Finding the Foreign ~ Psalm 119

“Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the Law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in His ways!” Psalm 119:1-3 ESV

              How can you find something that is lost?  To further complicate that question, how can you find something that is lost, if you yourself are lost?  I imagine here a worn, rough, parrot-accompanied pirate that is combing the Caribbean for a certain lost treasure, but he’s so lost himself he’s actually in the Gulf of Mexico.  Yes, it’s true, to locate what you are seeking, you must first have bearings upon yourself.

              Every human on this planet is searching for their own treasure.  They are searching for happiness, belonging, love, companionship, harmony, acceptance, worth, importance, or value.  And take careful note that all of these treasures are based on the innermost, foundational human needs.  If you strip away all the worldly nonsense, humans at their very core, simply desire to be cherished.  Yet as soon as you inhale that first, sweet gulp of oxygen upon this planet, where do you start your search for said innermost, foundational human needs?  Folks, it is here, mired in this amazingly deep and profound question, that most spend their entire lives exploring.

              As we progress along in our study this week, please allow me to utilize a quote from prolific Bible commentator James Boice. For in it, Mr. Boice swings his hammer upon the nail of just what I am attempting to magnify.  Man, lost in his very nature, cannot locate another lost item unless external direction is given:

“Apart from being instructed by God, human beings do not know how to achieve happiness.”

              Yes, it is beyond clear, and I believe, beyond true.  If you desire to satisfy the needs that well up deep within your human soul, you must consult the One that crafted that soul in order to locate and satisfy those desires.  And to do that, God has a very public, obtainable, and accessible map for the search.  In fact, most people probably have one of these maps lying around.  That map? The Holy Bible, the very Words of God.

              Psalm 119 is the single longest chapter in the entire Bible.  Approximately 2,423 words scattered across 176 verses are arranged into 22 acrostic poetic stanzas.  Each of the 22 stanzas corresponds to one of the 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet and each line of that stanza begins with the corresponding letter.  The beauty of the structure of Psalm 119 is only surpassed by its theme.  The faithful man of God desperately seeking direction from His God.  

But be very careful to notice what is truly happening here amongst the prolific words, stanzas, and verses.  It is not merely a random individual crying out for the lost item he seeks.  The Psalmist has first realized, and then openly admitted, that he himself is lost.  Recall our earlier example about the lost, parrot-wearing pirate.  Unless that pirate realizes he is lost and then does something about his lostness, he will never have the opportunity to find his lost Caribbean treasure.  And it is here, in one of the countless gleaming facets of Psalm 119, that we find a brutally honest author, crying out in his lostness, to only then, find the lost item which he desperately desires.  And he finds his treasure map in the glorious, perfect, and personal instructions of Almighty God.

              To emphasis his point through repetition, the Psalmist mentions the instructions of God in at least 171 of the Psalms 176 verses.  Repetition indeed.  And just how does the Psalmist describe God’s instructions that God has gifted to His creatures?  In 8 different ways.  1) Law, root word meaning to “teach” or “direct”. 2) Word, the audible spoken Words of God (ie, Words of Jesus). 3) Judgements, the rules by which men are regulated. 4) Testimonies, signifies loyalty to the terms of the God’s covenant with His creatures. 5) Commandments, describes God’s authority to give orders. 6) Statutes, the written word of God and the authority it holds. 7) Precepts, the particular instructions of God. 7) Word, different root from the Word used above, meaning anything that God has spoken, commanded, or promised.  Folks, the Psalmist is clear in his message, he is lost, he needs help in getting “unlost”, and he has realized that only one thing can serve as his map…the Law, Word, judgements, testimonies, commandments, statutes, and precepts of Almighty God.

              Just as the Holy Spirit says through James in chapter 1 and verse 22 of the book that bears his name, there is a mighty big difference in only hearing the Word of God and doing the Word of God.  A mighty big difference.  To drive this point home with fervor, where do you currently lie within James’ Holy Spirit-inspired verse?  Do you only superficially hear God’s Word, deceiving yourself, or do you allow God’s Word to penetrate your heart and instruct your feet in the way in which they should walk?

Of the myriad topics found in God’s Word, the clearest is on the subject of salvation.  And upon that topic God plainly states this: 1) All mankind are born sinners, are driven by their sin, and are controlled by their sin, Romans 3:23. 2) As a result of their sin, they are separated from being in God’s Holy, sin-free presence for eternity, Romans 6:23. 3) But because God is loving, merciful, and gracious, He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, here to don human form, God in a body of flesh, live a perfect sin-free life in order to be the perfect sacrifice that sin demands, die on a cross, and be raised to life three days later, John 3:16. 4) And because of what God offered and Jesus completed, all that admit their sin, repent of that sin, and call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ in faith will be saved, Romans 10:13.

The only question is, will you only hear this from God’s Word, or will you do what it prompts?

              Friends, if you continue to search for the treasure your heart demands, one that has, and continues to elude you, stop and take a look at your feet.  Where do they fall at this moment?  Do you know or are you truly lost?  If you are lost in the direction in which your human mind is commanding you to go, it is ok to admit it.  In fact, even intelligent.  For if you find yourself deep in a hole, the wisest thing to do is stop digging.  Honestly admit that you are lost, and then look to your Maker, your Creator, the Lover of your soul, the Savior of the World, Jesus Christ, and simply be…honest.  And after that great step, desire to no longer follow your own way, but His Way.  And to do that, simply pick up the nearest Godly map, the Bible.  And as you do, don’t just read it…but do it.

Blessings to you ~ Dan

“But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.” James 1:22 NLT

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10 ESV

“You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13 ESV

Oaxacan wedding, Cathedral Santo Domingo, Oaxaca, Mexico