Psalm 119: 49-72
Go Deep
(Psalm 119:49-72)
What connotations does the word “obedience” have for you? Why?
Read Psalm 119:49-72. What descriptions of the word/commands of God do you observe in these verses? What metaphors and analogies do you find? And what does each of these contribute to our understanding of the essential nature of God’s Word. (Keep in mind that there may be synonyms for the Word of God here – law, statutes, commands, etc.)
Why does obedience matter to God? Let’s imagine that an unbeliever is chatting with you and asks, “Why are you Christians so worried about obeying God? Why does God care about that?” What would be your response to them?
As you look through these verses from Psalm 119, how would you describe the psalmist’s attitude toward obeying God? What clues do you find in these verses that make this clear?
Why would our attitude toward obeying God matter to God? Doesn’t He just care that we do it? If not, why would He care?
What obstacles impact our ability or willingness to obey God with a heart of joy? What challenges prevent us from responding that way sometimes?
What aspects of God’s character would motivate us to obey with joy?
Read Matthew 13:16-23, which is Jesus’ explanation of the parable of the soils. How does this explanation inform our understanding of the connection between faith and obedience?
In John 14:21, Jesus says, “Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” We would often not make a direct connection between love and obedience. Jesus does. In what ways would obedience be an expression of love toward God?
We would clearly state that we believe that people are saved not by obedience but by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. How is obedience related to our salvation?
How do we hold firmly to God’s call to obedience without letting that become a harsh, distorted, and rigid legalism?
What has been a valuable takeaway from this discussion for you?