Yesterday was a good day for me. Jose, Meadow’s worship Leader, and I loaded up and drove about two hours to Madison, Georgia to serve the dear saints at Source Of Light Ministries. Just a little shy of sixty years old, this ministry has been sending God’s Word all over the world in some innovative and impacting ways. The element that draws me to them is the fact that everything revolves around the primacy of the bible. I can’t remember how many languages they are printing God’s truth in but they are saturating the world with His promises, counsel and commands. A global map plasters one of their large office walls and upon that map are different markers detailing where they have been allowed to make an impact. From prisons to palaces, SOLM is making a massive impact. Jose and I did our best to encourage these saints in their worthy ministry and we ourselves left delighted about what they are doing for our King.
“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.” – Psalm 119:46-47 {ESV}
It is an encouraging moment to meet other saints who delight in His word and love His truth. I spent so many years of life starving for something to believe in, something permanent and trustworthy. I kept coming up empty until God implanted His word in my heart by His lavish grace. My soul-quest for an anchor both ended and began when, as a saved man, I fell in love with God’s word. The quest ended in the sense that this blessed book was now known to me to be the fount of life, the reservoir of eternal truth, the compass for straying sheep. The quest began in the sense that I was keenly aware that I would never master this book because of its infinite author. I have always retained the hope that it would master me.
I would like to challenge you to reacquaint yourself with Psalm 119, the longest chapter of the Bible and one of the most helpful. The reason why it is so needful for us to be students of the 119th Psalm is because it is a ceaseless saturation of what God’s Word says about itself. Over and over we are showered with testimonies about the primacy of His word and the manifold benefits it brings to our lives. Some of you already know of this great chapter and I am going to ask you to comment below on the verse within it that means the most to you. It’s hard to pick just one but why don’t you take a moment and share what your favorite is from Psalm 119 and tell us a little of the reason why. I’ll get us started:
Psalm 119:18 – “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.” This verse helps me because it reminds me that I cannot fathom God’s word without His gracious enabling – He has to open my spiritual understanding. It also excites me because I am confident that, once He opens my eyes, I will be able to perceive things that are anything but ordinary. The treasures of the Word are wondrous, amazing, astounding, penetrating, and breathtaking. I have both laughed out loud and shakingly sobbed at various times when reading my bible. God does that for us and this is why Psalm 119:18 is likely my favorite in that chapter.
What about you? What’s your favorite portion of Psalm 119?
I have always loved Psalm 119:165
KJV says “Great Peace Have They Which Love Thy Law and Nothing shall Offend Them,”
ESV says ” Great Peace Have those Who Love Your Law; Nothing can make them stumble.”
Praise the Lord !!!!!!
Not fair…”ok, kiddies. which candy in wonka land is your favorite?”. Too many verses in this treasure chest. My mantra has to be 8b “Please don’t give up on me!”. I feel that I give Him too many reasons, too often to give up on me but am glad that He doesn’t!! But verse 50, “Your promise revives me; it comforts me in all my troubles.” might be my favorite. I expand that to glenology to say that His promise comforts me.. all the time. Of course in times like now (troubles), I curl up in His arms and am safe but in the good times He lifts me up. All the time showing me things I never knew. And now, seeing that I don’t follow directions well… I’ll add v103 “How sweet your weords tast to me; they are sweeter than honey.”. The Word completely satisfies like none other.
Many years ago I had to learn Ps 119: 9&11 (& Joshua 1:8); having the word in your heart is a command as well as a recommendation :-
Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word … Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
I have heard it suggested that every Christian owning a television or a computer should get a little card printed with Ps 119:37 and stick it above the screen :-
Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.
A precious and immensely challenging part of God’s word – just looking at it to “comment” is a blessing. So many verses are so precious; so many verses are so reflective of our own hearts, and the “ups & downs” of our walk with the Lord (as well as our view of what is going on around us (eg vv 158, 136, 126) ). But David ends where we so often find our selves too, in v176 :-
I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.
As with the people of Heb. 11, I confess that I am a stranger and pilgrim in this world so I have always loved verse 19. “I am a stranger in the earth: hide not Thy commandments from me.” I love the word that is translated sojourner and realize more and more as I walk here that this world’s language, culture, and philosophies tend to confuse me and seek to deceive me therefore I need a guide and this blessed Book is totally reliable to be that for me. Verse 16 would be my prayer- that “I will delight myself in Thy statutes: I will not forget Thy word.”