God’s Law is a Shield
TITLE: God’s Law is a Shield
SUBJECT: Word of God
PROPOSITION: When we follow God’s law, God will shield us from many unpleasant things in life including: 1) The Words and Actions of the Wicked, 2) Insecurity for the Future, 3) The Plans of the Wicked, and we may have proper reverence and fear of God.
OBJECTIVE: To study Psalm 119:113-120 and understand that God’s law shields us from many things and helps us to be secure.
INTRODUCTION:
1. Read: Psalm 119:114
2. About the Text:
1) He pictures the word of God as a hiding place and shield.
2) These are images of security.
3) Many things may assail us in this life.
4) If we will trust in God and His word, we can have protection from these things.
5) It is when we seek to go on away from God’s word that we leave God’s protection.
3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.
DISCUSSION: God’s Law Shields us from . . .
I. The Words and Actions of the Wicked
1. The wicked are double-minded (v.113).
1) “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways” (James 1:6-7).
2) Eph.4:14 – “that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting.”
2. The wicked are evil-doers (v.115).
1) 1 John 3:4 “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.”
2) Matthew 7:21-23
3. The wicked don’t keep the commandments of God (v.115).
1) 1 John 2:4 – “He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”
2) 1 John 5:2 – “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments.”
II. Insecurity of the Future
1. There is life in following God’s word (v.116).
1) John 20:30-31
2) Deuteronomy 30:19 – “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live”
2. There is hope in following God’s word (v.116).
1) Heb.6:19 – “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil.”
2) Lam.3:24 – “’The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘Therefore I hope in Him!’”
3. There is safety in following God’s word (v.117).
1) Psalm 4:8 – “I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.”
2) James 1:21 – “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.”
III. The Plans of the Wicked
1. God rejects those who stray from His word (v.118).
1) Jeremiah 10:23
2) Psalm 2 – The Lord laughs at the plans of the wicked.
2. They stray due to their own rationalizations (v.118).
1) Proverbs 14:12 – “There is a way that seems right to a man….”
2) Jeremiah 17:9 – “The heart is deceitful above all things ….”
3. God puts away the wicked like dross. They are shallow and without substance (v.119).
1) Psalm 39:6 – “Surely every man walks about like a shadow; Surely they busy themselves in vain; He heaps up riches, And does not know who will gather them.”
2) Matthew 15:9 – “And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.”
CONCLUSION:
1. God’s Law Shields us from . . .
1) The Words and Actions of the Wicked
2) Insecurity of the Future
3) The Plans of the Wicked
2. We have great reason to fear God because the wicked will not succeed (v.120).
1) Hebrews 2:1-3
2) Hebrews 12:29 – “For our God is a consuming fire.”
3. Invitation