Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for August 27, 2023
A Case for Bible Saturation
Psalms 119:1-8
1. Background
• longest Psalm (176 verses), acrostic, 22 stanzas of 8 verses
• “alphabet of reflection” with 8 repeated synonyms
2. Description Emphasized 1-3
• repeated concept of blessedness (Psa. 1)
• walk in the law…keep His testimonies
• impact of ongoing pursuit and complete preoccupation
3. Determination Indicated 4-6
• Your precepts kept diligently
• steadfast keeping of Your statutes
• impact of fixation on Your commandments
4. Dependence Expressed 7-8
• anticipation of praise that results from learning Your rules
• anticipation of divine intervention
5. So What?
• Because Love for God is refreshed by revelation, soak up every syllable of Scripture.
• connection to Christ: Matt. 4:4 (Deut. 8:3), Luke 11:28, James 1:22-25
• “’One boat goes east, one boat goes west, by the self-same winds that blow. And it’s the set of the sails, and not the gales, that determines which way they go.’ And the Word of God sets our sails.” (A. Begg quoting Ella W. Wilcox, “Tis the Set of the Sail”)
• “How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, is laid for your faith in His excellent Word! What more can He say than to you He hath said, to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?” (J. Rippon, “How Firm a Foundation”)
Short Sentence Prayers on Psalm 119:1-8
1. Lord, the Word is Your Word. Thank you for giving us Your Word.
2. Lord, teach us that the way of happiness is the way of obedience, and make obedience sweet to us.
3. Lord, grant that our religion would not be empty talk but Gospel life, that our love for you will show not only in our lips but in our lives, that we would practice what we preach.
4. Lord, by Your Holy Spirit, give us a right aspiration for holiness, a grace-wrought desire for godliness.
5. Lord, give us a love for Your whole Word and all Your commands, even in our blind spots.
6. Lord, grant that our lives would be built on the basis of Your Word.
7. Lord, give us Gospel resolve and grace dependence in our lives. (L. Duncan, LigonDuncan.com)
