Psalm 119: Focus On God's Word Pt. 125 Who Is The Servant Of Jehovah?

Regarding this text, we have seen the reason and motivation for our need to have the Word of God established or confirmed to us. 

Now, we need to see the human aspect of this scripture, the servant of Jehovah.

Psalm 119:38  Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear. 

As God intends, there is always a personal, individual application of His word to each believer's heart. We must take God at His word, believing that He has said something that we need to hear and heed.

Psalm 27:8  When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek. 

King David wrote about half of the Psalms, including Psalm 27. We can see clearly an illustration of what we need to know, and what the Psalmist is trying to show us. 

God commands us to seek His face many times in the Bible. What I want us to see is David's response to God's command. The king said "Thy face, LORD, will I seek."

There is nothing more beautiful than exercising child like faith. If God tells me I need to do something, I will do what He tells me to do. Simple obedience and a committed faith.  

Luke 18:15-17  And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16)  But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 17)  Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein. 

Jesus used children as a way to show the faith we must have. We must be like a child in the home who has been taught to obey his parents because this is God's will for us. 

Thus, when our parents ask us to do something, we do not question or complain. We simply do what they ask us to do. Children have a beautiful sense of simple trust and are not complicated in their faith. 

Adult believers must set aside all religious traditions and interpretations of man, and seek to understand what God says to us. Then, we must act on what God has said with simple faith. Believe God by taking Him at His word, and then obey what He says. 

This connects with a common theme that I have emphasized many times. What we believe shapes our behavior and doctrine shows us our duty toward God and man.

The Psalmist and King David teach us that we must receive God's word as it actually is meant to be received. We are to take God at His word, with simple, trusting faith, and live according to what He says. 

Psalm 116:15,16  Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. 16)  O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds. 

Here is the promise of God. Each time that a saint (believer) dies, the Father takes note of it and it is precious to Him. The word "precious" means valued, prized, splendid, and glorious. 

Why? Because that child of God has arrived home in heaven to be with the Father. Because all the trials, troubles and tribulation of this life are finally over. Because our sin nature and old man will finally be gone forever. 

How should a believer respond to such a glorious promise from God? The Psalmist shows us. Simple, trusting faith. A humble acknowledgement that he is the servant of Jehovah who understands that the power of God will free him from death, and bring him eternal life. 

Who is God's servant? All those who dedicate themselves to God's use, who live conscious of His presence and have a desire to serve Him. 

Believers in Christ belong to God.

1 Corinthians 6:20  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. 

We often lose sight of this important truth. Jesus Christ redeemed us from the slavery of sin, by shedding His precious blood on the cross and by dying in our place.

God has purchased us and we now are His legal possession. He owns us and the Christian life revolves around this singular fact. 

This is why we have struggles in this life. Our old man, our flesh and sin nature are still with us. They fight against the will of God in us. The old man wants to control us and lead us into sin as if sin is still having dominion or ownership over us. 

Jesus Christ has saved each believer to walk in newness of life and to be a new creation in Him. We now belong to God, not Satan! Praise God for His mighty salvation.

Since we belong to God, our life is now His to control. We must choose to set our affection on things above, where Christ is enthroned (Colossians 3:1-3). We must seek first the kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33). We must ask God to show us His wonderful things (1 Corinthians 2:9-14).

Believers must choose to obey God.

Romans 6:13  Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 

We must not yield to the unrighteousness of sin. Rather we must yield ourselves to God. The Psalmist learned this truth and was happy, content to be a humble servant of the Most High God. 

We have spiritual life because of faith in Jesus Christ. We who were dead in trespass and sins are now alive to God through the regenerating work of God's Spirit. 

We must determine to yield ourselves to God as His own tools to do whatever He deems best with our lives. 

Believers must walk in the Spirit to live for God's glory.

Galatians 5:16,17  This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17)  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 

Paul really highlighted the struggles between our old man and our new man in Christ. He tells us that there is a war going on within us, between the lust of the flesh and the will of the Spirit of God. 

If we are not actively obeying God, this ongoing battle can paralyze us and reduce our effectiveness as a servant of God. 

Spiritual victory is possible when we are led by the Spirit and walk in His ways, for He shows us the way of God wherein we must go. 

Believers who serve Jesus Christ will be honored by the Father. 

John 12:25,26  He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. 26)  If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour. 

Jesus taught this truth to us and our response should be simple faith, believing and rejoicing in what our Lord says to us. 

If we turn from the world and follow Jesus, and if we choose to love and serve Him, then our Father in heaven will honor us. Our home in heaven with Christ will be assured. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

It is not enough to "believe" for James tells us that the devils believe and tremble. Faith without works is dead. God has ordained good things for us to do as His children, so if we profess to know Christ, but we do not serve Him, this is dead faith.

We must come to the scriptures with the faith of a child. "My Father has spoken to me. I want to know what He said, and then I want to show my love for Him by obeying Him."

Most believers in Christ are well aware of the ongoing spiritual warfare. The world hated Jesus Christ and hates His followers, The Devil hates Jesus Christ and His followers.

Internally, our old man and flesh want to seek satisfaction in pursuing sin.

However, we are made a new creation in Christ. God sent His Holy Spirit to indwell us. God gave us His inspired book to guide us.

We must arise each morning and make the choice. Who will I serve today? God or me?

I pray for each one of us to determine that we will follow God and serve Him no matter the loss, no matter the cost. 

Let us be known as a people who turned the world upside down for the gospel of Christ, because we chose to love and serve God, rather than self (Acts 17:6).  

Bob