Go ahead take a look.  We all do it.  No matter what grade we are in, we get a text book or a book for pleasure reading, and we go to the last page to see how many pages we have to read.  Ken Follett’s The Pillars of the Earth – has 973 pages – thank you Richard Harris, for letting me borrow it.  So go ahead.  Pick up one of the Bibles in front of you.  Take a look to see just how long Psalm 119 is.  That’s right.  It really is 176 verses long.  It is the longest psalm and the longest chapter in the Bible.  And – the really cool thing is Psalm 119 is right smack dab in the middle of the Bible.   What great divine planning that was!   And more recent planning, the June edition of The Presbyterian Outlook has an article entitled:  “You know you are a PK (Pastor’s Kid) if. . .”  One of the “IF” items listed by this particular PK says:  “Earning a dollar for every Psalm memorized seems like a pretty good deal until you get to number 119.”  I happen to know at least two PK’s who accepted cold, hard cash in the memorizing of scripture.  I never have asked them if they made it to Psalm 119.   Now, I am not handing out dollars, but, I am grateful on your behalf that our new pews are so nicely padded for the hearing of this sermon.  Seriously, get comfy.  Seriously, we will explore only four portions of this great psalm. 

The arrangement of this great psalm bears pointing out.  The Psalm is alphabetical…the Hebrew alphabet.    There are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet; so each of the 8 verse sections begins with the corresponding letter of the alphabet – Aleph, Beth, Gimel, and on - throughout each of the 22 sections.  Isn’t it nice how the Holy Spirit chooses to speak to people in a manner that was (and is) appealing to our attention and helpful to our memory.  

            Speaking of memory, if you are going to memorize an entire chapter of Scripture, it will be much simpler, and faster, to start with Psalm 117.   It has only 2 verses.  The “ABC’s” of Psalm 119 are not just letters of the alphabet, but a way of life.   And with the possible exception of only two verses, every verse is praise to the Word of God.  These ABC’s remind us to hide God’s Word in our heart, listening to it, recite it aloud, study it, reflect on it and not to forget it – so we can live it out.     

            Since this is God’s Word, it comes from God this means it is God’s law and God’s revelation.  No matter the terminology used:  commandments, ordinances, witness, precepts, these are all God’s truth in Word but does not take the place of God.  It leads and guides us to God and to doing God’s will throughout our lives.  

            So let’s start at the very beginning.   Here in the first section or 8 verses, we are guided how to be blessed.   Read Verses 1-8

Not so surprising, God’s blessing does not come if we earn enough money, or live in big and expensive homes; or if we live in just the right neighborhood.  Blessings do not come if we are liked and respected by those with whom we work.   Blessings do not come if we acquire enough power to do whatever we like or if we think we are free from all we feel holds us back.  Blessings do not come even if we discover someone who will love us without conditions, forever.   Blessings do come as we praise God with our hearts, in all circumstances.  Blessings do come as we learn God’s ways and form our lives according to the Word of God.   But how will we know what that Word is if we do not read it, meditate on it, pray through it and hide it in our hearts?  How can we rely on it in times of stress, ugliness in our lives, transitions of all kinds throughout the seasons of our lives?

            I realize this is just the beginning of summer vacation for many of our young people and teachers and parents.  I am also aware that learning our school ABC’s do not get shelved for summer.   I checked and summer reading has been assigned.   The next section or verses 9-16 speak directly to our young people.  But really this is for all of us – so this could be our summer reading assignment….  Read Verses 9-16

            When people of all ages say, “the Bible is old and outdated and doesn’t have anything to say to me in my time for my circumstances” – I beg to differ.  These verses are proof.  The Bible gives us instructions for every age and stage of life and situation.  We are to ask God to help us understand.  We must ask God to teach us and to direct our choices.  He wants to turn our hearts to His ways – which are always the good and right ways for us.  

God even tells us when to begin this journey of understanding, blessing and growth.   Verse 9 says:  “How can a young person stay pure?” And we might add – in such an environment as this.   But this means that at very early ages we are to teach God’s Word often, so young ones can learn God’s Word.  So parents teach your children, often.  Teachers teach the children, often.  We all know that it is easier for us to learn and memorize when we are quite young.  Laurie Loring, our Children’s Director knows this truth.  She has a program of memorization for the children for each grade level.   The children earn pins as they memorize God’s Word.   We are able then to draw upon those truths when we have need. 

Janet Fredrickson of our congregation has a grandmother.  Grandmother Lucille is 100-1/2 years old.  I figure at that age it’s like toddlers, when asked their age…they say, “I’m 3 and a half.  Now as is often the case with any of us when we reach Lucille’s wonderful and precious age, our memories just are not what they once were.  Grandma Lucille’s short term memory is mostly gone.  However, as Janet says, she still has “a strong urge to serve her Lord and has a bunch of bible verses in there.”  Lucille – like many others of our grandparents and parents – has the strong foundation built from childhood.  This foundation of god’s living word hidden in her heart allows her to draw on God’s power, strength and comfort in times of transitions, stress, fear and times of rejoicing – for each season of life.  When we learn as children it stays with us for a life time, no matter what our body or our brain does.

We just dedicated Kayla Tapking.   In this dedication we, the church, promised to help little Kayla learn about God and God’s Word.  May she and each little one begin this wonderful journey of learning and living God’s truths for each season of their lives.    

Come late summer and fall, many of you young people will be going off to college – whether locally or away from home.  How will you know what to believe, what to do, how to think, be guided in all that you do?  How will you know your true support system?  How will you keep from wandering from right decisions and head off to wrong and dangerous choices?  If you have grown up in the children’s and youth programs here at MPC you are well grounded in that foundation.  Do not forget to pack your Bible.  Parents, as you head out on family vacations, pack your Bible.  More importantly, do not forget to read and study that Bible.  Recite God’s Word out loud.   Obey what is there.    You are promised that God will open your eyes to the wonderful truths there.   You will be brought back around when you wander.  You will be taught God’s principles.  You will be given understanding of His commandments.   You will be turned from worthless things.  You will be encouraged in all times.  You will be given life and love.   You will not be held back. Nor will your style be cramped.   Rather you will walk in God’s freedom. 

These are not empty promises.  These are not promises made by one to manipulate another.  We know that life is full of those kinds of promises.  And as we each step out into and live in the world, we come up against people with those empty promises.  But the promises here in Psalm 119, and the entire Bible, are God’s promises, therefore truth.  However, we do need to hear them, know them, and claim them in order to enjoy them and live them.  When the Canadian Pacific Railroad was ready to lay tracks from Medicine Hat to Calgary in southern Alberta , Canada , it had to negotiate with Crowfoot, the chief of the Blackfoot confederacy that controlled that land.  Crowfoot granted permission, in return for a lifetime railroad pass on the Canadian Pacific.  He put that pass in a leather case and carried it around his neck until he died.  BUT he never used it.  He never took advantage of the railroad’s promise.   Sometimes we are like that regarding God’s promises.  We admire them.  We put them up on our walls.  We display His Book of promises prominently.  But we do not take advantage and make use of those promises.   God has told us what He wants for us and He wants us to enjoy His promises.  He wants that for each of us. 

Another section I want to spend time on this morning includes a verse we have all heard at least once, and some have memorized.  This section is verses 97 through 112.   And before we get to that well known verse, this section is a treasure chest for us. Read verses 97-112.  In this treasure chest there are 5 reasons the Psalmist has learned to love God’s law – and why we should love it too:  The first reason we should love God’s Word is that God’s Word is the source of true wisdom.   God’s wisdom is different that the world’s wisdom.   His wisdom does not manipulate the truth and circumstances to our own worldly advantage.  And God’s wisdom helps us be wiser than those teachers and elders who ignore and reject God’s Word.  Reason number two is that it keeps us on the right path and off wrong ones.  Staying in God’s Word and living it is a deterrent to sin.   Reason number three that we are to love God’s ways is that when we study it we have God Himself as our teacher.   The Bible bears the personal stamp of the divine mind and voice of God…to us.  How awesome is that!  Reason number 4 to love God’s word is that it is sweet to our spiritual taste – like honey.   You and I live in a fast, sometimes very ugly, harsh, abusive, environment and culture.  Sometimes it is on TV; sometimes it is certain internet sites; sometimes it’s the music we hear or even the people with whom we hang.     But God’s Word says we need to turn away from all that – at least on occasion.  We need to fill our heart, mind and soul with something very beautiful and sweet.  When we spend time in the Bible, on a particularly delightful passage - whether or not we are memorizing it – we will find that it makes us a bit more delightful and sweet as well.  We are promised that it will soothe the bitter experiences of life with God’s sweetness, the ugly things with God’s beauty, and the sad times with a genuine joy.    And the number five reason we are to love God’s word is that it not only keeps us from evil, but it also causes us to hate every wrong path.  Yes, like I said, living out god’s Word is a deterrent to sin.  But it also makes us reject, that is hate, the sin that takes us away from God.

And now for that well known verse:  “Your Word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. (v105)”   This is light to walk by…certainly in our dark and scary times.  But also this light is for each and every path, and turn in that path, every day.  We do not know how to live our life apart from God’s Word.  God’s Word is the light that shines before us as we read it, study it, and reflect on it.  It is God’s shining Word in us, with the help of the Holy Spirit, that helps us not to forget it.  It shines forth in our lives and gives us direction.  It shows us the right way to live.    This is why we are to pray and ask for understanding and insight and good judgment.  We are humans and we make mistakes.  We are so not perfect.  We need Somebody to guide us and to protect us.  Out God, through Jesus, does that – and no one else.   We need to seek our God and lean not on our own understanding.

                I realize I have referred to young people often as hearers of this sermon.   One reason for this is because the psalmist does so.  And another reason is because if when we are young we begin building our lives on this strong foundation we will go through life stronger for it.  No our life will not be perfect, but we will know where to go to get that strength, clarity, and direction.    And another reason I refer to young people is that to God, well, we are all young people.   So it is never too late for any of us to begin this journey in God’s Word.   It is for each of us – no matter our age and stage of life or where we are on our Christian walk.  And if all this is not so clear and you want to learn more. . . .have I got a deal for you!    One of the Fall adult classes offered here will be a sort of Bible Boot Camp.  So plan to attend and get involved and learn and build that foundation.

Now we know the psalmist wrote this way before the birth of Jesus.  Therefore, he did not know what we know about the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.  He did not know about the gospel message.  Now he probably did look for a Redeemer – the Messiah – to come.   The fact is obvious that he knew that all genuine understanding comes from God and that he needed to ask God for it.   He does this in the final section.  He tells us how to ask God for the same….Read verses 169-176.

 This is one section that the psalmist moves from the head to the heart.  He gets very personal with his personal God.  And so must we.   W must repeat our need for understanding. We are to praise God for all that we are taught.  We are to ask physical help from the hand of God because we have chosen to follow God’s Word.  Then, we must ask for the Lord’s salvation.  In this we must ask for the Lord’s deliverance from sin – from its penalty, power and presence and from its influences of the world.  This also means we are to give and receive forgiveness.    

It is wonderful how it truly does appear that the psalmist has been anticipating the coming of and teachings of Jesus, who said in John’s gospel, “Apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)”   It is true that in ourselves we can do nothing.  It is also true that “We can do EVERYTHING through Christ who gives us strength. (Philippians 4:13)”    Salvation – and life – are of the Lord…our Lord, Jesus Christ.     

            This is all about the relationship between people and God through God’s Word.  It is about the relationship between us and the Living Word, Jesus.   This is the message of not only Psalm 119, but of the entire Bible.   The aim of the God’s Word is not simply that we may know ABOUT God.  It is that we may know Him personally through His Son, Jesus.   When the pages of the Bible are open, Jesus can be seen.   Through those open pages we find a personal relationship with Him.   This is when we each must make this relationship our own – not our parents’ and not our spouse’s, not our friend’s.  This is for our very own life-changing relationship with Jesus.  If you want to talk more about this, come see me this week.

            A 17^th Century British minister Thomas Fuller, confessed what we all did at the beginning, “Lord, I discover an errant laziness in my soul.  For when I am to read a chapter in the Bible, before I begin it, I look where it endeth, and if it endeth not on the same side, I cannot keep my hand from turning over the leaf to measure the length thereof . . . Were I truly hungry after heavenly food, I would not complain of meat.  Make the reading of thy Word not a penance but a pleasure for me, so that I may esteem that a chapter in thy Word the best which is the longest.”   

            May that hunger for heavenly food be so for each of us.