this week is somewhat of a ‘Part 2’ to last week’s sermon. There we looked at our tendency to join with the Pharisee in ‘looking down on others’ (Luke 18:9). We thanked God for his deep grace in forgiving us for this – our own grace moment in this parable as we reflected on those times when we are just like the Pharisee and blissfully unaware of our condemnation of others. But as I wrote that sermon last week I was struck by this sort of question: What about God’s standards/laws/commands? Some of the ‘looking down’ is an unfortunate extension of the fact God has made known his ‘way’ to us and we can’t help but see the departures from that all around us. Yes – we are not asked to look down (the unfortunate extension), but we are to delight/know/live by his standards. Such a dedication and joy to his law is a large part of what the longest Psalm in Scripture, Psalm 119, is all about. Today therefore we will take a look at the assigned Psalm, Psalm 119:137-144 (NOT all 176 verses) with a view to hearing of some practical and loving ways to delight in the law of the Lord for the sake of his mission.
October 31, 2019
Pastor Matt Bishop