Scripture Reading: Psalms 119:1-24 | Sabbath: May 31, 2025
Memory Verse: Psalms 119:18
Psalms 119:18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.
Weekly Proverb: Proverbs 12:3
Proverbs 12:3 A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.
Introduction: In Psalms 119, the Ten Commandments are called by different names: commandments, judgements, law, testimonies, word, and statues. When we read through this Psalms with that understanding, then we see how important the commandments are to the author. We will only examine Gimel, a small part of the Psalms.

1. The Creator has provided for His creatures. We have a whole planet that can be used as our supply. It was given to man as his domain. What is the purpose of all this provision? Psalms 119:17
Psalms 119:17 Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word.
2. The wicked abhor any law that limits their freedom to act upon their desires. Is the law contrary to us? A man whose eyes are open sees what in the law? Psalms 119:18
Psalms 119:18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.
3. Would God hide His commandments from us? Have they been hidden? What great effort has God made to make his commandments known to men? Exodus 19:16-20; Exodus 20:1-17
Exodus 19:16 And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.
Exodus 19:17 And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.
Exodus 19:18 And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.
Exodus 19:19 And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.
Exodus 19:20 And the LORD came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up.
Exodus 20:1 And God spake all these words, saying,
Exodus 20:2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
Exodus 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Exodus 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
Exodus 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
Exodus 20:6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
Exodus 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
Exodus 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Exodus 20:9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
Exodus 20:10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
Exodus 20:11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Exodus 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
Exodus 20:13 Thou shalt not kill.
Exodus 20:14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Exodus 20:15 Thou shalt not steal.
Exodus 20:16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
Exodus 20:17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.
4. After a man has been robbed, he wants justice: Thou shalt not steal. After a philandering husband has been discovered, a wife wants justice: Thou shalt not commit adultery. When does a righteous man want justice? Is there a difference between someone who wants justice after the crime and someone who wants justice before? Psalms 119:20
Psalms 119:20 My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times.
5. Some may break a commandment in ignorance. But what enters into the heart of the skilled thief, the skilled adulterer, the skilled deceiver? Does this man bring a blessing upon himself? Psalms 119:21
Psalms 119:21 Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments.
6. There is contempt in being a convicted criminal. There is shame and guilt in participating in adultery and fornication. How can the commandments prevent these feelings? Are they effective? Psalms 119:22
Psalms 119:22 Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies.
7. Keeping the commandments is desirable. But every Saint cannot expect all of his acquaintances to be understanding of his desire to keep them. When we become the target of others, what is our strongest defense? What should occupy our days and nights? Psalms 119:23
Psalms 119:23 Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.
8. Many children have a favorite teacher and an adult can have a favorite professor. As life-long bible students, what should be our favorite teachers? Psalms 119:24
Psalms 119:24 Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors.
Conclusion: The commandments are very important to the author. The author understands that God has made them available to all men. God provides so we can keep them, they are nothing to be ashamed of, and are a delight to the man that keeps them.