A Sound Heart
A sound heart, characterized by love, feeling, and obedience to the truth, is essential for obedience to God's statutes and will keep us safe.
John MacArthur emphasizes that teaching (didasko) involves passing on information systematically, focusing on the truth of God's Word. The essence of teaching is to influence understanding, stimulate obedience, and bring about transformation and Christ-likeness. Teaching is a vital aspect of the Christian faith, validated by Jesus being called Rabbi more than any other name. The goal of teaching is to shape the will of the learner, helping them know God and love and imitate Him.
Text
Let my heart be sound in thy statues: that I be not ashamed. (Psalm 119:80)
We may regard this inspired prayer as containing within itself the assurance that those who keep close to the Word of God shall never have cause to be ashamed of doing so.
See, the prayer is for soundness of heart. A sound creed is good, a sound judgment concerning it is better, but a sound heart toward the truth is best of all. We must love the truth, feel the truth, and obey the truth, otherwise we are not truly sound in God's statutes. Are there many in these evil days who are sound? Oh, that the writer and the reader may be two of this sort!
Many will be ashamed in the last great day, when all disputes will be decided. Then they will see the folly of their inventions and be filled with remorse because of their proud infidelity and willful defiance of the Lord; but he who believed what the Lord taught and did what the Lord commanded will stand forth justified in what he did. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun. Men much slandered and abused shall find their shame turned into glory in that day.
Let us pray the prayer of our text, and we may be sure that its promise will be fulfilled to us. If the Lord makes us sound, He will keep us safe.
Sermon Outline
- The Importance of a Sound Heart
- The Consequences of a Shallow Faith
- The Promise of a Sound Heart
- The Lord will keep us safe if we are sound
- We must pray for a sound heart
Key Quotes
“A sound creed is good, a sound judgment concerning it is better, but a sound heart toward the truth is best of all.” — C.H. Spurgeon
“Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun.” — C.H. Spurgeon
“If the Lord makes us sound, He will keep us safe.” — C.H. Spurgeon
Application Points
- We must pray for a sound heart and ask the Lord to make us sound.
- A sound heart is essential for obedience to God's statutes and will keep us safe.
- We must love, feel, and obey the truth in order to be truly sound in God's statutes.