GET INTO
THE STUDY
SESSION 3
GOD’S WORD
GIVES COURAGE
5 minutes
GUIDE: Direct attention to the
image in the Personal Study
Guide (PSG) page 40.
DISCUSS: Question #1
(PSG, p. 40): Who do you
The Point
know who has acted with
Because of God’s Word, I can stand
courage?
in a world that opposes me.
The Bible Meets Life
GUIDE: Direct attention to
The way of the world is not to
The Bible Meets Life on
follow God. So when followers
PSG page 41. Point out how
of Christ align themselves under
deep roots allow a tree to
the lordship of Christ, the world
survive storms and high winds.
sees them as aligning against it.
Some people might be tempted to bend to the opposition and conform to
GUIDE: Introduce The Point
(PSG, p. 41): Because of
God’s Word, I can stand in
a world that opposes me.
the world’s standards, but following Jesus does not allow that option. We find
strength in God’s Word to stand as we should.
The Passage
Psalm 119:17-24
The Setting
SAY: ”Courageous Christians
The third and fourth sections of Psalm 119, the gimel (vv. 17‑24) and dalet
can stand strong in the storms
(vv. 25‑32) stanzas, are more autobiographical than the first two sections.
of life when they are deeply
In these two sections the psalmist provided a glimpse of the persecution
rooted in God’s Word.”
he had suffered because of his stand for God and God’s Word.
1
In verses 17‑24, the psalmist used six synonyms for God’s Word: (1) word
(v. 17), (2) instruction (v. 18), (3) commands (vv. 19,21), (4) judgments (v. 20),
(5) decrees (vv. 22,24), and (6) statutes (v. 23).
42
S e ss i o n 3
STUDY THE BIBLE
Psalm 119:17-20
Psalm 119:17-20
17 Gimel
Deal generously with Your servant so that I might live; then I
15 minutes
will keep Your word.
18 Open my eyes so that I may contemplate wonderful things
from Your instruction.
READ: Read or ask a volunteer
to read Psalm 119:17-20.
19 I am a stranger on earth; do not hide Your commands
SUMMARIZE: Refer to The
from me.
Setting on page 42. 1 Point
20 I am continually overcome with longing for Your
out that in verses 17‑24, the
judgments.
psalmist used six synonyms
for God’s Word:
KEY WORDS: Stranger on earth (v. 19)—God’s people are only
temporary residents on this earth (1 Pet. 2:11‑12), strangers made up of
1.word (v. 17)
all those obedient to God and His ways (John 17:14‑18).
2.instruction (v. 18)
God’s Word keeps me focused when I don’t belong.
3.commands (vv. 19,21)
Verse 17. Verses 17‑18 are linked by the prayer requests
opening each verse. The opening words of verse 17, “deal
generously,” and of verse 18, “open my eyes,” both present
the psalmist’s requests to God. The writer had a confidence
that we share: God is there, God wants to help us, and God
has the power to do so. The psalmist’s request that God deal
generously with him refers to the idea of treating a person
well or rewarding him. The psalmist’s words suggest he had
the expectation that God would deal with him in mercy and
goodness, not judgment.
Note the writer’s description of his position. His
relationship with God was that of being God’s servant.
The terms translated “servant” in both the Old and New
Testament are often used to describe God’s people in their
relationship with God Himself. The psalmist’s use of the
term servant to describe himself implies that he had been
acting faithfully in his relationship with God.
The psalmist provided the reason for his request: so that
he might live and keep God’s Word. The text does not make
clear exactly which type of life the psalmist was writing
about. Although some scholars view the psalmist’s request as
referring to physical life, others view this living as referring
to eternal life—both in quality (life as is meant to be) and
in quantity (living forever). This life may be experienced
4.judgments (v. 20)
5.decrees (vv. 22,24)
6.statutes (v. 23)
LEADER PACK: Use Item 2:
Eight Synonyms to show
terms used for God’s Word.
S U G G E S T E D U S E | W E E K O F D E C E M B E R 18
43
THE POINT
Because of God’s Word, I can stand in a world that opposes me.
GUIDE: Refer group members
to PSG pages 42-43 to learn
the characteristics of those
who are true servants of God.
1.True servants desire to live
the Word of God.
2.True servants desire to learn
the Word of God.
OPTION: Ask volunteers who
have had cataracts to describe
how the condition affected
their vision. Explore how lack
of vision can lead to a loss of
courage. Then ask volunteers
to describe their vision after
cataract surgery. Ask them to
describe how their courage
returned after their vision was
restored.
SAY: ”Renewed vision is not
something you can accomplish
on your own. You need an
expert who is trained and
experienced. In the same way,
God can open our eyes and
give us vision so we can act
with courage to do His will.”
SUMMARIZE: Use Bible
Commentary 2 to share
more about what it means to
ask God to, “open my eyes.”
44
S e ss i o n 3
partially during our physical life but only fully after we pass
into eternity. Which ever type of life the psalmist referenced,
his request for life had a singular purpose: the psalmist’s
desire to keep God’s Word. The central focus of his life, his
very existence, was to keep God’s Word.
Verse 18. The psalmist’s second prayer request in this
section was for God to open his eyes. The image of opening
the eyes was used metaphorically for gaining insight and
“seeing” with clarity, for understanding the truth. The
psalmist’s request to open his eyes was a spiritual plea for
God to help him understand God and His ways (including
His Word). This request brings to mind the words of Jesus
concerning the Pharisees’ “blindness” to God and His ways,
especially in their failure to recognize Jesus for who He
is—the Son of God and God’s promised Messiah. In regard
to the Pharisee’s taking offense at His words, Jesus replied,
“Leave them alone! They are blind guides. And if the blind
guide the blind, both will fall into a pit” (Matt. 15:14). Another
event that reflects the imagery of the psalmist’s plea to open
his eyes is the encounter the two disciples on the road to
Emmaus had with the risen Jesus on the evening of Jesus’
resurrection, when He opened the Scriptures to them
(Luke 24:31‑32).
Later in this psalm, the writer also used the imagery of
eyes and sight in the sense of asking God to turn his eyes
away from those things in life that are ultimately of no
eternal value (any teachings, values, or actions opposed to
God) and thereby keep him focused on God and His ways.
“Turn my eyes from looking at what is worthless; give me
life in Your ways” (Ps. 119:37).
The writer identified the purpose for his request—so
that he could contemplate wonderful things from God’s
instruction. The Hebrew word for contemplate means to
think intently. When used in a spiritual sense this word
means to meditate on. The word is only used three times in
this psalm (Ps. 119:6,15,18). The phrase wonderful things
refers to God’s self-revelation of His character (who He is)
and the spiritual life that flows out of a relationship with
God. These wonderful things are the very decrees that God
declares, His Word (v. 129). God reveals Himself and what
He expects from us in His Word.
2
Verse 19. The psalmist once again referred to his status,
using some words that are difficult to understand. We know
that he was a native Israelite; how could he have been a
“stranger on earth”? In one sense, the Israelites were
strangers in the land. All the earth belongs to God. It is His
and His alone. Concerning the land the Israelites were to
receive in Canaan, the Lord told them, “The land is not to be
permanently sold because it is Mine, and you are only
foreigners and temporary residents on My land” (Lev. 25:23).
In another sense, God’s people of every time period
are strangers in the world, meaning the world made up of
everyone and everything that opposes God, His Word, and
His ways (1 John 2:15‑17). Jesus told Pilate, “My kingdom is
not of this world” (John 18:36) and He said that His followers
are in the world, but not of the world (17:14‑18). The apostle
Peter wrote of believers as “strangers and temporary
residents” in this world (1 Pet. 2:11). The apostle Paul told
the Ephesian believers that in Christ they were “fellow
citizens with the saints, and members of God’s household”
(Eph. 2:19), meaning citizens in God’s kingdom.
As the psalmist went on to reveal in the following verses,
he was suffering persecution for his love of and loyalty to
God and His Word (see Ps. 119:21-24). Such experiences
can lead to feelings of despair, alienation, and isolation. In
response to his situation as a stranger on earth, and possibly
in relation to the persecution he was suffering, the psalmist
sought God’s commands. The psalmist recognized that alone
he could not deal with the realities of life. Furthermore, true
safety and security was to be found in his relationship with
God and his obedience to God’s commands. The psalmist’s
greatest concern was the possibility that God might hide His
commands from him. The psalmist recognized the centrality
of God and His Word to his life.
3
Verse 20. In the final verse in this section of stanza three,
the substance of the pleas of the three previous verses was
presented as a statement of fact. The psalmist was continually
overcome with longing for God’s Word (“Your judgments”).
The term translated continually overcome communicates
the deep longing of the psalmist for God’s Word. The depth of
the psalmist’s longing can be seen in the range of the term’s
meaning, which includes to be crushed, to be worn down, and
to languish, but it’s most basic meaning is yearning or desire.
Desires in and of themselves are neither good nor evil: The
determing factor is the intentions of our hearts. The psalmist’s
desire was for God and His Word. Later in the psalm, he
wrote, “I long for Your salvation, Lord, and Your instruction is
my delight” (v. 174).
4
DISCUSS: Question #2
(PSG, p. 43): How would you
summarize the psalmist’s
requests in these verses?
GUIDE: Refer group members
to KEY WORDS (PSG, p, 42):
stranger on earth.
SUMMARIZE: Use Bible
Commentary 3 for more on
the phrase stranger on earth.
Ask volunteers to read the
following passages:
• John 18:36
• Ephesians 2:19
• 1 Peter 2:11
DISCUSS: Question #3 (PSG,
p. 44): In what ways do
Christians live as strangers
in today’s world?
(Alternate: How would our
lives be different if we more
fully embraced the idea we are
“strangers on earth”?)
SUMMARIZE: Use Bible
Commentary 4 to explain
what it means to be
continually overcome with
longing for God’s Word.
TRANSITION: The image of
living as a stranger on earth
led the psalmist to verbalize
the concern he had for those
who opposed him.
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THE POINT
Because of God’s Word, I can stand in a world that opposes me.
STUDY THE BIBLE
Psalm 119:21-22
10 minutes
Psalm 119:21-22
21 You rebuke the proud, the ones under a curse, who
wander from Your commands.
22 Take insult and contempt away from me, for I have kept
READ: Read or ask someone to
read Psalm 119:21-22.
Your decrees.
God’s Word keeps me focused when I face opposition.
GUIDE: Refer members to PSG
pages 44-45: “God punishes
rebellious people.” Point out
the threefold description of
those who receive divine
rebuke:
1.Their Character
They are insolent, proud,
and arrogant.
2.Their Condition
They are under a curse.
3.Their Conduct
They “wander from your
commands.”
SUMMARIZE: Use Bible
Commentary 3 to describe
God’s displeasure with the
proud.
SAY: ”God protects His people.
When the psalmist faced scorn
and contempt, he prayed that
the Lord would take it away
from him.”
46
S e ss i o n 3
Verse 21. This verse points to the psalmist’s
autobiographical experience. Verse 22 explains that
experience in more detail. The psalmist stated a truth: God
rebukes the proud. To rebuke means to censure severely;
other words expressing this action are reprimand and
reprove. In the Bible when used in relation to God, the word
translated rebuke is used primarily in reference to God’s
judgments against nations (Ps. 9:5; Isa. 17:13) and commands
toward nature (Ps. 106:9; Mal. 3:11).
3
The Bible repeatedly speaks of God’s displeasure with
the proud. After God rescued David from King Saul, during
David’s song of praise to God, he said, “You rescue an
afflicted people, but Your eyes are set against the proud—
You humble them” (2 Sam. 22:28). Proverbs speaks of God’s
attitude toward the proud and the certainty of God’s
judgment of them. “Everyone with a proud heart is detestable
to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished”
(Prov. 16:5). One of the differences between a healthy selfconfidence and pride is the need for others, particularly God,
in a person’s life. Many, if not most, proud people see little or
no need for God or others to help them develop the proper
lifestyle. Repeatedly the psalmist recognized his need for
God and God’s Word in his life. God’s Word also helped the
psalmist deal with proud people and the persecution he
suffered at their hands.
The psalmist further explained that the proud are those
under a curse, who wander from God’s commands. Why
are they under a curse? To help answer that question, we
should look at the opposite and ask, “Who are those who
are blessed?” The opening verses of Psalm 119 provide the
answer. They are people whose “way is blameless, who live
according to the Lord’s instruction” (v. 1) and “who keep
His decrees and seek Him with all their heart” (v. 2). So the
ones under a curse are those who don’t live blamelessly, who
don’t live according to God’s instruction, who don’t keep His
decrees, and who don’t seek God with all their hearts. May
God help us to be more like the people of verses 1‑2 and less
like the people in verse 21!
Who are the ones who wander from God’s commands?
A word-picture that explains wandering is sheep. Many
times, sheep follow their noses and eyes to find more food.
Doing so sometimes puts them in grave danger. They need
a shepherd to guide and help them. Similar to sheep, those
who wander from following God’s commands let other things
in life—sometimes even good things—take their focus off
what is most important: God and God’s Word. Rather than
intentionally sinning, those people let other things crowd out
their relationship with God and their study of the Bible. Still,
it is a sin to wander from following God and His commands.
Others are tempted and consciously choose to wander from
God and His Word.
Verse 22. This verse provides further information
concerning the psalmist’s situation. Apparently evil people
had insulted him and treated him with contempt. The
psalmist requested that God remove insult and contempt
from him. To insult people means to slur them, to abuse
them, and to attack their dignity (to disgrace them).
The strength of the original Hebrew term is found in the
definition: to revile or shame. The opposite is to praise a
person. To treat people with contempt means to disrespect
them, to dislike or despise them, and to be condescending.
The psalmist provided God with the reason for his
request that God take insult and contempt away from him:
he had kept God’s decrees. Notice that the opposition to the
psalmist (who had kept God’s decrees) came from those who
had wandered away from God’s Word. Both in the time of
the psalmist and today, those who reject God and His Word
often revile and despise those who love God and keep His
Word. Christians today face a very similar situation to that
of the psalmist. Those who follow God and obey His Word
are often not well received in our society, which tends to
revel in what is wrong and mock those who do what is right.
Jesus foretold how the people who reject Him would treat
His disciples. “Remember the word I spoke to you: ‘A slave is
not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will
also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will also keep
yours” (John 15:20).
DISCUSS: Question #4
(PSG, p. 45): What kinds of
opposition do Christians
face today?
(Alternate: What are some
appropriate responses when
Christians face insult and
contempt?)
LEADER PACK: Use Item 4:
Roots to share with your
group that opposition surely
will come, but when we’re
firmly planted in God’s Word,
we have deep roots that will
sustain us in any situation.
TRANSITION: When facing
opposition for your faith, it
is so important to keep your
focus on God and His Word.
47
THE POINT
Because of God’s Word, I can stand in a world that opposes me.
STUDY THE BIBLE
Psalm 119:23-24
10 minutes
Psalm 119:23-24
23 Though princes sit together speaking against me, Your
servant will think about Your statutes;
24 Your decrees are my delight and my counselors.
READ: Invite a volunteer to
read Psalm 119:23-24.
God’s Word keeps me focused on His perspective.
Verse 23. Verses 23-24 continue both the themes from
the previous sections of this stanza: the persecution the
psalmist experienced because of his faithfulness to God’s
Word and the delight the psalmist had in following God’s
Word. These two verses add more detail about the psalmist’s
personal situation. Previously, the psalmist had identified the
sources of persecution as the proud (v. 21) and those who
insulted him and treated him with contempt (v. 22). Here he
identified a third source of persecution as coming from
government officials—princes. The term translated princes
encompasses officials or leaders in the military, religious,
and governmental fields. This is an appropriate reminder
that persecution can come from a variety of different
sources. In addition, given the loss of religious freedom for
Christians in the past few years in our country, these verses
are particularly applicable for those who stand for God and
His Word today. However, it is very important to realize that
such persecution is nothing new for God’s people. The writer
of the Book of Hebrews provided an excellent summary of
the long history of those faithful to God and His Word who
have suffered persecution at the hands of those who stood in
opposition to God, His Word, and His people (Heb. 11).
The response of the psalmist to the government officials
who persecuted him was that he thought about God’s
statutes. Once again, the psalmist saw himself in the proper
position, as God’s servant. Next he stated his action: he
would think about God’s Word. When faced with danger,
the psalmist looked to God’s Word for his security. Taking
refuge in God’s Word was a repeated action on the part of the
psalmist, not merely a one-time event. Instead of responding
directly to the government officials who were persecuting
him, the psalmist instead chose to respond by focusing on
God’s Word. What an amazing response to persecution!
By turning to God’s Word in the face of persecution, the
4
SUMMARIZE: Use Bible
Commentary 4 to point out
another source of persecution
the psalmist faced: princes,
which equates to government
officials.
GUIDE: Refer members to
PSG pages 46-47 to show
how the psalmist could stand
with courage as he focused
on God’s Word: In verse 24
he declared that God’s Word
was his:
1.Delight. “Your decrees are
my delight.”
2.Direction. “Your decrees
are … my counselors.”
SAY: “The psalmist could stand
because he kept his focus on
God’s perspective.”
48
S e ss i o n 3
psalmist remained focused on God’s perspective. When we
face persecution (or any bad experience for that matter) we
have two choices. We can turn to God in faith or move away
from Him in hurt, anger, doubt, fear, and so forth. When the
psalmist faced persecution for being faithful to God and
His Word, he chose to cling even tighter to the Source of his
strength and life. May we always be so close to God that we
choose to respond to persecution by turning to Him and His
Word.
Verse 24. Rather than focusing on his experiences of
persecution by elaborating on them, in this verse the
psalmist chose to continue his focus on God’s Word. He did
not deny the reality of his situation, but neither did he dwell
on it. Instead, he focused on God’s decrees. The psalmist
made two statements about God’s decrees. The emotional
response of the psalmist reflected his spiritual maturity.
God’s decrees were his delight. The psalmist loved God
and His Word. In doing so, he reflected the attitude God
desires of every person. When Jesus was asked what was
the greatest command of God’s law, He replied, “Love the
Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and
with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important
command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as
yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two
commands” (Matt. 22:37‑40). When a person centers his or
her life on God and His Word, all of his or her life is effected
for the good.
Not only were God’s decrees the psalmist’s delight—they
were also his counselors. With God’s Word at the center of
his life, God’s guidance and advice were available to the
psalmist to guide him in all the situations he encountered.
While it is very important to listen to godly people that the
Lord puts into our lives who we trust and who know us well,
be that family and/or friends, they cannot replace God’s
Word. God’s Word is the only perfect, infallible source of
guidance.
Psalm 1 describes the effects on the person who delights
in God’s Word and meditates on it day and night. It is a fitting
close to this session. “He is like a tree planted beside streams
of water that bears its fruit in season and whose leaf does
not wither. Whatever he does prospers” (Ps. 1:3).
GUIDE: Draw attention to
Digging Deeper (PSG, p, 47)
for a brief discussion of God’s
Word as our counselor.
DISCUSS: Question #5 (PSG,
p. 48): When has God’s
Word acted as a counselor
in your life?
(Alternate: What are some
appropriate responses when
Christians face insult and
contempt?)
DO: Ask volunteers to share
responses to the “Stranger in
a Strange Land” activity on
PSG page 48.
49
THE POINT
Because of God’s Word, I can stand in a world that opposes me.
LIVE IT OUT
5 minutes
GUIDE: Emphasize The Point:
Because of God’s Word, I can
stand in a world that opposes
me.
REVIEW: Live it Out (PSG,
p. 49); see text to the right).
Encourage each group
member to commit to follow
through this week with at least
LIVE IT OUT
You can stand with courage in a world that opposes you.
How will you trust the sustaining grace of God’s Word?
>> Stand straight. God’s Word helps you keep a proper
perspective, but other things can influence you and skew
that perspective. Identify things you watch, read, or
listen to that offer a different worldview. Guard yourself
against letting these things keep you from seeing
yourself and the world around you from God’s sovereign
and loving perspective.
>> Stand together. As a group, identify Scriptures
that have helped you stand courageously. Post these
Scriptures or share them through social media. Use
Scripture to encourage each other.
one of the applications.
>> Stand with others. Others may be facing insult or
WRAP IT UP
GUIDE: Emphasize that God’s
Word helps us keep a proper
perspective, so that we can
stand with courage in a world
that opposes us.
SAY: ”Let’s remember that
when others come against
us, God’s Word never fails. As
long as we remain focused on
the Lord and His Word, we can
stand with courage against all
opposition.”
PRAY: ”Father, help us stand
with courage when others
oppose us. Help us remain
focused on You and Your Word
for the strength we need.”
50
S e ss i o n 3
contempt because of their decision to walk with Christ.
Encourage them. Pray with them. Walk with them. Share
Scriptures that have strengthened your faith and walk
with Christ.
“Psalm 119 used no less than
seven other terms to clarify and
enrich our understanding of God’s
ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO/LOUISE KOHL SMITH (32/25/2)
Word. Each represents a facet
of God’s torah; collectively they
emphasize the depth and breadth
of the Word.
“Like an effective ruler, God
leads by righteous ‘judgments’
Torah scroll and prismatic torah case from
Hebron. The case, made of wood, wood
inlays, and silver, has 12 sides.
“The main Hebrew term employed
in Psalm 119, and in all of the Old
Testament for that matter, for the
Word of God is torah, customarily
translated as ‘law.’ But whereas
the English word ‘law’ implies
a legal standard organized and
recorded in legal precedents and
texts, the Hebrew torah connotes
the broader idea of teaching or
instruction (v. 18). Also adopted as
the name for the first five books of
the Bible, the Torah is comprised
of a careful blend of legal material,
SHARING THE
GOOD NEWS
Living without Christ
might spare us from some
opposition and persecution
in this world, but the
hardships of this life are
nothing compared to the
eternal life we have when we
trust Christ for salvation.
(Hebrew, mishpatim; (v. 20). Being
Each week, make yourself
a term commonly used to describe
available either before or after
the way of a king (see 1 Sam. 8:11),
the session to speak privately
this synonym for the Word draws
with anyone in your group
us in consideration of the kingdom
who wants to know more
of God, a kingdom established on
about becoming a Christian.
the foundations of righteousness
See the article, “Leading
and justice.
Someone to the Greatest
“‘Commandment’ (Hebrew,
Decision of All,“ on page 2 for
mitzvah) implies authority. God’s
guidance in leading a person
Word comes as commands (v. 19)
to Christ.
for us to obey. Yet the psalmist
seeks God’s commandments with
his whole heart.”
The excerpt above is from the article “The
Word, a Description” (Fall 2009), which relates to
this session. More Biblical Illustrator articles are
available that relate to this session. See page 7
about Biblical Illustrator.
Remind group members that
page 2 in the PSG offers
guidance in how to become a
Christian. Encourage believers
to consider using this article
as they have opportunities to
lead others to Christ.
history, and narrative.
Get expert insights on weekly studies through the Ministry Grid.
MinistryGrid.com/web/BibleStudiesForLife
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