Looking Out The Window

Psalm 119:33-56

Note from Pastor Tom: If you are reading these notes, I would highly recommend you listen to the mp3 or watch the YouTube video of this message. Most of the meat of this sermon is contained in the audio and not captured in these notes. Blessings, Pastor Tom

While the first 32 verses of Psalm 119 have mostly to do with withstanding the taunts and threats of those who do not listen to God?s Word, verses 32 through 40 focus on withstanding material temptations by taking pleasure in God?s character, rather than the values of this age.

33 ? 40

So in this section he turns from standing strong against the taunts of those who want to push him away from God to facing the temptations of those things around him that would pull him away from following the Lord.

He wants to go deep and understand that material gain is but a false sense of security. He knows that is the best path, and path of real pleasure is following God?s ways. The more you get to know God?s character through His Word, the more you understand that real satisfaction does not come from the stuff of this age.

He asks God to turn his eyes from looking at what is worthless. That word means ?vain? or ?empty.? So why are the things of this age so attractive if they are worthless? I think one of the main reasons is that they are shortcuts to trusting God. It almost feels as if the psalmist could have bought his way out of the jam he was in and asks instead that God fulfill His promises.

The world says: ?you can have it now and your way as long as you stop waiting on God.?

41 ? 48

In this section the psalmist is basically asking God to come through for him and he will then be able to answer those who taunt him. He?s going to be bold and walk and talk freely about the Lord. It feels as if he was a bit timid when it came to speaking about God in his predicament. He prays for boldness.

Acts 4:29 ?And now, Lord, consider their threats, and grant that Your slaves may speak Your message with complete boldness??

49 ? 56

Speaking boldly about your faith in Christ has some side effects?people will reject it and you?sometimes loudly! We can?t believe anyone would reject the wonderful promise of salvation. The rejection becomes personal because they are rejecting our Father. The psalmist felt this very strongly, describing it as ?rage.? The word means ?burning? or ?glow? but conveys the idea of consuming. Jesus said in John 2:17 ?Zeal for your house will consume me.?

Don?t you love verse 54? ?Your statutes are the theme of my song during my earthly life.? Worship took over for rage! Though we feel that sense of anger when people reject the gospel, we also don?t let it stop us from letting worship consume us even more. What constitutes the theme of your life? Is the character of God as found in His Word?