Psalm 119:169-176 (text v. 175)

    The last stanza of Psalm 119 is like a summary of the entire Psalm. Here we see the effect God's Word had on the Psalmist's life.
    The word "LET" occurs five times in this 22nd stanza of the 119th Psalm (vs. 169, 170, 173, 175). The word "LET" means to produce an action or effect. 
    God's Word is effectual. IT WORKS! 1 Thessalonians 2:13 says, "For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe." 
    The Bible is more than just a textbook, or manual on life. It imparts life!
The phrase "according to thy word" occurs 12 times in this Psalm (vs. 9, 25, 41, 58, 76, 91, 149, 154, 156, 159, 169, 170). We need to live our life "according to thy word." When we live according to God's Word our life will be…

I. A life of DEPENDING on God. 

• "Hear me" (vs. 169a,170a). God is under no obligation to hear us. When He does it is due to His grace, not our merit.
• "Help me" (vs. 173a, 175b, 176). Humility freely admits it's need for help. Pride never asks for help.  He wants God's hand upon him ("a helping hand"; guiding hand; comforting hand; supporting hand).

ILLUSTRATION:  Sign seen in a textile mill, "When your thread becomes tangled, call the foreman." A young woman was new of the job. Her thread became tangled and she thought, "I'll just straighten this out myself." She tried, but the situation only worsened. Finally she called the foreman. "I did the best I could," she said. "No you didn't. The best thing you could have done is call for me." Who do you call for help?

    A. Depend on God for DISCERNMENT (v. 169). 
        1. God gives understanding through His precepts (v. 104).
        2. God gives understanding through prayer (v. 169; 1 Kings 3:9).
        3. God gives understanding through Paul (2 Tim. 2:7).
        4. God gives understanding through practice-- "With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding" (Job 12:12).
    B. Depend on God for DELIVERANCE (v. 170). 
    C. Depend on God for DIRECTION (v. 176). When we depend on ourselves and our own sense of direction we go astray (v. 176).

II. A life of DECLARING God's Word (v. 171, 172). "He that hath my word, let him speak it faithfully" (Jer. 23:28).
    A. The SPEECH-- "My lips shall utter… my tongue shall speak…"  The word "utter" (v. 171) means "pour forth or bubble over with" (cf. Prov. 18:4).
    B. The SUBJECT-- "…thy word…" 
    C. The STIMULUS-- "all thy commandments are righteousnss."

III. A life of DELIGHTING in God (v. 174, 175). 
    A. Delight in God's Word (v. 174). 
    B. I live to praise God (v. 175). Why should God let us live? 
        1. So we can praise Him! 
        2. Praise glorifies God-- "Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me…" (Ps. 50:23). The reason for our existence is to glorify God, and we do that when we praise.