Imitate

The word “imitate” means to take on the characteristics of someone or something.

The imitation never fully rises to the original’s authenticity but makes that its goal.

In 1 Cor 11:1, Paul writes this encouragement, “And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.”

Imitation comes through both words and action.

This could be difficult in Bible times as the written Word of God was partial and not always accessible to the everyday person.

The Jews began the tradition of memorization.

Psalm 119 is the most unique chapter in our Scripture.

It is unique in its format, approach, subject matter, and purpose.

Ezra likely wrote Psalm 119 in the post-exilic era.

Though some do believe that David wrote it.

More likely, it is influenced by David’s writings and his life, but not written by him.

W S Plumer cites Clarke in his commentary, “Several of the ancients, particularly the Greek fathers, have considered it as an abridgment of David’s life…”

I see and hear David throughout this Psalm but recognize that it was written later.

Bishop Cowper calls it “A holy alphabet, so plain that children may understand it – so rich and instructive that the wisest and most experienced may learn something from it.”

The purpose of this Psalm is to learn the Word in an easily memorized format.

Its uniqueness stems from its format, following the Hebrew Alphabet letter by letter, each with eight lines, and each stanza begins with the corresponding letter.

Its focus is unique because it highlights the Word of God in some way in all but 3 or 4 verses.

Matthew Henry states, “This Psalm is a chest of gold rings, not a chain of gold links.”

In other words, there is continuity and uniqueness in every stanza.

They do not necessarily fit together as links in a chain.

They are beautiful nuggets meant to inspire and help us fall in love with God’s Word.

Internalizing the Word of God is one of the greatest keys to our imitation of Christ.

Let’s read a few of the 176 verses in this Psalm.

Much of the imagery used in this Psalm connects the Word of God to food.

Just as we need food to sustain our physical bodies, so we need God’s Word to sustain our spiritual bodies.

The Word of God Sustains Us.

Psalm 119:103 “How sweet your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey.”

Jesus echoes this idea in His response to Satan’s temptation.

Matt 4:4 “But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

The Word of God Matures Us!

Psalm 119:1 “Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord.”

The book of Hebrews reminds us, “You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.” Heb 5:12-14

The Word of God Protects Us.

Psalm 119:11 “I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”

Peter, writing to Christ’s followers in modern-day Turkey, reminds us that the Word is a foundation for those who follow Christ but is a point of stumbling for those who are disobedient.

2 Peter 2:8 “And, “He is the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them.”

When we are obedient to the Word, we will not stumble but walk confidently in our faith.

The Word Directs Us.

Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.”

Heb 4:12 “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.”

It helps us see clearly.

As I mentioned earlier, only a handful of verses do not mention some aspect of the Word of God.

The Pulpit Commentary gives us nine topical themes from this Psalm.

V1-24 – The Blessing of Obedience

V25-48 – Spiritual Enlargement

V49-72 – Comfort in Affliction

V73-96 – Human Need and the Divine Sufficiency

V97-120 – Knowledge and Action

V121-136 – Looking to God

V137-160 – Earnestness

V161-168 – True Things

V169-176 – God’s Salvation

We desperately need to fall in love with the Word.

Here, the Psalmist expresses a deep love for God’s Word by reading, meditating, and praying through it.

Too often, followers of Jesus want to be more like Him; they want a Word of encouragement from Him, and they want to be used by Him but are unwilling to live in His Word.

The Word of God is where your discipleship begins and continues until you are with the Lord.

We can only imitate Paul as he imitates Christ if we live in the Word as they both did.

This morning, many in this room are desperate for peace, joy, answers, or direction.

Your path to finding those things begins when you sit at Jesus’s feet, with His Word in hand and your heart open to hear the voice of the Spirit.

Psalm 119:12 encourages us with this simple declaration and prayer, “I praise you, O Lord; teach me your decrees.”

Let us strive to imitate Christ.

All Scriptures are NLT.

This blog is an adaption of the sermon I preached at C3AG, Louisville, August 8, 2024.