Psalm 119:5-6
The sermon emphasizes the importance of seeking divine assistance in obedience to God's Word, lest we suffer the consequences of a shipwrecked life.
Brent Yim emphasizes the importance of seeking divine guidance and assistance in obeying God's commandments, recognizing the inherent tendency of the human heart to wander and stray from the path of righteousness. Just as a ship needs a compass for a safe journey, believers must rely on God's counsel to navigate through life and reach the destination of eternal life without experiencing the devastation of a spiritual shipwreck. The psalmist's plea for God's direction serves as a model for believers to humbly seek God's help in following His statutes and avoiding the shame of disobedience.
Text
"Oh, that my ways were directed to keep Your statutes! Then I would not be ashamed, when I look into all Your commandments."
The desperate plea of the psalmist was the reaction of understanding the tendencies of his own wandering heart and how it had the ability to misguide him in His quest for obedience. This man of God was fully aware that no matter how vigilant he was in his pursuit of righteousness, he was still absolutely dependant upon the sovereign grace of God to preserve his life from the intrusion and corruption of his own sinful desires. True wisdom, as is observed in this text, foresees the shameful consequences of disobeying the Word of God and therefore fervently petitions God for divine assistance when it comes to observing His statues.
Just as the captain of a ship relies upon the certain aid of his compass to ensure a safe arrival at his pre-determined destination, so also the child of God must fully rely upon the certain aid of divine counsel to ensure their safe arrival into the heavenly harbor of eternal life. To pursue this destination without the assistance of heavenly direction will always result in the unnecessary calamity of a shipwrecked life.
Having received this admonition, our prayers should echo the heart's cry of the psalmist, "Oh, that my ways were directed to keep Your statutes! Then I would not be ashamed, when I look into all Your commandments."
Sermon Outline
- The Desperate Plea of the Psalmist
- The Importance of Divine Counsel
- The Consequences of Disobeying God's Word
- The Calamity of a Shipwrecked Life
- The Shame of Disobedience
Key Quotes
“Oh, that my ways were directed to keep Your statutes! Then I would not be ashamed, when I look into all Your commandments.” — Brent Yim
“To pursue this destination without the assistance of heavenly direction will always result in the unnecessary calamity of a shipwrecked life.” — Brent Yim
Application Points
- We must recognize our dependence on God's sovereign grace to preserve us from sin and corruption.
- We should fervently petition God for divine assistance in observing His statutes.
- We must rely on divine counsel to navigate our spiritual journey and ensure our arrival at eternal life.