Psalm 119:73-80: A Word-Shaped Life
Psalm 119 • Sermon • Submitted
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· 434 viewsAn examination of Psalm 119:73-80 and the implications for a Word-Shaped Life
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Psalm 119:73-80: A Word-Shaped Life
Psalm 119:73-80: A Word-Shaped Life
This section of Psalm 119, like almost every section in Psalm 119, focuses on God’s Word. The importance of the Written Word of God cannot be overstated for the life of the believer.
Like an operator’s manual is necessary to effectively use a complex machine, the Word of God provides the instructions for a life that pleases God. Consider the words of one of our older statements of faith,
“The whole Counsel of God concerning all things necessary for his own Glory, Man’s Salvation, Faith and Life, is either expressly set down or necessarily contained in the Holy Scripture...” —Second London Baptist Confession of Faith I:6
Additionally, we learn from Colossians 3:16-17 that our gracious God has provided His Word for us to know Him and live for Him.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
We are shaped by many things. Our upbringing shades our understanding of life, including religious and political views. Our education, social settings, and economic standing all shape our lives and views.
For example, an individual growing up in the United States of America is shaped by a individualism, a preeminent focus on freedom, and a life-style quite different than the majority of the world. These all shape a person’s view of life and the expectations he or she has. They are shaped by those points.
Likewise, other factors shape our views and understanding of life, and they even affect how we respond or react to people and situations. Traumatic events have a way of affecting us for the rest of our lives. Those men and women who fight in combat are often beset with PTSD and this can affect them the rest of their lives. Of course, this would be an extreme example. But you can see how different experiences can further shape us.
What does this have to do with our study of Psalm 119:73-80? Much! We learn from this portion of God’s Word that His Word shapes us. As we read and study and live out the sacred Scriptures, we will live a life that pleases God and demonstrates the Lord Jesus Christ. We, as God’s children, are called to be like Him (1 Peter 1:15-16). And, in order to be like Him, we must live a Word-Shaped Life.
Our goal with our study time is to look through this portion of Psalm 119 and examine how we can live a Word-Shaped Life.
I. A WORD SHAPED LIFE DISPLAYS AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF GOD’S CREATION- Psalm 119:73
I. A WORD SHAPED LIFE DISPLAYS AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF GOD’S CREATION- Psalm 119:73
The foundation of this psalmist’s prayer is the special creation of God. He acknowledges God’s crafting of himself. A Word-Shaped life operates within the understanding that God created everything. The Scriptures declare God to be the exclusive Author of Creation. Genesis 1:1, the first verse in the first chapter in the first book of the Bible, without reference to anything else simply states, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
While living a Word-Shaped Life the psalmist, and believers before and since, operated within this framework that God is the Creator. This sets believers apart from all others. When we acknowledge God as the Creator, we are denying any other deities power to create. By acknowledging God as the Creator, we are denying the idea of macro-evolution. Living a Word-Shaped life means that God is the Creator.
The psalmist acknowledges the special creation of God. “Your hands,” the psalmist states, “have made and fashioned me.” And this acknowledgement of a biblical reality provides the posture of humility to the psalmist’s prayer for understanding.
You see, as we acknowledge that God is the creator, we are simultaneously acknowledging that we are part of His creation. We submit that we do not know everything. We realize that we are not all-powerful. We plainly declare that we do not understand how everything works nor why it does the way it does.
Because of this acknowledgement, the believer is enabled to pray, “Give me understanding so that I might learn your commands.” A Word-Shaped life is marked by an acknowledgement of and dependence upon Creator.
A life of righteousness encourages other believers (74)
God’s righteous actions never contradicts God’s righteous Word (75)
Unimaginable comfort comes from a knowledge and application of God’s Word (76)
Mercy and life come through delighting in God’s Word (77)
Let God be judge while focusing on His Word (78; Romans 12:19; Deuteronomy 32:35)
Use the knowledge you gain to help other believers grow (79)
Focus on your primary relationship: God (80)