31 July 2006

Text: Psalm 119:113-120
A HEALTHY FEAR OF THE LORD

THE PRESENCE OF EVIL IN THE WORLD

1. The "double-minded"
"I hate the double-minded"    Psalm 119:113a
a) The insincere
b) Those who "falter between two opinions"    1 Kings 19:21

2. The evil doers
"Depart from me, you evildoers"    Psalm 119:115
a) Doing evil
b) Delight in doing evil

3. Those who stray from God and His word
"You reject all those who stray from Your statutes,
For their deceit is falsehood"    Psalm 119:118
a) Straying
b) Deceit
c) Falsehood

4. The wicked are like dross that tarnishes
"You put away all the wicked of the earth like dross"    Psalm 119:119
a) Tarnishing influence
b) Corrupting influence

RESPONSE TO EVIL

1. Hatred of evil ways    Psalm 119:113b

2. Clear separation from evil ways    Psalm 119:115a

3. Love for God's Word
"But I love Your law"    Psalm 119:113b

"Therefore I love Your testimonies"     Psalm 119:119b

4. Turning to God for protection
"You are my hiding place and my shield"    Psalm 119:114a

5. Hope in God's Word
"I hope in Your word"    Psalm 119:114b

"And do not let me be ashamed of my hope"    Psalm 119:116b

6. Determination to keep God's Word
"For I will keep the commandments of my God"    Psalm 119:115b

"And I shall observe Your statutes continually"    Psalm 119:117b

7. Prayer to be upheld
"Uphold me according to Your word, that I may live"    Psalm 119:116a

"Hold me up and I shall be safe…"    Psalm 119:117a

8. Fear of the Lord
"My flesh trembles for fear of You,
And I am afraid of Your judgments"    Psalm 119:120
a) An underlying factor
b) It underscores the above determination to resist evil
c) The fear of being entrapped by evil is very real
d) The fear of walking in the ways of evil is real too
e) The best kind of fear…
"The fear of the Lord"     Proverbs 1:29b; 2:5; 8:13