Psalm 120:1-7 “A Song of Ascents. In my distress, I cried to the LORD. He answered me. Deliver my soul, LORD, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue. What will be given to you, and what will be done more to you, you deceitful tongue? Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper. Woe is me, that I live in Meshech, that I dwell amongst the tents of Kedar! My soul has had her dwelling too long with him who hates peace. I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war.”

“A Song of Ascent” could mean that you are ascending the temple steps and singing, or that you are on a pilgrimage up the mountains to Jerusalem to worship.

Imagine that you are in a distant land. A land filled with unrighteous, immoral, and lying people. A land like where the barbarians live near the Black Sea in Asia Minor (Meshech), or where the nomadic Ishmaelites who periodically harassed the Israelites dwelled in Arabia (Kedar). Your soul is in distress and you long for peace, because the residents of the land are sinful and they don’t believe in God. You cry out as you go to worship, knowing that God will answer you and bring peace to your soul!

We live in a foreign and hostile land. We are surrounded by a people who don’t know and don’t follow God. Where can we go for peace? Only God! He can bring peace to our souls, and we know that one day we will live in a land of peace.

Philippians 4:6-7 “In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.”

Revelation 22:1-5 “He showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On this side of the river and on that was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruits, yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. There will be no curse any more. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no night, and they need no lamp light or sun light; for the Lord God will illuminate them. They will reign forever and ever.”

For additional worship: God of Grace and God of Glory

Psalm 119:169-176 “Let my cry come before you, LORD. Give me understanding according to your word. Let my supplication come before you. Deliver me according to your word. Let my lips utter praise, for you teach me your statutes. Let my tongue sing of your word, for all your commandments are righteousness. Let your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts. I have longed for your salvation, LORD. Your law is my delight. Let my soul live, that I may praise you. Let your ordinances help me. I have gone astray like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I don’t forget your commandments.”

Repentance. Restoration. Salvation. Exaltation! It all comes back to the Word. It guides. It promises. It protects. It provides hope. It gives us certainty and stability in a world that is desperately looking for answers and coming to all the wrong conclusions. Let our tongues sing of His Word, for all God’s commandments are right and righteousness!

For additional worship: The Rock Won’t Move

Psalm 119:161-168 “Princes have persecuted me without a cause, but my heart stands in awe of your words. I rejoice at your word, as one who finds great plunder. I hate and abhor falsehood. I love your law. Seven times a day, I praise you, because of your righteous ordinances. Those who love your law have great peace. Nothing causes them to stumble. I have hoped for your salvation, LORD. I have done your commandments. My soul has observed your testimonies. I love them exceedingly. I have obeyed your precepts and your testimonies, for all my ways are before you.”

“Seven” is a number that represents completeness. It is probably equivalent to Paul saying, “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). “Great peace” (shalom) is the fullness of God’s blessings that comes to the person who obeys. Rejoicing in God’s Word causes us to stay on a righteous path and helps us to keep from stumbling. The one possible difference between the Psalmists understanding and ours it that the hope we have regarding salvation is a certainty based upon Jesus Christ!

Colossians 1:26-27 “the mystery which has been hidden for ages and generations. But now it has been revealed to his saints, to whom God was pleased to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery amongst the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

For additional worship: Word of God

Using Your Gifts as an Act of Worship

Romans 12:3-8

I) We serve because we ______________ God

II) Everyone has a _______ to do

     A) The church is a ___________

     B) Every member of the body has a different ______________

III)  We should be _____________ because we need each other

     A) We have an underlying __________ revealed here

     B) We _________ each other

     C) Every job is __________________

     D) Don’t think too highly of ________________

IV) We need to _________ our gifts

     A) The _________________

     B) We are commanded to _________ them

     C) Be humble, but don’t ____________!

     D) There is __________ in not using them

V) How am I ___________?

     A) We should use both our __________ and our gifts

     B) You could use a _____________

     
     C) Possible diagnostic __________________

          1) What do I do _______? 

          2) What do I ____________ doing?

          3) How have I __________ people?

     D) Don’t let it become an excuse not to ____________

Psalm 119:153-160 “Consider my affliction, and deliver me, for I don’t forget your law. Plead my cause, and redeem me! Revive me according to your promise. Salvation is far from the wicked, for they don’t seek your statutes. Great are your tender mercies, LORD. Revive me according to your ordinances. Many are my persecutors and my adversaries. I haven’t swerved from your testimonies. I look at the faithless with loathing, because they don’t observe your word. Consider how I love your precepts. Revive me, LORD, according to your loving kindness. All of your words are truth. Every one of your righteous ordinances endures forever.”

As we change Hebrew letters with each section (only two to go to complete the alphabet), we find that there is a lot of repetition. But is that a bad thing? We would do well to recall the truth and reviving power of God’s Word. We should always realize that we need God’s mercy and help. And we need that constant reminder to live our lives according to God’s ordinances, because there is a world out there that doesn’t!

For additional worship: God Has Spoken By His Prophets

Psalm 119:145-152 “I have called with my whole heart. Answer me, LORD! I will keep your statutes. I have called to you. Save me! I will obey your statutes. I rise before dawn and cry for help. I put my hope in your words. My eyes stay open through the night watches, that I might meditate on your word. Hear my voice according to your loving kindness. Revive me, LORD, according to your ordinances. They draw near who follow after wickedness. They are far from your law. You are near, LORD. All your commandments are truth. Of old I have known from your testimonies, that you have founded them forever.”

There is an interesting way of looking at this passage. Have you ever been at a place in your life when you’ve not been following God, and it got bad enough that you finally turned to Him? And in turning back to Him you try to bargain? “Lord, help me and I’ll make sure to obey your Word!”

Genesis 28:18-22 “Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put under his head, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil on its top. He called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of the city was Luz at the first. Jacob vowed a vow, saying, ‘If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and clothing to put on, so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, and the LORD will be my God, then this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, will be God’s house. Of all that you will give me I will surely give a tenth to you.’ ”

But perhaps what is here is simply a reflection of the Psalmist’s heart: “I’m in trouble. Please answer me! I’ll continue to keep your word while I wait.” In fact, if we look at this as a template for prayer, we find that we should pray:

• Wholeheartedly
• Without ceasing
• With the Word
• As a reflection of our relationship
• As a recognition of our need for help

For additional worship: I Believe You (Megan Woods)

Psalm 119:137-144 “You are righteous, LORD. Your judgements are upright. You have commanded your statutes in righteousness. They are fully trustworthy. My zeal wears me out, because my enemies ignore your words. Your promises have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves them. I am small and despised. I don’t forget your precepts. Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness. Your law is truth. Trouble and anguish have taken hold of me. Your commandments are my delight. Your testimonies are righteous forever. Give me understanding, that I may live.”

Have you ever felt that way? “My zeal wears me out, because my enemies ignore your words.” It’s frustrating to see people live in ways that are contrary to God and then ignore you when you try to help them. Truly, “streams of tears run down my eyes, because they don’t observe your law” (Psalm 119:136). Yes, “trouble and anguish” afflict us since others don’t believe, but God’s Word continues to be our delight and our salvation.

For additional worship: From the Breaking of the Dawn (Every Promise)

Psalm 119:129-136 “Your testimonies are wonderful, therefore my soul keeps them. The entrance of your words gives light. It gives understanding to the simple. I opened my mouth wide and panted, for I longed for your commandments. Turn to me, and have mercy on me, as you always do to those who love your name. Establish my footsteps in your word. Don’t let any iniquity have dominion over me. Redeem me from the oppression of man, so I will observe your precepts. Make your face shine on your servant. Teach me your statutes. Streams of tears run down my eyes, because they don’t observe your law.”

These verses reveal both the heart and the attitude of the Psalmist. “Establish my footsteps in your word.” “Don’t let any iniquity have dominion over me.” “Turn to me, and have mercy on me.” “I longed for your commandments.” “Streams of tears run down my eyes, because they don’t observe your law.” Is this how you feel, weeping because you long to be in God’s Word? Is this how your pray, realizing that you need God’s help to follow and understand?

For additional worship: Your Word (Emu Music)

Psalm 119:121-128 “I have done what is just and righteous. Don’t leave me to my oppressors. Ensure your servant’s well-being. Don’t let the proud oppress me. My eyes fail looking for your salvation, for your righteous word. Deal with your servant according to your loving kindness. Teach me your statutes. I am your servant. Give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies. It is time to act, LORD, for they break your law. Therefore I love your commandments more than gold, yes, more than pure gold. Therefore I consider all of your precepts to be right. I hate every false way.”

It’s pretty normal to expect to be rewarded for good behavior, and the neat thing about following God is that good things happen naturally. God’s Word guides us to stay away from things that bring devastation, and it shows us the things that bring joy. Beyond that, we know that not following can bring direct punishment, so why not a reward now and then, especially since God is loving and kind?!?! But, in truth, there is nothing greater or more loving than a God who came to earth to suffer and die to save His children, and there is nothing greater or more loving than a God who gives His children a guide to help them live. That’s why we should love His commandments more than gold!

For additional worship: Your Word Will Be The Last Word (Tommy Walker)

Psalm 119:113-120 “I hate double-minded men, but I love your law. You are my hiding place and my shield. I hope in your word. Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God. Uphold me according to your word, that I may live. Let me not be ashamed of my hope. Hold me up, and I will be safe, and will have respect for your statutes continually. You reject all those who stray from your statutes, for their deceit is in vain. You put away all the wicked of the earth like dross. Therefore I love your testimonies. My flesh trembles for fear of you. I am afraid of your judgements.”

Some insights:

• God’s Word is objective truth and we can trust it.
• God’s Word gives us hope.
• God is our hiding place and our shield. We always need His help!
• One way He protects us is through His Word. That’s why we need to know it!
• We need to stay away from those who try to get us to disobey God.
• Those who disobey are full of vanity and deceit.
• Awe, respect and obedience are the appropriate responses to God and His Word.

Proverbs 8:13 “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil. I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.”

For additional worship: Your Words of Life (Sovereign Grace Music)