Hey everyone welcome to The Refinery.
“Amen and Amen” is the theme for the coming Sunday morning teachings.
This series is a study from the Psalms, in which the psalmist gives voice to prayers that resound in our hearts today.
Today we are discussing, The Prayers of the Psalmist.
Our Text today is
Psalm 119:57 NKJV
57 You are my portion, O Lord;\ I have said that I would keep Your words.
Scripture Reading
Psalm 119:57-64 NKJV
57 You are my portion, O Lord;\ I have said that I would keep Your words.
58 I entreated Your favor with my whole heart;\ Be merciful to me according to Your word.
59 I thought about my ways,\ And turned my feet to Your testimonies.
60 I made haste, and did not delay\ To keep Your commandments.
61 The cords of the wicked have bound me,\ But I have not forgotten Your law.
62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You,\ Because of Your righteous judgments.
63 I am a companion of all who fear You,\ And of those who keep Your precepts.
64 The earth, O Lord, is full of Your mercy;\ Teach me Your statutes.
Introduction.
Today we continue our study of Psalm 119, the longest of the Psalms and one arranged in an format of twenty two stanzas, each of which uses and emphasises one of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
It is a poem that exults the law, the testimonies, the ways, the precepts, the status, the commandments, the words, and the promises of God.As we read the psalmists words, we’ll find ourselves saying, “Amen and amen.”
- Prayer and positive self esteem.
The psalmist rejoiced as he took a spiritual inventory and recognised that God was his highest and dearest possession.
The RSV translation says “The Lord is my portion,” the King James Version is more personal and says, “Thou art my portion.”
The NIV also personalises it, “You are my portion, Lord.”
As the psalmist talked to God, recognising that he belonged to God and that God was committed to him, he was spiritually enriched and felt better about himself.
2. Prayer and sincerity.
Verse fifty eight says, “I entreated thy favour with my whole heart.”
The NIV translates it, “I have sought Your face with all my heart, be gracious to me according to Your promise.”
Faith and sincerity are essential if we would pray effectively.
3. Prayer and God’s promises.
Psalm 119:58 says, I entreated Your favor with my whole heart;\ Be merciful to me according to Your word.
That was the petition offered by the heart of the psalmist.
The RSV translates it, “Be gracious to me according to thy promise.”
The psalmist was in the habit of clinging to and claiming the promises the promises of God when he prayed.
This is a habit, too, should form.
4. Prayer and repentance.
Repentance is not just the beginning point of the life of faith and discipleship.
The life of faith is to be characterised by continuous repentance.
The psalmist said it in beautiful words, “I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.”
The NIV says it a little differently, “I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes.”
Each time we pray, we are to search our hearts and let God help us so that we might turn from evil.
5. Prayer and praise to God.
Most of us think of thanking God and praising Him when prosperity comes.
Some of us think of praising and thanking Him when we go to church.
In this verse the psalmist tells us that midnight is a good time to arise and give thanks to the Lord for all of His righteous judgements.
The psalmist suggests that the we have difficulty getting to sleep, we can thank God for the many blessings He has bestowed upon us and praise Him for His goodness to us.
This might help us to relax and get a better nights sleep.
6. Prayer and the recognition of God’s love.
The psalmist was rejoicing that the earth was full of God’s mercy and steadfast, never failing, never ending love.
This is a truth that all of us need to recognise and respond to positively.
The closing line in this stanza of this poem closes with the words of petition, “Teach me Your statutes.”
To these prayers of the psalmist, let each of us say, “Amen and amen.”
Until next time
Stay in the Blessings
I really want to encourage you to be diligent with your Bible study time, because God has so much more for us than we can get from just going to church once or twice a week and hearing someone else talk about the Word.
When you spend time with God, your life will change in amazing ways, because God is a Redeemer.
Theres nothing thats too hard for Him, and He can make you whole, spirit, soul and body!
You’re important to God, and you’re important to us at The Refinery.
When it comes to prayer, we believe that God wants to meet your needs and reveal His promises to you.
So whatever you’re concerned about and need prayer for we want to be here for you! Or even if you just want to say Hi, you can contact us at www.refinerylife.org
2024 IS A YEAR OF DECISIONS AND OPEN DOORS
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