This Sunday we have the privilege of hearing from Dr. Gene Getz, Bruce’s mentor, author of over 80 books
and founder of the “Fellowship Bible Church” movement. He composed the following study guide to
prepare us for the message he will bring from God’s Word.
Free!
Take one.
Study
Guide
The Word of God
and The Will of God
A Question to Think About
To what extent do I appreciate the fact that I have available in my hands—the whole Bible? In
my language?
The Bible is indeed a wonderful gift from God, enabling us to know his will. In fact, those of us who are
alive today are greatly blessed with this gift. It’s something even those who lived in the early years of the
1900s did not have available as we do. Today we have the Bible in multiple translations—available as a
printed book—but also accessible on our cell phones, iPads, and in audio recordings. The question is, what
are we doing with this wonderful gift, in order to understand and live in the will of God?
Even long before the New Testament was completed, the author of Psalm 119 devoted 176 verses (the
longest chapter in the Bible) to help us appreciate God’s Word—and how it can impact our lives.
To prepare for the message on “The Word of God and the Will of God,” take a careful look at this psalm.
Background Information
• As previously stated, this is the longest chapter in the Bible: 176 verses
• This psalm has one single focus: the Word of God
• The author used eight synonyms to describe the Word of God:
o “instruction” or “law”: 25 times
o “word”: 24 times
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o “judgments” or “ordinances”: 23 times
o “decrees” or “testimonies”: 23 times
o “commands”: 22 times
o “statutes”: 21 times
o “precepts” or “charges”: 21 times
o “promise” or “word”: 19 times
• In total, the psalmist made approximately 180 references to the Word of God in this one chapter in
the Bible.
• This is also the most elaborate acrostic psalm that comprises 22 stanzas that focus the letters in the
Hebrew alphabet. For example:
o The first eight verses in stanza 1 (119:1-8) each begin with the Hebrew letter ALEF.
o The next eight verses in stanza 2 (119:9-16) each begin with the Hebrew letter BET.
o The next eight verses in stanza 3 (119:17-24) each begin with the Hebrew letter GIMEL.
Principles to Live By
Bible content is foundational in being able to live in the will of God, but what we learn in our heads must
reach our hearts, and flow out into our daily living. Consequently, we’ll look at a number of Principles to Live
By that come from the stanzas in this psalm. These principles indeed impact our lives if we allow the Spirit of
God to convict us, motivate us and strengthen us to live out these enduring and dynamic biblical truths.
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Day 1
Read Psalm 119:1–24 (Stanzas 1–3)
Principles to Live By
Stanza 1: True Fulfillment
To experience true fulfillment, we must continually learn and apply the principles in the inspired Word of
God.
In your own words, what does the psalmist say is the way to true fulfillment?
What does James say about true fulfillment in his letter in the New Testament
(see James 1:25)?
Reflect and respond: How can we become persistent students of the Word of
God, not only in terms of gaining head knowledge, but in terms of experiencing
total life changes?
Stanza 2: Childhood Nurture
To fulfill God’s ideal plan, we should begin to learn his Word as children so that we will seek to do his will
throughout our lives.
The Hebrew word for “young man” in verse 9 was used to refer to a boy from the age of infancy to
adolescence. So the second stanza in this psalm emphasizes the importance of mentoring children early in
life.
How does Paul’s second letter to Timothy—written from a Roman dungeon—
illustrate the biblical principle in stanza 2 in Psalm 119?
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Reflect and respond: How can we teach children (and even adults) the Word of
God so that it equips them “for every good work”? (See Deuteronomy 6:4-9).
Stanza 3: Illumination and Discernment
To clearly understand the Word of God, we are to rely on the divine Author, the Holy Spirit, to illumine our
minds and hearts.
In stanza 3, the psalmist was not asking for new revelations from God but the ability to understand and
perceive clearly what God had already revealed (note particularly Psalm 119:18).
This is a great verse to memorize and to recite each time you open the Word of God or listen to a message
from the Scriptures.
Note Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians (Ephesians 1:17-19). How does this prayer
correlate with the psalmist’s prayer?
Reflect and respond: What can happen when people tend to seek divine
revelation (new truth) rather than divine illumination (understanding truth that
God has already revealed) in the Holy Scriptures?
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Day 2
Read Psalm 119:25–56 (Stanzas 4–7)
Principles to Live By
Stanza 4: Human Responsibility
To live in God’s will, we must choose to follow and obey his Word (note particularly verses 30-32).
When Paul wrote to the Ephesians, he told them that they were “created in Christ Jesus for good works,
which God prepared ahead of time so that they should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). However, God has
given us the freedom to choose to disobey what he planned. Paul therefore went on to exhort the believers
“to walk worthy of the calling [we] have received” (Ephesians 4:1). The rest of the Ephesian letter focuses on
our human responsibilities to carry out this exhortation.
How do Paul’s instructions to the Ephesians correlate with stanza 4 in Psalm 119?
Reflect and respond: Even though we are responsible to obey God, how can we
avoid attempting to do this in our own strength (See Ephesians 6:10-18)?
Stanza 5 and 6: Sharing the Gospel
To speak the Word of God boldly and yet sensitively to those who are unsaved, we must develop a deep
appreciation for God’s love for us personally (note particularly Psalm 119:41-46).
How does Paul’s personal experience recorded in 1 Timothy 1:12-17 correlate with
stanza 6 here in Psalm 119?
Reflect and respond: When we fail to share Christ with others, how do we
determine if it is because we are afraid of something or because we are
ashamed of Christ? Is there a difference?
Note: read Titus 2:11-14 to have a greater understanding of what should motivate us to share the gospel.
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Stanza 7: Hope and Comfort
To experience hope and comfort in the midst of difficult circumstances, we are to focus on God’s promises.
When Paul and Silas were in prison in Philippi, how did they make the words of
this psalm a reality (See Acts 16:22-25)?
Reflect and respond: Though we may never suffer for our faith like Paul and
Silas, what are some of the promises we can claim in order to be encouraged
and comforted in the midst of our afflictions?
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Day 3
Read Psalm 119:57–56, 65–96 (Stanzas 8–12)
Principles to Live By
Stanza 8: God’s Standard
To have intimate fellowship with God and one another, we must use the teachings of Scripture to evaluate
our attitudes and actions (note particularly Psalm 119:59-60).
How can we use the Word of God to evaluate our own lives in the light of God’s
Word and adjust our attitudes and actions? (Note what Jesus taught in John
15:9-10).
Reflect and respond: Why is it sometimes difficult to purposely measure our
behavior with the teachings of the Bible?
Stanzas 9-11: God’s Faithful Love
When we walk out of God’s will, we should welcome God’s discipline that he has designed to restore our
relationship with him.
For some, suffering and affliction happens merely because we live in an imperfect world. We are simply
victims of the evil that permeates our environment. For a few, suffering happens in order to bring glory to
God, such as in the blind man’s story in the Gospel of John (John 9:3). In other situations, afflictions may
not be particularly ordered by God but it can be constructive in our lives (Romans 5:3-4).
These three stanzas (verses 65-68) introduce us to another reason for suffering. The psalmist said that before
he was “afflicted” he “went astray.” Then, because of the affliction that God allowed in his life, he was once
again walking in the will of God.
How does the author of Hebrews address this disciplinary process (See Hebrews
12:5-8)?
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Reflect and respond: In what way may a Christian with a very sensitive
conscience misapply this Principle to Live By?
Stanza 12: God’s Eternal Word
Though everything around us may be changing, we are to put our faith in the Word of God, which will
never change.
How does Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount correlate with this stanza
in Psalm 119 (See Matthew 5:17-18; see also Jesus’ words in Matthew 24:35)?
Reflect and respond: How can this biblical truth help all of us to be encouraged
in the midst of the changing values in our culture?
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Day 4
Read Psalm 119:97–120 (Stanzas 13–15)
Principles to Live By
Stanza 13: Loving God’s Word
To grow in wisdom and godliness, we should meditate on Scripture regularly.
In this stanza, the psalmist gives us five reasons why we should love God’s Word
and meditate on it consistently. In your own words, list these reasons.
1. (verses 98-100)
2. (verse 101)
3. (verse 102)
4. (verse 103)
5. (verse 104)
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Reflect and respond: What are some of the dynamics in our culture that keep
the average Christian from meditating consistently on the truths in the Word of
God?
Stanza 14: Wisdom from Above
We should consult the Word of God for our perspective and guidance in all aspects of our lives.
Note particularly verse 105 which talks about daily guidance from the Word of God and verse 112 which
speaks of lifetime guidance from the Word of God.
A biblical worldview evaluates everything from God’s viewpoint as revealed in Scripture.
The Bible doesn’t give us answers to specific questions such as: What job should I take? Whom should I
marry? Where will I live?
However, it gives us wisdom that will help us make decisions that will be in harmony with his will for our
lives.
Reflect and respond: How does God’s wisdom in Scripture help us answer the
specific questions listed above? Here are some additional questions that will
help you determine God’s will in these areas:
• Is there anything in Scripture that contradicts the decision I want to
make?
• How do other mature Christians evaluate the decision I would like to
make?
• What factors in my environment relate to this decision—both positive and
negative?
• How do I feel about this decision? 10
Note: it’s important to note the sequence in these questions. Scripture is our absolute standard. Mature
Christians can help us understand—but still it’s their opinion.
A negative environment is not necessarily a reason not to proceed. Paul faced many obstacles in carrying out
the Great Commission.
How you feel about the decision should be last. Negative feelings are predictable when we’re trying to make a
difficult decision. It doesn’t necessarily mean it is not God’s will.
Stanza 15: Our Awesome God
When we study the Scriptures, we should be both comforted by God’s promises of protection and concerned
when we disobey his commands.
How do we see both comfort and concern in this stanza?
How do Paul’s instructions to the Philippians in 2:12-13 correlate with the words
of the psalmist in stanza 15?
Reflect and respond: Why do some Christians go to extremes in how they relate
to God?
There are some Christians who misinterpret the concept of godly fear. In essence, they are afraid of God. On
the other hand, there are some Christians who take God’s love and grace for granted. To stand in fear of God
means we stand in awe of who he is. At the same time, we take great comfort that we are secure in his love.
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Day 5
Read Psalm 119:121–144 (Stanzas 16–18)
Principles to Live By
Stanza 16: A Biblical Priority
We are to love God’s Word and his will more than any of our earthly possessions.
How does the psalmist express his priorities in verses 127-128?
How do Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount correlate with the psalmist’s
priorities (see Matthew 6:24)?
Reflect and respond: How can we meet our physical needs and even accumulate
material things while not violating God’s will as stated by Jesus in Matthew
6:33?
Stanza 17: Demonstrating Compassion
We are to show compassion to those who ignore the teachings of the Word of God.
There’s a place for righteous anger toward those who violate the will of God and
take advantage of it (see Psalm 35). However, blended with this emotion should
be a heart of compassion.
How does Jesus’ experience correlate with Psalm 119:136 as recorded by Luke in
19:41 and 13:34?
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Paul also captured how Christians should view lost people who ignore God’s
Word. (See Titus 3:1-5 and describe what Paul said in your own words.)
Reflect and respond: How can Christians show compassion toward unsaved
people and, at the same time, reject their values and behavior that are out of
harmony with God’s Word?
Stanza 18: The Inspired Word
Because God’s Word is true and trustworthy, we should always evaluate all ideas and propositions in the light
of Scripture.
In your own words, explain what the psalmist wrote, particularly in verses 137,
138, 140 and 142.
God’s Word gives us a true description of humanity. God has also enabled us to discover truth from sources
other than the Bible—if it is true, it’s God’s truth. However, when we study the behavioral sciences (such as
psychology and sociology), as well as the natural sciences (such as biology and chemistry), we must discipline
ourselves to evaluate these ideas carefully in the light of the Word of God.
This does not mean we should not study these subjects and study them diligently. Furthermore, it does
not mean that we never need to evaluate our interpretations of Scripture in the light of what is true in the
sciences. But it does mean we must use the Scriptures as our ultimate criteria for evaluating what is true.
Reflect and respond: What can happen when we focus on evaluating the
trustworthiness of Scripture in the light of scientific findings rather than first and
foremost evaluating scientific findings in the light of the Scriptures?
Note: there are three more stanzas in this psalm. They are developed in the Life Essentials Study Bible by Dr.
Gene Getz. The principles in this daily study are adapted from this Study Bible and have been prepared
specifically for Christ Fellowship by the author. Gene will be speaking Sunday on the subject “The Word of
God and the Will of God.” You’ll also have an opportunity to take a look at the Life Essentials Study Bible.
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