Psalm 119:1-3

GOOD MORNING! "Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways."[1]

A blessing is pledged to all those who hear and do the word of the LORD. "Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only… whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." [2]

True religion is neither cold nor dead, for it delights in the word of the LORD. The thrill of the soul of the true religionist is to be controlled by the word of the LORD in the every day of life. "He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doeth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God. … Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world."[3]

Blessed indeed is that life that is a true transcript of God's holy word. "Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the Living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart."[4]

The great PSALM 119 opens with directions concerning the real meaning of life. This word "blessed" can properly be connected with the concept of "happiness." Truly happy are the undefiled in the way.

This word "undefiled" is closely allied to the Bible word "righteousness." No one can attain true righteousness by his own striving, for by nature we are all sinners, and we all come short of uprightness. But there is a "righteousness of God which is by faith of JESUS CHRIST unto all and upon them that believe." [5]

Yes, and it takes the continual power of grace to keep the believer in the right way. O my soul, seek thou thy happiness in following hard after the LORD!

In the Bible the true life is called "a walk," which is a steady progress, a quiet advance. "Enoch walked with God..." [6]  Let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ.  The law of the LORD is not irksome to the children of the LORD. "And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him."[7]

Rough may be the way, stern the rule, hard the discipline, "narrow the gate," but there is a wealth of blessing -a treasure house of happiness- abounding for the truly godly life!  "I am come," our LORD and Saviour is saying, "that they might have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."[8]

The law of the LORD is a blessed walk. Obedience to the will of the LORD means blessed singleness of heart. Our LORD spoke of those who tried to maintain a double loyalty, and pointed out that such a life is full of darkness because it lacks true loyalty to the LORD. "Ye cannot serve God and mammon."[9]

God is not sought by cold reason, but by the heart. "He that cometh to God, must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."[10]

Futile it is to seek to comprehend God by reason; blessed it is to know him by faith. "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." [11]

"With my whole heart have I sought thee." [12] It is to those who seek the LORD that the choice blessings are given. "Blessed are they that keep his testimonies." [13] The LORD God's word to Abraham was, "Walk before me and be thou perfect." [14] -mature in loyalty, truly separated unto the LORD. "Blessed are they that keep his testimonies."

The word of the LORD is precious indeed; therefore it is for His children to keep His word. The believer who continues being both a hearer and a doer, "this man shall be blessed in his deed." [15] Christian, if you will "keep" God's testimonies they will keep you!" -Keep you right in opinion, true in goal, and full of the blessed hope that "maketh not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." [16]
AMEN.

[1] Psalm 119:1-3
[2] James 1:22,25
[3] Micah 6:8, James 1:27
[4] 2 Corinthians 3:3
[5] Romans 3:22
[6] Genesis 5:24
[7] 1 John 2:28-29
[8] John 10:10
[9] Matthew 6:24
[10] Hebrews 11:6
[11] 2 Timothy 1:12
[12] Psalm 119:10
[13] Psalm 119:2
[14] Genesis 17:1
[15] James 1:25
[16] Romans 5:5