAN THE ENEMY – V.97-98

“O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day. ⁹⁸Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.”

A.  V.97a - David’s Love For The Word – WHY?

The love which David had for the Word of God poured forth from His lips. He cried out in prayer to God his love thereof:

1)    It reveals to us the meaning and the purpose of life.

2)   It shows us the way of eternal salvation

3)   It prepares us to deal with every situation that we might find ourselves in

B. His Meditation On The Word

All day long David meditates upon God’s Word.

1)    Meditate = To reflect upon; to contemplate

2)   The thought likely is not that David spent all his time each day in meditation

3)   His biography in 1 & 2 Samuel surely makes that clear

FRIENDS – The thought is how God’s Word was his meditation each day or throughout the day

• He followed the admonition he set forth in the preface of this heavenly Book in Psalm 1:2 – “But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night”
• The thought is time well spent in the Book throughout each day and evening
• Clearly implied is time in the Book more than once a day

NOTE: Joshua’s challenge to Israel

Joshua 1:8 - "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."

C. V. 98 - He Presence of Enemies

⁹⁸Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.”

1)    We forget that we are strangers in this world – enemies abound

2)   They may not be personal enemies – but – they are enemies of Christ

3)   Their philosophies permeate the society that we live in

FRIENDS – David had a distinct advantage over his enemies.

• He had the wisdom of God gleaned from the Book of God - They did not
• And that principle runs true to this day!
• One who is in the Word of God day and night will develop godly wisdom which those less dedicated will not possess

We need the wisdom of God’s Word to be on guard for attacks that are inevitable

1 Peter 5:8 - "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a  oaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:"

Ephesians 6:11 - "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be  able to stand against the wiles of the devil."

WISER THAN TEACHERS  - V.99-100

“I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. 1⁰⁰I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.”

A.  Not More Accumulated Knowledge, But More Understanding

Proverbs 2:6 - "For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding."

1)    David was not saying that he knew more than his teachers

2)   He was stating that he had more understanding – because he would meditate upon the Word

FRIENDS – God’s Word will give us understanding that goes beyond what could be obtained through years of study.

NOTE: Christ’s example

• At 12 years of age, he was discussing matters with the doctors
• It amazed all that heard Him, because of His understanding

Luke 2:46-47 – “And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. ⁴⁷And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.”

• As an adult, He continued to amaze others with His teaching and preaching

John 7:14-18 - " Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. ¹⁵And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? ¹⁶Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. ¹⁷If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. ¹⁸He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.”

FRIENDS – The Word of God will bring wisdom beyond our years.

• Spiritual understanding and wisdom does not come according to our chronological age
• That is why Scriptures require a pastor not to be a novice.

1 Timothy 4:12 - "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity."

 This doesn’t mean that a person doesn’t respect and honor those who are older

• It just means that being old doesn’t equal wise

THE APPLICATION OF WISDOM – V.101-104

I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word. ¹⁰²I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me. ¹⁰³How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! ¹⁰⁴Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.

A.  Applying The Wisdom From God’s Word Brings A separated Life

1)      This old truism continues today: “Sin will keep us from God’s Word – BUT – God’s Word will keep us from sin.”

FRIENDS – A determination to be obedient to the Word of God will preclude sin from our lives.

B.  V. 102 – David confesses to God that he had not deviated from the righteous principles of God’s Holy Word

• The Reason? – God had taught him from His Word

FRIENDS – Saturating your minds with the Word of God to the degree that it soaks into our hearts will modify our lives

• It will keep us from departing from the righteous judgments of God

C.  V.103 – The eternal Word is sweetness unto his mouth

1)    The highest degree of refined sugar available to the ancient peoples of that day was honey

2)   David says that even honey was not as sweet to his taste as the Word of God

FRIENDS – Jackie Gleason was known for a number of things – but one phrase he used often was: “How sweet it is!”

• A conscious knowledge that we are obeying the Word brings satisfaction
• The temptations are many – and they offer a sweet reward
• BUT – in reality the result is DEATH!

Proverbs 20:17 – “Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.”

D.  V. 104 – David had gained such profound insights into life, he hate come to hate every false way

1)    He could spot ungodly philosophies instantly

2)   He recognized evil and hated it

 CLOSE

It is time for us to “WISE UP!”

 We need to choose to follow after the wisdom of God

 The source of the wisdom of this world

 The benefits are great – AND – the results of the application of God’s Holy Word in our lives are sweet.