THE BIBLE, THE WORD OF GOD

The 119^th chapter of the book of Psalms is filled with prayers for obedience and praise for the word of God. At the end of one year and the beginning of another, it is a good time for us to examine some things from this chapter as we look toward some ways we might want to change some things in our lives.

The chapter begins with some statements about who will be blessed. It says it will be:

“Those whose way is blameless.”

“Those who walk in the law of the Lord!”

“Those who keep his testimonies.”

“Those who seek him with their whole heart.”

The word “blessed” means happy. So if we want to be happy, we need to keep the commandments of God. The only way we can keep His commandments is to know them. To know them, we will need to read and study the Bible.

If you read through the first few verses, you see that the writer progresses through seeking, reading and studying the right things to do. He stores up the word in his heart. He is open to the teaching of the scriptures, and he tells others about what he has learned.

In verse 97, he finally declares, “Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.” God’s law must be in our hearts and minds all the time for us to live the way He wants us to live.

In verses 105 through 112, we have some reasons why we should love the Bible.

1. The Bible is for the direction of our lives. Verse 105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path”. It is like a flashlight guiding us through the darkness.

This world in which we live is wicked. It is filled with challenges, decisions, pain, suffering, etc. The word of God gives us directions for all of the issues of life if we will only study it with an open heart.

2. Next, it revives us and restores our spirit. Verse 107 says, “I am severely afflicted; give me life, O LORD, according to your word!” Because we face so many difficulties, God’s word provides us with comfort and support.

3. It helps us as we struggle with our enemies. Verse 110 says, “The wicked have laid a snare for me, but I do not stray from your precepts.”

Have you ever thought about your enemies actually trying to trap you? That is exactly what they do. I Peter 5:8 tells us that the devil himself is our adversary and that he is like a roaring lion walking among us looking for someone to destroy. He is most certainly the worst enemy of all.

4. Lastly, the word of God is our heritage. Verse 111 reads, “Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.”

We all have those things passed down to us from our ancestors. They may be physical possessions. They may be customs or values. The testimonies of God, those things written in the scriptures, are our heritage from the Almighty. He gives us commandments, those things we must do to be pleasing to Him. He gives us direction for the way we should treat each other here on earth. He gives us hope for a home in heaven with Him in the hereafter.

Toward the end of the chapter, the writer makes some significant statements:

1. Verse 160—“Your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.”
2. Verse 161—“…my heart stands in awe of your words.”
3. Verse 162—“I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil.”
4. Verse 165—“Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make the stumble.”
5. Verse 167—“My soul keeps your testimonies; I love them exceedingly.”
6. Verse 172—“My tongue will sing of your word, for all your commandments are right.”
7. Verse 175—“Let my soul live and praise you, and let your rules help me.”
8. Verse 176—“I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments.”

As we begin a new year, let’s be like the Bereans in Acts 17:11. “They received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.”

Sandra Oliver