Category: Psalm 119

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Psalm 119, Quiet Time

Delighting in the Word

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based on the Love God Greatly Study, Psalm 119, Seeking Him With All Our Heart/ w2d2

THE JOURNEY (SCRIPTURE AND OBSERVATION)

Scripture: Psalm 119:33-35/ SOAP 33-35

Teach me, O Lord, the lifestyle prescribed by your statutes,
so that I might observe it continually.
34 Give me understanding so that I might observe your law,
and keep it with all my heart.
35 Guide me in the path of your commands,
for I delight to walk in it.

Psalm 119:33-35

We are dependent on God to teach us His Word and give us an understanding of it. When He does, and He will, we are to respond accordingly. Like the Psalmist, we are to put into practice what God teaches us with all of our being. To do any less will rob us of the promised joy that comes from following God’s instructions,

If we are to experience the happiness found in following God’s commands, we must depend on His guidance and discipline.

Living the Journey(Application)

Don’t be afraid to ask God for help. Be bold and specific with your needs and requests. This is not only what He desires from us but it is also cathartic for us.

  • Learn God’s decrees
    • don’t just read them – seek to learn them
    • don’t just seek to understand them – put them into practice
    • depend on God for everything –
Prayer for the Journey

Father, we pray as the Psalmist did – that you will teach us, O Lord, the lifestyle prescribed by your statutes so that we might observe it continually. Give us understanding so that we might observe your law, and keep it with all our hearts. Guide us in the path of your commands, for we delight to walk in it. 0h Yes – Father, and amen-

Question FOR THE JOURNEY

How do we delight in God’s Word?

THE MORE WE KNOW

Delighting in the Law of the Lord

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Psalm 119, Quiet Time

Determined

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based on the Love God Greatly Study, Psalm 119, Seeking Him With All Our Heart/ w2d1

THE JOURNEY (SCRIPTURE AND OBSERVATION)

Scripture: Psalm 119:25-32/ SOAP 27-28, 30

I lie in the dust;
    revive me by your word.
26 I told you my plans, and you answered.
    Now teach me your decrees.
27 Help me understand the meaning of your commandments,
    and I will meditate on your wonderful deeds.
28 I weep with sorrow;
    encourage me by your word.
29 Keep me from lying to myself;
    give me the privilege of knowing your instructions.
30 I have chosen to be faithful;
    I have determined to live by your regulations.
31 I cling to your laws.
    Lord, don’t let me be put to shame!
32 I will pursue your commands,
    for you expand my understanding.

Psalm 119:25-32 NLT

Regardless of the condition and plight of the Psalmist, he returns again and again to the importance of God’s Word. He realizes it isn’t enough to simply read it but that he needs to meditate (dwell/think) on it. The Psalmist knows that God’s Word will bring encouragement, and he is determined to faithfully live by the “regulations”1 of God.

Don’t miss that the Psalmist didn’t just dwell in or search the Word of God; he sought God Himself. The Psalmist had a relationship with God and called out to God when he needed help understanding the Word or when he needed encouragement. When he was in great sorrow, the Psalmist cried (literally wept) and reached out to God

Living the Journey (Application)

Have you ever found yourself just going through the motions of a relationship with God? I confess that for many years of my life, my relationship with God simply included attending church. Then there were seasons when a daily verse—found in a book or on a calendar or app—that took 5 minutes to read sufficed as a relationship builder. Other times, it was a devotion that took five minutes to read. All were great at the moment but left me floundering in the relationship department.

Just like our earthly relationships aren’t built or strengthened by five minutes a day, neither is a relationship with God. – Please understand, that I believe these methods are all beneficial stepping stones, but in and of themselves, they will not build a relationship, cause our light to burn brightly, or offer us protection from the fiery darts of our enemy, the devil.

The Word of God is meant to be read, meditated on, used as a road map, shared with others, and talked about morning, noon, and night – daily.

Consider the importance of God’s Word. According to Paul, it has the power to save (Rom 1:16-17),, and Solomon wrote that it offers life and health and peace (Prov 4:20-22; Jn 16:33). It is a light to guide our feet and a lamp for our path (Ps 119:105), and we would be wise to faithfully follow after It. Let’s –

  • choose to be faithful to the Word of God
  • be determined to live by it in all our ways

 For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. 17 This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”

Romans 1:16-17 NLT
Prayer for the Journey

Yes, Father – Yes! Help us to follow faithfully after Your Word. Help us to be committed to keeping it, determined to live by it – so that You might be honored and glorified as we become healthy and strong in our faith, who walk by the light and power of Your Word! Cause us to shed light on the world around us – reaching others with the Gospel that has the power to save! – Hallelujah and amen!

Question FOR THE JOURNEY

Have you committed to living by the Word or to simply reading a daily verse and going about your day?

THE MORE WE KNOW

You’ll want to check out the LGG post for today’s passage – but before you go – take a minute to read the following.

Another prominent theme in Psalm 119 is the profound truth that the Word of God is all-sufficient. Psalm 119 is an expansion of Psalm 19:7–9: “The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.” There are eight different terms referring to the Word of God throughout the psalm: law, testimonies, precepts, statues, commandments, judgments, word, and ordinances. In almost every verse, the Word of God is mentioned.

gotquestions.org
  1. Note the many ways the Psalmist refers to God’s Word in today’s passage: decrees … commandments … Word … instructions … regulations … law … commands ↩︎
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Psalm 119, Quiet Time

Found In God’s Word

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Today’s devo is borrowed from the Love God Greatly downloaded journal for Psalm 119.1

LoveGodGreatly

All people have a natural desire to be happy. This is built into us by our Maker himself. The desire to be happy is not a problem. The problem is that we tend to search for this happiness in the wrong places. We think, “If only I could be married, then I would be happy.” “If only I could have children, then I would feel fulfilled.” “If only I had money, then I would be content.” “If only I was skinny, or organized, or my own boss or well rested, THEN I would be happy.”

When searching for happiness, where should we look, and what should we pursue? The writer of Psalm 119 tells us that blessing and joy are found in God’s word. Here are 3 reasons.

1.  God is found in the Word

The words found in our Bibles are not just the ramblings of a bunch of men who decided to write down some of their history,  experiences, sayings, or sermons. Our Bible is the very word of God. He chose to speak through people, causing them to write down exactly what he wanted his people to read and know.

The Scripture goes by many names in this Psalm. It is called his law, testimonies, precepts, statutes, commandments, and rules. And for the Psalmist the law and precepts were not heavy burdens to bear, they were a delight to him  for in them he sees God.

Your testimonies are my delight;
    they are my counselors.
Ps. 119:24

In all of his word God has chosen to reveal who he is, how he operates, and how we are to live so that we can find the deepest kind of joy.

2.  The right way of living is found in God’s word

We know that living a life pleasing to God brings blessing and joy. But sometimes it is hard to know what the right way is.  How should I handle the various relationships in my life, what should my conduct be as a child of God, how should I handle my finances?

It is often said that God’s word is like a road map that shows us the way to go, the way of happy holiness.

There he will find every turn of the road, marked down, every slough and miry place pointed out, with the way to go through unsoiled; and there too, he will find light for his darkness, comfort for his weariness, and company for his loneliness.
-Spurgeon

3. Salvation is found in God’s Word

Salvation is our biggest need. We all fall short in every way because God’s standard is perfection, and we are not perfect. We don’t know God the way we should, we don’t love God’s word the way we should, and we don’t live godly lives the way we should. We need to be rescued from our sins and help to walk with God.

Jesus, who is himself called The Word of God, has known the Father perfectly, loved the ways of God perfectly,  and lives in perfect submission to the will of God. He has done what we have not. And in his death on the cross, he paid for all our failings. We can only delight in God’s word after we have been rescued by The Word.

Ultimately, the pages of our Bibles are about Christ. He is the answer to all the longings in our souls. He is the one who saves, comforts, guides, prays over us, causes us to grow, corrects us when needed, and is our ultimate source of delight and joy.

LoveGodGreatly-JenThorn

Therefore, our Bible should be our most prized earthly possession. Like the Psalmist, we need to know it, read it, meditate on it (vs. 15), and call it our delight, for that is where we find Jesus. Then joy will grow whether our lives are filled with sunshine, rain, or storms.

jen-sig

Looking To Jesus,

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Psalm 119, Quiet Time, Wisdom

Wonderful Truths

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based on the Love God Greatly Study, Psalm 119, Seeking Him With All Our Heart/ w1d4

THE JOURNEY (SCRIPTURE AND OBSERVATION)

Scripture: Psalm 119:17-24/ SOAP 18, 23-24

Be kind to your servant.
Then I will live and keep your instructions.
18 Open my eyes so I can truly see
the marvelous things in your law.
19 I am a resident foreigner in this land.
Do not hide your commands from me.
20 I desperately long to know
your regulations at all times.
21 You reprimand arrogant people.
Those who stray from your commands are doomed.
22 Spare me shame and humiliation,
for I observe your rules.
23 Though rulers plot and slander me,
your servant meditates on your statutes.
24 Yes, I find delight in your rules;
they give me guidance.

Psalm 119:17-24

I don’t know which I like more, the beauty of the Psalmist’s heart or the way the way he writes. Both capture my attention and arouse an ‘amen and hallelujah!” Not only does he understand that he is a servant of the Most High God, he also realizes that he is totally dependent on God and His goodness – to the point of life and obedience and eyes to see the wonderful truths in His Word. As a foreigner in a land that most likely was much like ours, filled with wicked and perverse people who challenged, if not condemned, his faith, he seemed to fear that somehow God’s Word would be hidden from him. If you’ve ever gone long periods of time without the Word, you understand the fear that grips the heart when you need to ‘hear from God’ and He seems to be silent. Though he was scorned and insulted, the Psalmist knew that he had obeyed the laws of God and was determined to meditate on God’s decrees, declaring he was pleased with God’s laws and knew that they gave him wise advice.

Living the Journey (Application)

Understanding that we do not belong to ourselves because God bought us with a high price (1 Cor 6:19-20) is crucial to having a heart that beats for God. We are utterly dependent on God, and if we do not understand this, we will not be committed to living obediently to His Word or having our eyes open to see the wonderful truths that it holds. We will not care and perhaps not even notice that we are foreigners here on earth and are desperate to keep His commands at the ready; instead, we will live like the arrogant and wander from His commands, letting our sin alienate us from Him. When others speak against us, we will lose a desire to meditate on His decrees and we will find no pleasure in His laws nor see them as wise advice.

We must be careful to remember who we are in Christ and live accordingly – as:

  • servants of God
  • dependent on Him for life and godliness and even the ability to see the truths of His Word
  • a citizen of Heaven and foreigners here on earth who realize a need to know God’s commands so that we do not wander outside of His will or lose heart and desire for Him/His Word when others scorn or plot against us.
Prayer for the Journey

Father, grant us a servant’s heart that lives to please You and longs for Your Word. Guard us against wandering from your commands. Let us not lose heart when others plot against us or slander us, but meditate all the more on Your Word. We are desperate for You and long for You in this dry and thirsty land to open our eyes to Your truths and hold to them as the wise advice that they are. We love You, Lord – and are so thankful for Your Word and the examples You have set before us. – Amen!

Music for the journey

Boy, this is a blast from my past. I used to love to listen to the Satlers – 😀

Question FOR THE JOURNEY

It’s easy to think of ourselves as God’s child and forget that we are also Lord and Master. Why is it important to remember that we are also His servants?

What do you think the Psalmist meant when he said that he delights in God’s rules?

THE MORE WE KNOW

Another prominent theme in Psalm 119 is the profound truth that the Word of God is all-sufficient. Psalm 119 is an expansion of Psalm 19:7–9: “The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.” There are eight different terms referring to the Word of God throughout the Psalm: law, testimonies, precepts, statutes, commandments, judgments, words, and ordinances. In almost every verse, the Word of God is mentioned.

gotquestions.org
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Psalm 119, Quiet Time

A LEGACY OF FAITH

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based on the Love God Greatly Study, Psalm 119, Seeking Him With All Our Heart/ w1d3

THE JOURNEY (SCRIPTURE AND OBSERVATION)

Scripture: Psalm 119:12-16 / SOAP 14-15

I praise you, O Lord;
    teach me your decrees.
13 I have recited aloud
    all the regulations you have given us.
14 I have rejoiced in your laws
    as much as in riches.
15 I will study your commandments
    and reflect on your ways.
16 I will delight in your decrees
    and not forget your word.

Psalm 119:12-16 NLT

Wow! I don’t know about you, but this third section of Psalm 119 brought some conviction. The Psalmist is completely committed to the Lord. Past, present, and future, he has dedicated his life to working on his relationship with God. He has spent time not just reading but reciting God’s Word and rejoicing in His laws.1 Then, looking toward the future, he commits to studying God’s commands and reflecting on His ways, as well as delighting in His decrees and not forgetting His Word. These are huge commitments that are shadowed by praise to, and dependence on God: “I praise You, O Lord. Teach me Your decrees.”

The Psalmist is openly appreciative of God, as He gives Him praise and is also dependent on Him to teach Him His decrees. He has a beautiful testimony of being previously active in God’s Word, presently engaged, and continually committed to the Lord. What a legacy of faith! Ah, that mine would be as beautiful and strong.

LIVING THE JOURNEY (APPLICATION)

Building such a legacy isn’t easy. It requires the commitment of time and devotion and a love for God that supersedes everything and everyone else. It requires dependence on God to teach us and to help us remember His Word. It means freeing ourselves from the distractions and demands of this world to delight in God and His ways, to rejoice in His laws (statutes, rules, commands), and to keep them faithfully regardless of the temptations and desires that will vie for our attention and affection. The bottom line is we must want and be committed to a relationship with God and His Word more than anything else.

Question FOR THE JOURNEY

Do you want to have a legacy of faith? If so, what are some ways you can make time for God in your busy life?

Prayer for the Journey

Father, how blessed we are to know You – to remember former days with You and to be invited into a lifetime of committing to You and enjoying the hope of eternity with You. We are blessed to have the promise that your Spirit will teach and remind us of Your Word and ways. Help us to hunger and thirst for you above all other things or people. We praise You, Lord, and we take delight in You now and always. -To Your glory and honor – amen!

Music for the Journey
THE MORE WE KNOW

DON’T MISS THIS –>Be sure and read the full Love God Greatly devotional for more insight

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Psalm 119, Quiet Time

PURE AND HOLY

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based on the Love God Greatly Study, Psalm 119, Seeking Him With All Our Heart/ w1d2

THE JOURNEY (SCRIPTURE AND OBSERVATION)

Scripture: Psalm 119:9-11/ SOAP 9-11

How can a young person stay pure?
    By obeying your word.
10 I have tried hard to find you—
    don’t let me wander from your commands.
11 I have hidden your word in my heart,
    that I might not sin against you.

Psalm 119:1-8 NLT

I love the question-and-answer passages of Scripture like this one. The Psalmist follows up his declaration that those who obey God’s laws and seek Him with all of their hearts will be blessed – or joyful people, as some translations say. He had boldly declared that those who do not compromise with evil and only walk in the path of God, carefully keeping His commandments, so that their actions would consistently reflect the way of the Lord, would not have anything to be ashamed of when they compared their life with God’s commands – and then he ended verse eight with the pledge to not only learn God’s righteous regulation but to live by them, obeying His decrees. His pledge was accompanied by a request that God not give up on him – in other words, the Psalmist knew what he had declared wasn’t going to be easy and that He would need God’s patience, or a learning curve, so to speak.

I love the beauty of the Psalmist’s open candor with God and have learned much from him. I also love the follow-up question and answer portion that follows in the second part of the Psalm, which is our focus today.

Have you ever made a pledge to God that you were going to do something – tithe a certain amount, commit to a certain calling, give up a sinful habit, or live a certain way – only to realize the next morning or perhaps even the next minute – that you have no idea if or how you can follow-through on what you said? I certainly have – and by the words of the Psalmist, I believe this is exactly what he had done. Having just committed to living according to God’s decrees, he now is asking God how in the world he’s going to do it – how is he, or how can any of us “stay pure”? Though it seems to be a rhetorical question of sorts, as he immediately responds – “by living according to God’s Word,” This is equally a challenging and good question for us to consider.

How can we stay true to God, living a holy life? We can search for Him with all of our hearts, learning what is good and right in His sight and living according to those precepts. However, we must also realize that in and of ourselves, we cannot accomplish a pure and holy life. We must, like the Psalmist, call out to God to help us not sin, or ‘stray from His commands.’, which, as the Psalmist points out, requires that we have God’s Word “hidden in our hearts.” Simply put, we are to dwell in God’s Word enough to know it – perhaps not word for word – but enough to remember the teaching and expectations that He has laid out in it and made known to us. In this world full of distractions, wickedness, and opposition to our faith, we must be filled with the Word – we must never lose sight of it – nor turn from it.

It is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it. 

James 4:17 ESV
Living the Journey (Application)

Follow the Psalmist’s example –

  • Have the desire and set the goal to “stay pure,” (live a holy life).
  • Seek God with ALL of you HEART
    • learn what He likes and doesn’t like, and strive for what He likes
  • hide as much of His Word in Your heart/mind as you can
    • read
    • listen
    • write
    • talk about
    • study
    • meditate
  • Ask God for help
    • I love the way the Psalmist asked: “Do not let me wander from Your commands.
Prayer for the Journey

Father, You have called Your children, through the words of Peter and others in Your Word, to live perfect lives, and You have made known to us how we can do this- even in a less-than-wholesome world. You have blessed us with the freedom to have and use Your Word freely – You have given us Your Spirit, who not only empowers us to live godly lives but also teaches and reminds us of Your Words. We are without excuse and beyond grateful for Your gifts of grace and Your promise that we can do all things through Christ, who gives us strength. – Hallelujah and Amen!

Question FOR THE JOURNEY

Do you have a plan in place for living pure and holy before God?

THE MORE WE KNOW

How can you have God’s Word hidden in your heart?

God’s Word is the agent of His Spirit used to cleanse the hearts of all who believe in Christ and are saved (Ephesians 5:25–27). And it is through keeping God’s Word securely planted in our hearts and living according to what it says that believers continue to walk in holiness (Psalm 37:31; 119:9).

gotquestions.org

 14 Like obedient children, do not comply with the evil urges you used to follow in your ignorance, 15 but, like the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in all of your conduct, 16 for it is written, “You shall be holy, because I am holy.”

1 Peter 1:14-16

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Psalm 119, Quiet Time

Summer Journey – 2024

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based on the Love God Greatly Study of Psalm 119

Summertime is here!!! That phrase doesn’t bring quite the excitement now as it did when I was a kid, but it still comes with a hint of excitement every year.

Longer daylight, sunshine, and summer rains replace the worry of ice and snow. There are ferns on my porches, the smell of summer grilling is in the air, and maybe even a week or two of vacation from the normal routine of living and work. Somehow, life just seems more laid back and enjoyable in the summer😊

As we embark on whatever summer routine awaits us, I invite you to continue journeying through God’s Word with me. Our summer journey will take us through Psalm 119, and it promises to be an adventure full of encouragement, wisdom, radiant light, and life-changing truths – as we discover the reflection of His character throughout the chapter.

As we prepare to open Psalm 119, “We should ask God to show us what we should believe about his Word and about himself and how we are to apply those precious truths to our own lives so that we walk away more in love with God and his Word, more aware of—and disgusted with—our sins, and more thankful and joyful because of Christ and his sacrifice.”

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