First Baptist Church of Hoquiam
Sunday Worship, June 15, 2025
      • Psalm 119ESV

  • The Final Word

    The powerful - the one who demands that you follow
    The authoritative - the one who has the authority to make you follow
    The knowledgeable - the one who knows what is best
    The influential - the one you want to follow
    The Psalmist is going to point out that God is all of these things.
    The Hebrew letter Resh
    Psalm 119:153-160 in Hebrew
    Psalm 119:153–160 ESV
    153 Look on my affliction and deliver me, for I do not forget your law. 154 Plead my cause and redeem me; give me life according to your promise! 155 Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek your statutes. 156 Great is your mercy, O Lord; give me life according to your rules. 157 Many are my persecutors and my adversaries, but I do not swerve from your testimonies. 158 I look at the faithless with disgust, because they do not keep your commands. 159 Consider how I love your precepts! Give me life according to your steadfast love. 160 The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.

    The final word when facing hard times.

    Psalm 119:153–154 ESV
    153 Look on my affliction and deliver me, for I do not forget your law. 154 Plead my cause and redeem me; give me life according to your promise!

    What does God have to say?

    Count it joy because these things will help you grow.
    James 1:2–4 ESV
    2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

    The final word when facing the world.

    Psalm 119:155–156 ESV
    155 Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek your statutes. 156 Great is your mercy, O Lord; give me life according to your rules.

    What does God have to say?

    Stay close to me so you are not drawn away like the wicked.
    1 John 2:15–17 ESV
    15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

    The final word when facing our enemies.

    Psalm 119:157–158 ESV
    157 Many are my persecutors and my adversaries, but I do not swerve from your testimonies. 158 I look at the faithless with disgust, because they do not keep your commands.

    What does God have to say?

    Don’t act like them.

    Psalm 1:1–2 ESV
    1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

    Pray for them

    Luke 6:27–28 ESV
    27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.

    The final word on what we live for.

    Psalm 119:159–160 ESV
    159 Consider how I love your precepts! Give me life according to your steadfast love. 160 The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.

    What does God have to say?

    Be careful when you go your own way, it may not lead where you think it will.
    Proverbs 14:12 ESV
    12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.
    Trust my ways as you make choices in life and see how things go.
    Proverbs 3:5–6 ESV
    5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

    Who gets the final word . . .

    . . . when you argue with your spouse?
    . . . when you have a conflict with a friend?
    . . . when you disagree with your boss?
    . . . when you are upset with your children?
    . . . when things aren’t going your way?
    . . . when you disagree with a political opponent?

    Why should God always have the final word?

    Psalm 119:160 ESV
    160 The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.

    He holds the TRUTH!

    His ways are always RIGHT!

    How do I quit following my own opinions and give God the final Word in my life?

    Romans 12:1–2 ESV
    1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
      • Psalm 119:153–160ESV

      • Psalm 119:153–154ESV

      • James 1:2–4ESV

      • Psalm 119:155–156ESV

      • 1 John 2:15–17ESV

      • Psalm 119:157–158ESV

      • Psalm 1:1–2ESV

      • Luke 6:27–28ESV

      • Psalm 119:159–160ESV

      • Proverbs 14:12ESV

      • Proverbs 3:5–6ESV

      • Psalm 119:160ESV

      • Romans 12:1–2ESV