Bible Study                                     Notes 1999

BIBLICAL THEOLOGY OF "THE SCRIPTURES"                                                  3 August 1999

CONTRIBUTION OF THE PSALMS

A CLASSIC PSALM ON THE SUBJECT OF THE SCRIPTURES

ALEPH   Psalm 119:1-8

Understanding The Place Of God's Word In Our Life

1.   It is God's Command to keep His precepts diligently   Ps 119:4

2.   A heartfelt response to this Command of God   Ps 119:5-8

3.      Observation of those who keep God's Word.  They are blessed indeed!   Ps 119:1-3

BETH   Psalm 119:9-16

Fighting The Problem Of Sin In Life

1.   The problem of sin is first acknowledged   Ps 119:11

a)   The problem of "wandering" from God   Ps 119:10

b)   The problem of forgetting God and His Word   Ps 119:16

2.   The fight with sin begins with cleansing   Ps 119:9

a)   Cleansing is to be found in the Word of God   Ps 119:9

b)   The fight is not over with "cleansing"

c)   The fight continues with hiding God's Word in the heart   Ps 119:11

d)   It continues further with a prayer to comprehend lots more about God from His Word   Ps 119:12-16

GIMEL   Psalm 119:17-24

Dealing With Problems In Life

1.   There are problems in life

a)   There are the "proud" or "the cursed"   Ps 119:21

      These stray from the commandments   Ps 119:22

b)   Enemies can arise and they can sometimes be prominent people in life   Ps 119:23

2.   Prayer for God's bountiful grace to be extended   Ps 119:17

a)   So that the Word of God may always provide a source of wisdom  

      Ps 119:17-18

b)   So that the sojourn here on earth, (stranger) will be meaningfully lived out   Ps 119:19

c)   Prayer for "sequential blessings" that come because of a love for God and His Word   Ps 119:22-23 

DALETH   Psalm 119:25-32

In Times Of Great Discouragement/Despair

1.   There are times of discouragement   Ps 119:25, 28

2.   How the Word of God lifts up a person from despair

a)   Revival of the spirit through the Word of God   Ps 119:25

b)   Answers to prayer   Ps 119:26

c)   Prayer for greater focus and understanding of the Word of God  

      Ps 119:26-27

d)   Strength through the Word of God   Ps 119:28

e)   Choosing the path of truth   Ps 119:29-30

f)      Determination to cling to the Word of God   Ps 119:31-32

 HE   Psalm 119:33-40

A Prayer For Deliverance From Distractions

1.   There are distractions in life.  Distractions are "worthless things"  

      Ps 119:36-37

a)   These are the things of the world!

b)   The heart can be very covetous of the things of the world 

2.   A prayer for deliverance from worldly things

a)   Through a deeper understanding of the Word of God   Ps 119:33-35

b)   Through God's special work of establishing one's faith   Ps 119:38-39

c)   Through spiritual revival   Ps 119:37, 40

WAW   Psalm 119:41-48

A Prayer For God's Mercies To Be Extended

1.   Recognising our need for God's mercies and salvation   Ps 119:41

a)   In the context of people who reproach   Ps 119:42

b)   In the context of appearing before "kings"   Ps 119:46

2.   Prayer to stand firmly and courageously on the Lord's Word  

      Ps 119:42-48

a)   To be able to give an answer (a defence) of our faith in the Lord  

      Ps 119:42

b)   That hope in God may not be found to be in vain   Ps 119:43

c)   That there will always be that ability to proclaim one's faith in God boldly to all and sundry   Ps 119:44-48

ZAYIN   Psalm 119:49-56

Recognition Of Troubles/Trials In Life

1.   There are troubles in life

a)   There is "affliction"   Ps 119:50

b)   There are the "proud"   Ps 119:51

c)   There are the "wicked"   Ps 119:53

2.   The Place of God's Word appreciated

a)   Prayer for God to "remember" His Word of promise   Ps 119:49

b)   The Word brings "Hope"   Ps 119:49

c)   The Word brings "Life"   Ps 119:59

d)   The Word brings "comfort"   Ps 119:52

e)   The Word are like "songs"   Ps 119:53

3.   Greater determination to Keep God's Word

a)   "This has become mine"   Ps 119:56

b)   "Because I kept your precepts"   Ps 119:56