YOU HAVE A TREASURE, DON’T OVERLOOK IT!

 THE WORD GIVES US WISDOM FOR ALL

Psalm 119:41-48

Let your steadfast love come to me, O LORD,

your salvation according to your promise;

then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me,

for I trust in your word.

And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,

for my hope is in your rules.

I will keep your law continually,

forever and ever,

and I shall walk in a wide place,

for I have sought your precepts.

I will also speak of your testimonies before kings

and shall not be put to shame,

for I find my delight in your commandments,

which I love.

I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love,

and I will meditate on your statutes.

Our access to the Word of God is an amazing sign of the kindness and grace of God. When we pick up the Bible, we have the truth available to us; we see God choosing to disclose who He is. We learn to know His character, His instructions, His ways, His thoughts. I know that as I look at the many copies of the Scriptures in my home, I tend to take for granted the amazing grace they represent.

Isaiah 55:8-9

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

We can know for certain that any information about God a person might receive apart from Scriptures is merely invented. Man, left to his own, would have no ability to even imagine what God is like. The distance between our thoughts and God’s is so great that it would be impossible for man to come close to a valid description of the LORD.

We should be amazed by the love of God every time we take a Bible in our hands and are able to learn the mind of God. Furthermore, our ability to understand the spiritual truths found in it is also an amazing display of the grace of God.

1 Corinthians 2:14-16

        The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

True believers have been given the mind of Christ and are able to understand the things of God! I am afraid that the availability and familiarity of having the Word of God has made me take for granted this amazing gift I have at my disposal.

I have nothing more valuable, nothing more useful, nothing more transforming: I have nothing that comes close! It is a grace of God that I have the Scriptures, and that I can understand them.

Having the Scriptures gives us an answer to those around us. It is strong enough to defend us against those who taunt us. It is exactly what we need to be able to live in a hard and crooked world. It has the answers for all authorities. Knowing the word of God will assure we are never without wisdom and understanding.

The writer is resolute. He wants the word of God in his mouth continually, and knows that there is no other path he wants to walk but that which is found in the law of the LORD.

Thinking about the amazing gift of the Scriptures causes the writer to find delight in them. The Word is what he loves and therefore he meditates upon it.

The psalmist finds boldness in his walk, as he fills his mouth with the Word. He knows that he will have answers that will not put him to shame. He will not be timid or confused, but joyful and bold.

I know that I need to be more resolute in my walk and in my talk. The answer is in a growing confidence in the Word of God that comes from understanding and loving it.

May our testimonies be full of deep gratitude to God for His grace! May our lives be godly before men, because of God’s instruction and strengthening to apply His law from day to day!

A GODLY LIFE IS THE RESULT OF MANY GODLY DECISIONS!

GODLINESS REQUIRES WORK

Psalm 119:33-40

Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes;

and I will keep it to the end.

Give me understanding, that I may keep your law

and observe it with my whole heart.

Lead me in the path of your commandments,

for I delight in it.

Incline my heart to your testimonies,

and not to selfish gain!

Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things;

and give me life in your ways.

Confirm to your servant your promise,

that you may be feared.

Turn away the reproach that I dread,

for your rules are good.

Behold, I long for your precepts;

in your righteousness give me life!

The progression we find in these verses is so necessary for our lives. The writer begins with ‘teach me’ and then he moves to ‘give me understanding, lead me, incline my heart, turn my eyes, confirm, turn away, and give me life’!

I know that, in my laziness, I want to ask God to give me blessing and life without the rigorous and diligent work that needs to be done.

There is no wiser place to begin to learn His statues than at the footstool of the LORD. We have already seen this truth in the previous verses, but again we are reminded that we need to be taught. The question we must ask ourselves is if we really believe it. Our weeks consist of 168 hours. How many are spent learning the Word? For some, the only learning time is the Sunday morning service: 50 minutes, compared to 168 hours. Take time to do the math in your own life: is there something that needs to change? Remember, we are asking the LORD to give us ‘life”, but are we willing to cooperate with His work in us?

Paul reminds us about the work of the Scriptures.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

            All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Life for a true believer is a godly, maturing life that is dedicated to eternal goals. Only the inspired Word of God can provide the teaching and the necessary exposure of wrong thinking and sin, so the Spirit can transform our lives.

The psalmist is asking to learn the way of life; he is not looking for information, but for the path he needs to follow. He needs understanding: the ability to know, discern, and apply the instructions found in his study. He knows that he needs to be led in his walk. His joy is found in walking according to the Scriptures.

Part of his understanding, I believe, is also seeing the benefits and value in following the directions of His Lord. I know that as I get to know the character and love of God, I am more apt to understand and trust His ways and to fully delight in them.

The battle is always raging between our selfishness and our desire to live for God. The psalmist knows that, and he asks the LORD to incline his heart in the right direction. I know that this needs to be my daily prayer: to inform, transform, and incline my heart to godliness. When I am left to my natural desires, I become the center of my heart’s inclination.

The world is always shining lights and aggressively alluring my attention. Not only am I naturally inclined to follow the world, but everything around me wants to pull me in that direction. You and I know how easily we are distracted from all that is valuable and eternal.

But our fear of the Lord is the guiding light for our lives, and a strong deterrent from wandering, to which we are so prone. Solomon, a man who had allowed his life to be greatly distracted and pulled in wrong directions, reminds us of this in his inspired writings.

Proverbs 9:10

            The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,

                        and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

Going in the wrong direction will only produce reproach; following God will produce all that is good. How greatly I need to be prepared and reminded, for my days are filled with choices and decisions.

This stanza ends with an exclamation of desire for the teaching of the Word, for only through the Word will a righteous life be produced. A godly life is the result of a godly resolve!

OUR CHOICES REFLECT THE IMPORTANCE WE GIVE TO THE WORD!

LIVING FOR GOD REQUIRES RESOLVE

Psalm 119:25-32

My soul clings to the dust;

give me life according to your word!

When I told of my ways, you answered me;

teach me your statutes!

Make me understand the way of your precepts,

and I will meditate on your wondrous works.

My soul melts away for sorrow;

strengthen me according to your word!

Put false ways far from me

and graciously teach me your law!

I have chosen the way of faithfulness;

I set your rules before me.

I cling to your testimonies, O LORD;

let me not be put to shame!

I will run in the way of your commandments

when you enlarge my heart!

As the writer arrives to this section, he describes with clarity his humanness, as he desires for God to lift him up through the teachings of the Word.

He knows that he needs God to make His ways known to him, and that life without the reviving of the Scriptures is meaningless.

We would all agree with that statement, but the proof of its reality is in how much time we dedicate to knowing, understanding, meditating upon, applying, and living out the Scriptures in our daily life. Are we really convinced that when we follow our own ways they lead us in the wrong directions? Do we really believe that our heart is deceitful and wicked? Do we truly believe that apart from God, we can do nothing of value? Do we understand that our lives, if lived for earthly goals, are worthless? If, while answering these questions we find ourselves answering in the negative, then it will be normal for us not to have the necessary desire and resolve to study God’s Word. I find that my daily routine tends to make me less dependent on the Word.

The psalmist is resolved; he wants to be taught and he wants to understand. The choice of the church we go to exposes what we are looking for. There are churches that provide programs and entertainment for the whole family, but do not have a high view of Scriptures. There are churches where the music is elaborate, but the study of the preaching of the Word is weak and shallow, in fact, it is the smallest part of the Sunday service. Many prioritize the social interaction in church over the teaching they hear.

Ephesians 4:11-16

        And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

The role of the church leaders is primarily to teach and prepare the believers, through biblical truth, to mature and do ministry.

Our ability to see and understand the wondrous works of God depends on our meditation of the Scriptures. So often we marvel at the beauty of creation, and we should, but we miss the amazing work of God in our inner lives because we are not focused enough on the spiritual work God is doing.

We quickly give place to sorrow and desperation because we lose sight of the work that God is doing. The psalmist knew he needed strengthening. It is interesting that renewed strength is not necessarily the result of a change of circumstances, but of a change in focus and trust in the purposes of God.

 

The writer knows that it is an undeserved favor for God to show us His ways and allow us to walk in truth. At times we become so disgusted with the sin we see around us, but we forget that we, ourselves, are not immersed in sin only because of the grace of God. Naturally, we would not even desire God’s truth and direction. Because we are so prone to go back to sin, we need to set God’s statutes before us continually, as the writer tells us. Sometimes the attraction of the world becomes so strong, that our resolve and clinging to the truth needs to disciplined and purposeful.

Our hearts need to be growing in our love for God and His Word; then our walk as Christians will become truly resolute.

We must remember that the daily choices we make reflect what we truly believe.

A LACK OF DESIRE FOR THE WORD SHOULD ALARM US!

DIFFICULTIES SHOULD DRIVE US TO THE WORD

Psalm 119:17-24

Deal bountifully with your servant,

that I may live and keep your word.

Open my eyes, that I may behold

wondrous things out of your law.

I am a sojourner on the earth;

hide not your commandments from me!

My soul is consumed with longing

for your rules at all times.

You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones,

who wander from your commandments.

Take away from me scorn and contempt,

for I have kept your testimonies.

Even though princes sit plotting against me,

your servant will meditate on your statutes.

Your testimonies are my delight;

they are my counselors.

Again the writer of this Psalm is driven by his desire to keep the Word of God. He recognizes that he depends on God, as His servant and follower of God’ law.

It is interesting, how many people like to state that they are followers of God, but do not have the goal of finding out what God expects of them. The writer asks God to open his eyes, that he might behold the wonderful things in the law of God. Only God can open our eyes so that we can understand spiritual truths.  Only God’s children can understand and accept spiritual things.

1 Corinthians 2:14

            The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

Spiritual truth is not natural to man. Not only he must be born again, but he must discover the truth by diligently searching the Word of God. The writer is consumed by his desire to learn and apply God’s truth.

When a person who professes to be a believer does not have a longing desire for truth, he should be greatly alarmed. When a believer is in sin, this desire will diminish, and patterns of prolonged sin and disinterest for the Scriptures should be very alarming.

The believer knows that straying from the Word has consequences on his spiritual life and God will not look the other way. Rebuke will come for those who stray.

Those who follow the Scriptures know that they will find themselves at odds with the unsaved. A life lived according to the Bible will bother those who live according to the flesh. Jesus said this very clearly:

John 16:33

            I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Tribulation and difficulties should drive us to the only true refuge we have: the arms of God. In fact, it is in the careful meditation on the Word that we find His peace and care. This is why a true believer so delights in God’s nurturing Word.

The world offers many alternatives, but the true believer knows there is no other place where he can find real comfort. It seems impossible that a believer could live his life in such a difficult world without the comfort and guidance of the Word.

Our study of the Word not only prepares us to live our lives in a godly fashion, but it prepares us to be a help for those around us. We must be diligent in studying the Word. I am so grateful that God is using these devotionals in the lives of many. I hope they are a spring-board for desiring a deeper walk with our Savior. 

PURITY DOES NOT HAPPEN BY CHANCE!

A PURE LIFE NEEDS TO BE DESIRED!

Psalm 119:9-16

How can a young man keep his way pure?  

By guarding it according to your word.

With my whole heart I seek you;

let me not wander from your commandments!

I have stored up your word in my heart,

that I might not sin against you.

Blessed are you, O LORD;

teach me your statutes!

With my lips I declare

all the rules of your mouth.

In the way of your testimonies I delight

as much as in all riches.

I will meditate on your precepts

and fix my eyes on your ways.

I will delight in your statutes;

I will not forget your word.

The main theme of these verses is the role of the Word of God in keeping man from sin, and the role of man in allowing God’s Word to protect him from going down the wrong path.

There is a way that pleases God and it is the way of purity. We know what the standard is by studying God’s Word. Feelings or other people cannot be trusted; there is one standard and it is clearly written for our guidance.

A half-hearted commitment will not lead us down the right path, for complete devotion and careful study are the bases of a pure life. The word seek means to carefully search. In other words, the psalmist speaks of a complete devotion to carefully seek out God’s instruction. The writer knows that for this kind of devotion, he needs God’s continuous help.

This careful study will inform and fill the heart. Preparation for the moment of temptation needs to start before it occurs. In the middle of our temptations, the implanted Word will strengthen our resolve to obey God rather than our own inclination to give in to sin.

The study of the Word, the preparation for godly living, stems from an intimate relationship with the Lord. The psalmist desires to learn the statutes because he knows that God’s ways are best. He recognizes the blessing of knowing the LORD; he knows that there can be no progress in learning what he needs to know, apart from careful study of the Word.

Not only does he desire and recognize the importance of learning, but he realizes that these truths need to be part of his conversations. He needs to be vocal about his resolute desire to apply Biblical teachings and standards to his life.

As he devotes himself to pure living, he is resolute in making it the priority over anything thing else. Riches or status or earthly recognition cannot sway him from his decision to follow God’s standards.

His resolve is so great that his thoughts and attention are dedicated to purity. This desire for purity is continually part of his thought life; he does not allow his eyes to wander in any other direction.

His pleasure comes from knowing and following the biblical precepts. The goal of all his efforts is to not forget the teachings of God’s Word.

Careful study of the Word will keep the young man from sin, but sin will keep the young man from the Word.

1 Peter 2:1-3

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

The Word will keep you from sin and sin will keep you from the Word!

As we meditate upon this psalm, it has become abundantly clear that a pure life is the result of earnest, conscientious preparation that results from a sincere submission to God and His Word.

OBEDIENCE IS THE PATH TO BLESSING!

WE MUST WEIGH OUR LIVES ACCORDING TO THE WORD

Psalm 119:1-8

Blessed are those whose way is blameless,

who walk in the law of the LORD!

Blessed are those who keep his testimonies,

who seek him with their whole heart,

who also do no wrong,

but walk in his ways!

You have commanded your precepts

to be kept diligently.

Oh that my ways may be steadfast

in keeping your statutes!

Then I shall not be put to shame,

having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.

I will praise you with an upright heart,

when I learn your righteous rules.

I will keep your statutes;

do not utterly forsake me!

There is no way for a person to be blameless without knowing the law of the LORD. It is interesting that as we read this psalm, one of the recurring descriptions of the Word of God is going to be “law”.

Law really leaves no open door to personal opinion or to personal preference. The law is a standard by which behavior is measured. In the Bible, the standard is even higher than civil law, as it measures thoughts, intentions, and desires.

‘Law’ is a word that makes man cringe; our rebellious hearts do not want to be restricted by someone else’s rules. Today, even in churches, much emphasis is given to liberty, while rules and laws are often disdained as unspiritual.

Our relationship with God is dependent on the degree to which we know and apply God’s laws in our daily lives. Jesus had no other standard by which to measure who was really His friend.

John 15:14

        You are my friends if you do what I command you.

The words of this psalm show us clearly that our devotion to following the statues cannot be half-hearted. The whole heart needs to be dedicated to this task. In fact, half-hearted dedication will set us up for continued failure.

Lack of complete devotion always leads to disobedience and sin. There is no sin that does not bring consequences in our lives. Sin will always bring regret.

When the writer begins with “blessed”, it is both an invitation and a warning. So many times, lack of obedience to the laws of God is the result of our misguided thinking that there is pleasure apart from obedience.

James 1:14-15

        But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

We should weigh our goals much more carefully. Do we desire to be blessed or do we desire death? We can choose the path, but not the consequences!

 Following God’s law cannot be done without resolve. The psalmist tells us that he is diligently seeking after the precepts found in the Scriptures. Our flesh is bent in the wrong direction, so careful attention has to be given to our walk.

We need all the tools we find in Scriptures. Are you nurturing your soul with the Word of God? Are you in a godly local church where the Word of God is taught clearly, where the preaching is not story telling and personal opinions or experiences? Are you active in discipling and being discipled?

Our personal study of the Word of God and our serving, active involvement in our local church are very often an indicator of our true walk in submission to the Word of God.

When the psalmist says; “Oh, that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes!” He is exhorting himself to be committed. We so easily avoid this degree of obedience. When we do, then our ways are not steadfast and we drift away.

The writer reminds us that when we sin there is shame, we are not upright, we are not blameless. We are so far from being in a state of blessing!

There cannot be true worship when we are not following God’s laws. It is interesting to observe how often we believe the lie that there can be communion with God, while entertaining sin in our lives.

The writer reminds us that the righteous rules need to be learned. We need to be continuous learners of God’s instructions.

We would all say that we want to love God and follow Him, but we must remember that it cannot be done apart from careful submission and obedience to the Word of God. We have it at our disposal, and we must study it and apply it to our lives.

I am so grateful for the gift of forgiveness and the grace of repentance. God does not abandon us, but continues to invite us into an intimate relationship with Him.

May our resolve be clear and determined to obey the Word of God!