A wonderful double beatitude
Text: Psalm 119:1, 2 Date: 22/08/04 Place: Childs Hill BaptistI am a hay fever sufferer and in the Spring and early summer I can sometimes do quite a bit of sneezing. Often if I am out and I sneeze someone will say ‘Bless you’. It’s a form of politeness I guess, although it probably goes back to a bit of superstition from days of old. Whether people say ‘Bless you’ or not makes little difference to my life.
One of the great features of the Bible is that it is a book of blessings or beatitudes, blessings from God that really do mean something. In some places, it is true, there are curses. For example, see Deut 27:16 Cursed is the man who dishonours his father or his mother Jer 17:5 Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD. However there are many more places where we have blessings announced, blessings from God. For example, see Job 5:17 Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty Prov 3:13 Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding. At the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount thee is a whole series of beatitudes and they are rightly famous.
What I want to do this evening is to study just one of these blessings from God. It is in fact a double blessing, two blessings in quick succession. It is found in Psalm 119:1, 2 Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD. Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart. These verses really act as a heading to the whole psalm but they are especially reflected on in the rest of the octave, the six verse immediately following.
One of the great features of the Bible is that it is a book of blessings or beatitudes, blessings from God that really do mean something. In some places, it is true, there are curses. For example, see Deut 27:16 Cursed is the man who dishonours his father or his mother Jer 17:5 Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD. However there are many more places where we have blessings announced, blessings from God. For example, see Job 5:17 Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty Prov 3:13 Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding. At the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount thee is a whole series of beatitudes and they are rightly famous.
What I want to do this evening is to study just one of these blessings from God. It is in fact a double blessing, two blessings in quick succession. It is found in Psalm 119:1, 2 Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD. Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart. These verses really act as a heading to the whole psalm but they are especially reflected on in the rest of the octave, the six verse immediately following.
We should always begin with words of blessing. That’s how Jesus began his ministry too. Let’s at least begin well in all things.
Something of how to react to such blessings comes out in the verses that follow then (3-8) They do nothing wrong; they walk in his ways. You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed. Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees! Then I would not be put to shame when I all your commands. I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws. I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me.These verses form the first octave or stanza of the Psalm, the longest of any of the psalms. As you may know, in the original the verses of each verse in each section begin with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. That is why there are 22 sections and why in most versions each of them has a Hebrew letter at its head. We are looking at the first section, the Aleph Section. We will look at the blessings first.
Something of how to react to such blessings comes out in the verses that follow then (3-8) They do nothing wrong; they walk in his ways. You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed. Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees! Then I would not be put to shame when I all your commands. I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws. I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me.These verses form the first octave or stanza of the Psalm, the longest of any of the psalms. As you may know, in the original the verses of each verse in each section begin with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. That is why there are 22 sections and why in most versions each of them has a Hebrew letter at its head. We are looking at the first section, the Aleph Section. We will look at the blessings first.
1. Consider what is said in this wonderful double promise of blessingHebrew poetry rather than relying on matching words, as we often do when we have rhyming poetry, relies on matching ideas. Here the writer talks firstly about they whose ways are blameless as being blessed. He defines such people as those who walk according to the law of the LORD. He then begins the second beatitude with Blessed are they who keep his statutes – to keep God’s statutes is clearly the same as walking according to his Law. He has produced an intricate chiastic or 'X' pattern then. Blessed are they
(A) whose ways are blameless,
(A) whose ways are blameless,
(B) who walk according to the law of the LORD
(B) who keep his statutes
(B) who keep his statutes
(A) and seek him with all their heart.See verse 10 I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.Let’s consider the three separate ideas then
1. Here a wonderful blessing is promised to the blameless
1. Here a wonderful blessing is promised to the blameless
Blessed are they whose ways are blameless. The word blessed speaks of true happiness and joy. That’s what true religion is about in part. ‘Religion never was designed to make our pleasures less’. ‘The hill of Zion yields a thousand sacred sweets before we reach the heavenly fields or walk the golden streets.’
People have lots of ideas about how to gain happiness. Most people think wealth and health are the important things. Others look to other less obvious but equally unstable things. Here the psalmist makes quite clear that the way to happiness is a straight road and a narrow road. The way to happiness is the perfect road, the blameless road. It is purity or perfection that leads to blessedness not anything else.
I think many have sensed this. While our consciences speak against us, reminding us of our sins, how can there be peace? How can we suppose that we will find true blessedness? No, it is only when our consciences are at rest that we can be truly blessed, truly happy. True contentment lies in the way of innocence and holiness. Now, if that is true then how can anyone be truly blessed? How clearly David saw it we cannot now know but he certainly knew that he was not blameless. He was not without fault. Yet, he also knew that there was a way to find forgiveness and so to be blameless in God’s sight by means of atonement. What he saw more dimly we now see with greater clarity in Christ. We can be blameless through Jesus Christ. Being justified through faith in him we can know peace with God – peace, contentedness and true bliss. Even a martyr about to die can know peace if he knows true joy and peace as he knows that he’s blameless before God.
How can I have a good conscience? A good conscience comes by confessing all our sins and finding forgiveness in Christ and then living in a way that does not compromise our conscience in the future. In Acts Paul says I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man. Do you? This is the way to blessing. See Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.Holiness is a mark of the true Christian. See Ezekiel 36:27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws John 14:23 If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching.So two questions.
People have lots of ideas about how to gain happiness. Most people think wealth and health are the important things. Others look to other less obvious but equally unstable things. Here the psalmist makes quite clear that the way to happiness is a straight road and a narrow road. The way to happiness is the perfect road, the blameless road. It is purity or perfection that leads to blessedness not anything else.
I think many have sensed this. While our consciences speak against us, reminding us of our sins, how can there be peace? How can we suppose that we will find true blessedness? No, it is only when our consciences are at rest that we can be truly blessed, truly happy. True contentment lies in the way of innocence and holiness. Now, if that is true then how can anyone be truly blessed? How clearly David saw it we cannot now know but he certainly knew that he was not blameless. He was not without fault. Yet, he also knew that there was a way to find forgiveness and so to be blameless in God’s sight by means of atonement. What he saw more dimly we now see with greater clarity in Christ. We can be blameless through Jesus Christ. Being justified through faith in him we can know peace with God – peace, contentedness and true bliss. Even a martyr about to die can know peace if he knows true joy and peace as he knows that he’s blameless before God.
How can I have a good conscience? A good conscience comes by confessing all our sins and finding forgiveness in Christ and then living in a way that does not compromise our conscience in the future. In Acts Paul says I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man. Do you? This is the way to blessing. See Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.Holiness is a mark of the true Christian. See Ezekiel 36:27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws John 14:23 If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching.So two questions.
1. Do you know where to look for bliss? It is not in health or wealth or anything else but in being blameless before God. Are you seeking it there? Blessed, says Jesus, are the pure in heart; blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness.
2. Do you see that true righteousness, true perfection, can be found only by trusting in Christ? Yes, we must seek to do what is good and right but we must recognise that where we fall short (and all have fallen short of the righteousness of God) then that shortfall can only be made up by God himself and by what the Lord Jesus Christ himself has done on the cross.
2. Here a wonderful blessing is promised to those who seek God with all their heart
2. Here a wonderful blessing is promised to those who seek God with all their heart
If we look at the end of the second beatitude we will see that it teaches Blessed are they who … seek him with all their heart. Here is the same thing then but looked at from another angle. The way to righteousness, to perfection, is not found in looking to ourselves or to anyone else for that matter but in looking to the Lord. It is when we seek the Lord wholeheartedly that we find true happiness. If only people could see this. If we would only stop and think about it for a moment. Surely the place to find true bliss is in the fountainhead of all blessing itself – in God. Yet, how often we are tempted to look elsewhere. We think that we can find happiness in pleasure – in entertainment or in human attainment. But no, all happiness lies in him. See Ecc 5:19 Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work - this is a gift of God.3. Here a wonderful blessing is promised to those whose lives are regulated by the Law of God
Finally, let’s consider these two middle phrases that tie the whole thing together. Blessed are they … who walk according to the law of the LORD. Blessed are they who keep his statutes. Here is the key to it all then – the law of God. David uses various terms to refer to God’s Word in this psalm – he calls it the law, God’s statutes, his precepts, his decrees. This indeed is the great theme of the psalm. In nearly every verse there is some reference to the Word of God. You see it here in the first octave – note the references to
1 The law of the LORD
2 His statutes
3 His ways
4 Precepts that are to be fully obeyed
5 Your decrees
6 All your commands
7 Your righteous laws
8 Your decreesIt is also worth noting certain repetitions in this section
1. Way(s) - Blessed are they whose ways are blameless … they walk in his ways … Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees!2. Walk - who walk according to the law of the LORD. … they walk in his ways.3. Keep/obey - Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart. …You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed. I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me.There is repletion but not vain repetition. Each verse contributes something new.
The opening verses take us back to the very start of the psalms. Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man who does not … but his delight is in the law of the LORD and on his law he meditates day and night. Also see Psalm 112:1 Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in his commands. Psalm 128:1 Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways. Also see Luke 11:28 Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it James 1:25 The man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it - he will be blessed in what he does.If only we had a better understanding of how much good is stored up for us in the Bible the more time and energy we would put into devouring it and taking in all that it has to tell us. The truth is that we will never be blessed unless we become blameless and we will never be blameless unless we read this book, which speaks so clearly of God’s requirements and of the way to perfection through faith in Jesus Christ. The way to blessing is through seeking God with all your heart. The way to seek God wholeheartedly is to seek to know him through his Word where he most fully reveals himself. The Scriptures are his God breathed Word. Here we learn all about him and what he has done and what he requires from us.
1 The law of the LORD
2 His statutes
3 His ways
4 Precepts that are to be fully obeyed
5 Your decrees
6 All your commands
7 Your righteous laws
8 Your decreesIt is also worth noting certain repetitions in this section
1. Way(s) - Blessed are they whose ways are blameless … they walk in his ways … Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees!2. Walk - who walk according to the law of the LORD. … they walk in his ways.3. Keep/obey - Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart. …You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed. I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me.There is repletion but not vain repetition. Each verse contributes something new.
The opening verses take us back to the very start of the psalms. Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man who does not … but his delight is in the law of the LORD and on his law he meditates day and night. Also see Psalm 112:1 Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in his commands. Psalm 128:1 Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways. Also see Luke 11:28 Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it James 1:25 The man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it - he will be blessed in what he does.If only we had a better understanding of how much good is stored up for us in the Bible the more time and energy we would put into devouring it and taking in all that it has to tell us. The truth is that we will never be blessed unless we become blameless and we will never be blameless unless we read this book, which speaks so clearly of God’s requirements and of the way to perfection through faith in Jesus Christ. The way to blessing is through seeking God with all your heart. The way to seek God wholeheartedly is to seek to know him through his Word where he most fully reveals himself. The Scriptures are his God breathed Word. Here we learn all about him and what he has done and what he requires from us.
2. Consider how to react to this wonderful double promise of blessingSo here is a wonderful double promise of blessing then – blessing through seeking perfection, through seeking God himself. These things are best sought by turning our attention to the Word of God. Now how should we react to such statements? What should we do in the light of them? Well, here in 3-8 we have the inspired writer’s own reaction. These verses teach us at least three things.
1. Understand the universal nature of true obedience to God and his law
1. Understand the universal nature of true obedience to God and his law
We can get at this by asking two questions
1. What is it to be blameless? We have said that blessedness, true happiness, is found in being blameless or perfect. But what does that mean? Is the verse just saying that we need to keep out of trouble? We just need to avoid anything too bad? No. In verse 3 it is underlined just what we are talking about. Of these blameless ones it is said (3) They do nothing wrong; they walk in his ways. This is what it is to be truly blameless. It is impossible here on earth to literally be blameless but in Christ it can be so. See 1 John 3:9, 5:18 No-one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. … We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him.2. To what extent must we follow God’s Word? In a similar way then when it comes to the matter of our attitude to the Scriptures we may wonder to what extent they are to be followed. Verse 4 leaves us in no doubt You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed. The Bible isn’t like a pic’n’mix facility – we can take what we want and leave the rest. No, it is all to be obeyed. We are to be diligent not in making precepts but in keeping the ones that God himself has laid down. How important to be zealous for God’s law.
2. Long for steadfastness in this glorious task and for freedom from shameIt can all be rather depressing when we think of how far short we fall of God’s standards. The psalmist certainly feels it. Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees! he cries most personally in 5, 6 then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands. It is like an unspoken prayer. See verse 80 May my heart be blameless towards your decrees, that I may not be put to shame. The truth is that when he considers the Lord’s commands he is ashamed of himself. He knows that he has not fully obeyed, as he should have. He knows that he has failed many times to walk in the Lord’s ways. Can you identify? We cannot be complacent about this. James 2:10 Whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. We must earnestly seek to be more conformed to what is in God’s Word. We must seek to be more like the Lord himself, nearer to perfection and holiness every day. Let’s be determined to seek this.
3. Be determined to learn the way forward but look humbly to the Lord for strength
So what is the way forward? David sums it up here in verses 7, 8.
Once again we have a chiastic or 'X' arrangement similar to what we saw in 1, 2.
(A) I will praise you with an upright heart
1. What is it to be blameless? We have said that blessedness, true happiness, is found in being blameless or perfect. But what does that mean? Is the verse just saying that we need to keep out of trouble? We just need to avoid anything too bad? No. In verse 3 it is underlined just what we are talking about. Of these blameless ones it is said (3) They do nothing wrong; they walk in his ways. This is what it is to be truly blameless. It is impossible here on earth to literally be blameless but in Christ it can be so. See 1 John 3:9, 5:18 No-one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. … We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him.2. To what extent must we follow God’s Word? In a similar way then when it comes to the matter of our attitude to the Scriptures we may wonder to what extent they are to be followed. Verse 4 leaves us in no doubt You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed. The Bible isn’t like a pic’n’mix facility – we can take what we want and leave the rest. No, it is all to be obeyed. We are to be diligent not in making precepts but in keeping the ones that God himself has laid down. How important to be zealous for God’s law.
2. Long for steadfastness in this glorious task and for freedom from shameIt can all be rather depressing when we think of how far short we fall of God’s standards. The psalmist certainly feels it. Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees! he cries most personally in 5, 6 then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands. It is like an unspoken prayer. See verse 80 May my heart be blameless towards your decrees, that I may not be put to shame. The truth is that when he considers the Lord’s commands he is ashamed of himself. He knows that he has not fully obeyed, as he should have. He knows that he has failed many times to walk in the Lord’s ways. Can you identify? We cannot be complacent about this. James 2:10 Whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. We must earnestly seek to be more conformed to what is in God’s Word. We must seek to be more like the Lord himself, nearer to perfection and holiness every day. Let’s be determined to seek this.
3. Be determined to learn the way forward but look humbly to the Lord for strength
So what is the way forward? David sums it up here in verses 7, 8.
Once again we have a chiastic or 'X' arrangement similar to what we saw in 1, 2.
(A) I will praise you with an upright heart
(B) as I learn your righteous laws.
(B) I will obey your decrees;
(B) I will obey your decrees;
(A) do not utterly forsake me.There needs to be a right combination of determination and humility here.
1. Be determined to learn the way forward through studying the Word. In 7 he says I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws. The psalmist wants to learn what is in God’s Word. There are many similar prayers in Psalm 119. What do God’s righteous laws say and how can I obey them? As he gives praise to God for his Word he wants to get to know it better and better. Is that your attitude? We need to find out what pleases the Lord. As we seek to grow more and more holy in our confession of Christ so we must seek to understand his Word better and better. Are we doing that?
2. Humbly look to the Lord to sustain you as you seek to obey his Word 8 I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me. While the psalmist is determined to be holy, he has a great sense of his own weakness. We ought to be the same. If the Lord forsakes us then what hope do we have? We will never obey without him. Without him we are bound to fall and fail. Let’s make this our ambition then – to seek to endeavour to be blameless and to seek God with all our hearts. Let’s pray to be obedient to the Lord’s decrees and let’s plead with him not to utterly forsake us, however much we may deserve it. There are times of coldness in the lives of many believers, times when we feel forsaken, but the Lord will never utterly forsake anyone who looks to him. Look to Christ then and be encouraged.
1. Be determined to learn the way forward through studying the Word. In 7 he says I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws. The psalmist wants to learn what is in God’s Word. There are many similar prayers in Psalm 119. What do God’s righteous laws say and how can I obey them? As he gives praise to God for his Word he wants to get to know it better and better. Is that your attitude? We need to find out what pleases the Lord. As we seek to grow more and more holy in our confession of Christ so we must seek to understand his Word better and better. Are we doing that?
2. Humbly look to the Lord to sustain you as you seek to obey his Word 8 I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me. While the psalmist is determined to be holy, he has a great sense of his own weakness. We ought to be the same. If the Lord forsakes us then what hope do we have? We will never obey without him. Without him we are bound to fall and fail. Let’s make this our ambition then – to seek to endeavour to be blameless and to seek God with all our hearts. Let’s pray to be obedient to the Lord’s decrees and let’s plead with him not to utterly forsake us, however much we may deserve it. There are times of coldness in the lives of many believers, times when we feel forsaken, but the Lord will never utterly forsake anyone who looks to him. Look to Christ then and be encouraged.
