CLEARING THE WAY-part 3—Psalm 119:9-16
The psalmist described the means by which a young man was to cleanse his way or make his way straight in the world.
A young man entering adulthood &/or fatherhood can properly maintain his way in the world.
How can a man(person) entering adulthood maintain/make his(their) way in the world?
How can a Christian man maintain/make his way in the world?
12 Disciplines to maintaining/making your way in the world.
Previously we had found that Clearing the Way(for Father’s Day) demands sustained...
1. A PURIFYING Heart(:9a)
2. A KEEPER’s/GUARD’s/PROTECTOR’s Heart(:9b)
3. A HUNTER’s Heart(:10a)
4. A NAVIGATOR’s Heart(:10b)
5—Clearing the Way(for Father’s Day) demands...
A TREASURING Heart(:11a)
Explanation:(:11a)
:11—“Your word I have hidden in my heart,...”
The young man seeking a cleansed way stores up God’s “word” as he does treasure. He does not lose any of it. He is meticulous about its stowage as this keeps it from falling into corrupt hands.
—cf. :14—“I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches.
?Why do you hold on to God’s word?...to make your wife happy,...to placate the deacons,..to see the pastor smile?
[the godly young man seeking to honor God]“Not only heard & read it[God’s word], but received it into his affections; mixed it with faith, laid it up in his mind & memory for future use; preserved it in his heart as a choice treasure, where it might dwell richly, & be of service to him...” for every occasion(2Tim. 3:16-17)—Mathew Henry
No one ‘holds’ to anything/anyone unless the holder views what is held as important!
“Word”(See :9—rbd, 16)—hrma im-rah'—1) Utterance, speech, word—1a) Word of God, the Torah. Strong—feminine of rma[ay'-mer], & meaning the same—Something said.
“Hidden/Treasured”—Npu tsaw-fan’—Qal Perfect—1) To hide, treasure, treasure or store up. Strong—a primitive root; To hide(by covering over); by implication--To hoard or reserve; figuratively--To deny; specifically(favorably)--To protect, (unfavorably)--To lurk.
Argumentation:
**Ps. 119:98-100—“Thy commandments make me wiser than my enemies, For they are ever mine. I have more insight than all my teachers, For Thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, Because I have observed Thy precepts.”
Deut. 7:6[cf. 14:2]—“For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.”
1Pet. 2:1-10—“Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, & all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God & precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.” Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,” & “A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.”
**Mat. 11:29—“Take My yoke upon you & learn from Me, for I am gentle & lowly in heart, & you will find rest for your souls.”
**Jn. 8:51—“Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.”
**Jn.14:21—“He who has My commandments & keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, & I will love him & manifest Myself to him.”
**1Jn. 2:1-6—“My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, & not for ours only but also for the whole world. Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” & does not keep His commandments, is a liar, & the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.”
2Cor. 4:6-10—“For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God & not of us. We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed-- always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.”
Jn. 14:25-27—“These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, & bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
Mat. 6:19-21—“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth & rust destroy & where thieves break in & steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys & where thieves do not break in & steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Illustration:
‘Back in the day’ Duke Power trucks used to(& probably still do) have round yellow Igloo coolers strapped to the back outside or inside corner of their trucks/As part of their equipment they have a cooler full of ice water!/It is a tool just as necessary as the other tools in their tool boxes!/Anyone who works in the heat of the day, always has water available & makes a point to find it at needed times/A TREASURING Heart
Application:
?You fulfilling God’s demand as a father in providing a A TREASURING Heart? Your family needs it!
?You Clearing the Way for Father’s Day?
6—Clearing the Way(for Father’s Day) demands...
A REASONING Heart(:11b)
Explanation:(:11b)Anticipator/Rational/Thinking ahead/Connecting the dots
:11b—“...That I might not sin against You!”
Such a young man is concerned about discerning the “word’s” truth as it relates to his personal “sin” & is thus concerned for such doctrinal application regarding others. A young man’s way is cleansed thru his desire to refrain from “sin”(which opposes God).
He is NOT concerned primarily with “sin” against the state or “sin” against a fellow human being or a brother, or even his wife or children, etc., so much as he is first & foremost attentive to remaining true to God. Not that he is unconcerned with his fellows or the state, etc. but that they are secondary to his primary goal of knowing God & His desires.
Of course he knows this is accomplished only thru Christ Jesus by means of His Holy Spirit.
Someone has written— “The best thing, in the best place, for the best of purposes.”—Charles Spurgeon’s ‘The Treasury of David’
“Heart”(See :10)—bl leb—1) Inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding—1a) Inner part, midst. Strong—The heart; also used(figuratively) very widely for--The feelings, the will & even the intellect; likewise for--The center of anything.
“Sin”—ajx khaw-taw’—Qal Imperfect—1) To sin, miss, miss the way, go wrong, incur guilt, forfeit, purify from uncleanness. Strong—a primitive root; properly--To miss; hence figuratively & generally--To sin; by inference--To forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, causatively--Lead astray, condemn.
Argumentation:
1Pet. 2:9-12—“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. Beloved, I beg you as sojourners & pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.”
Lk. 23:13-31—[On the day of Jesus’ trial & crucifixion]“Then Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests, the rulers, & the people, said to them, “You have brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people. And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him; no, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him; & indeed nothing deserving of death has been done by Him. I will therefore chastise Him & release Him” (for it was necessary for him to release one to them at the feast). And they all cried out at once, saying, “Away with this Man, & release to us Barabbas”--who had been thrown into prison for a certain rebellion made in the city, & for murder. Pilate, therefore, wishing to release Jesus, again called out to them. But they shouted, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!” Then he said to them the third time, “Why, what evil has He done? I have found no reason for death in Him. I will therefore chastise Him & let Him go.” But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified. And the voices of these men & of the chief priests prevailed. So Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they requested. And he released to them the one they requested, who for rebellion & murder had been thrown into prison; but he delivered Jesus to their will. Now as they led Him away, they laid hold of a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, who was coming from the country, & on him they laid the cross that he might bear it after Jesus. And a great multitude of the people followed Him, & women who also mourned & lamented Him. But Jesus, turning to them, said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves & for your children. For indeed the days are coming in which they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, wombs that never bore, & breasts which never nursed!’ “Then they will begin ‘to say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” & to the hills, “Cover us!”’ “For if they do these things in the green wood, what will be done in the dry?”
Are you ready for Jesus’ return?
Amos 5:18-24—“Woe to you who desire the day of the LORD! For what good is the day of the LORD to you? It will be darkness, & not light. It will be as though a man fled from a lion, And a bear met him! Or as though he went into the house, Leaned his hand on the wall, And a serpent bit him! Is not the day of the LORD darkness, & not light? Is it not very dark, with no brightness in it? I hate, I despise your feast days, And I do not savor your sacred assemblies. Though you offer Me burnt offerings & your grain offerings, I will not accept them, Nor will I regard your fattened peace offerings. Take away from Me the noise of your songs, For I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments. But let justice run down like water, And righteousness like a mighty stream.”
**Isa. 1:9-20—“Unless the LORD of hosts Had left to us a very small remnant, We would have become like Sodom, We would have been made like Gomorrah. Hear the word of the LORD, You rulers of Sodom; Give ear to the law of our God, You people of Gomorrah: “To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?” Says the LORD. “I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams And the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, Or of lambs or goats. When you come to appear before Me, Who has required this from your hand, To trample My courts? Bring no more futile sacrifices; Incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, & the calling of assemblies--I cannot endure iniquity & the sacred meeting. Your New Moons & your appointed feasts My soul hates; They are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow. Come now, & let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool. If you are willing & obedient, You shall eat the good of the land; But if you refuse & rebel, You shall be devoured by the sword”; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
**Col. 3:12-16—“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy & beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, & forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; & be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching & admonishing one another in psalms & hymns & spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
One of the more important verses in Scripture regarding our wrestling with sin positively...
**Gen. 4:6-7—“So the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”
**Ps. 66:18—“If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear.”
**Isa. 59:1-4—“Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, And your fingers with iniquity; Your lips have spoken lies, Your tongue has muttered perversity. No one calls for justice, Nor does any plead for truth. They trust in empty words & speak lies; They conceive evil & bring forth iniquity.” Js. 2:21-22—“Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, & by works faith was made perfect?”
1Cor. 15:30-34—“And why do we stand in jeopardy every hour? I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, “Let us eat & drink, for tomorrow we die!” Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” Awake to righteousness, & do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.”
Illustration:
UPS designs their routes so that they only make right turns, & by such, saving valuable time/I would not have even given that a second thought but someone or someones at UPS thought it thru/A REASONING Heart
On sunny days I generally try to wear a hat with a wide brim/When I weed eat on sunny days I wear a hat with a wide brim/Many may think, ‘Oh that looks silly or foolish or whatever!’/But for me it is not a style statement—Rather it is necessary & very practical/It keeps my head & ears from being burned by the sun!/A REASONING Heart
Put 2 & 2 together
‘Something done in order to prevent from doing that.’
Application:
?You fulfilling God’s demand as a father in providing a A REASONING Heart?
?You Clearing the Way for Father’s Day?
CONCLUSION:
Action:
Clearing the Way(for Father’s Day) demands...
5. A TREASURING Heart(:11a)
6. A REASONING Heart(:11b)
1. A PURIFYING Heart(:9a)
2. A KEEPER’s/GUARD’s/PROTECTOR’s Heart(:9b)
3. A HUNTER’s Heart(:10a)
4. A NAVIGATOR’s Heart(:10b)
Pts. 5-6 Presented 07/05/2015pm to:
FBC C’belle
206 Storrs Ave SE(A Ave. SE)
Carrabelle, FL 32322
