Psalm 119:1-8

Psalm 119 is by far the longest chapter in the Bible.  I have been going back and forth on how I want to handle this chapter for quite some time and have spent most of the day going back and forth but have finally come to the conclusion that I want to interrupt my chapter a day routine and spend the next several weeks in just this one Psalm.  The Psalm is and acrostic with each section starting with a sequential letter of the Hebrew alphabet.  The Psalm is one of the most complete descriptions of the power and benefits of the Word of God, so I have decided to take my time and just work through one section a day.  It is not like I have a deadline or anything so get ready for a month of Psalm 119. 

THE PRINCIPLE OF OBEDIENCE: There is a basic principle of obeying God’s Word.  That is, if we are serious about obeying God’s Word and walk in a way that is blameless before God; we will experience great blessings in our lives.  Obedience to God’s Word truly is its own reward.  The text does not say what kind of blessings will result but simply that the person who obeys God’s Word is already blessed.  Obeying God’s Word will not always bring prosperity, health or a long and secure life.  Those things may or may not happen.  However, if we do obey God’s Word, as He demands, we will be blessed no matter how difficult our circumstances might be.


THE PRACTICE OF OBEDIENCE: The Psalmist recognizes this truth and prays a prayer that should regularly fall from all of our lips: “Oh that my ways would be steadfast in keeping your statutes!”  If we want to experience these blessings we much practice that obedience in a steadfast manner.  Our hearts are so easily swayed from one extreme to another.  We must seek consistent obedience in our lives.  We must fix our hearts on following the Lord.  If we practice obedience we will praise the Lord from a pure heart and will walk in obedience to the Lord.  That truly is a blessed way to walk and will guarantee the presence of the Lord in all that we do.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Isaiah 54:1-17

Hope is a wonderful blessing from God, without which we would be vulnerable to all kinds of destructive tendencies in our lives.  Today’s society is marked by depression, anger, fear, anxiety and self-righteousness, in large part, because of the sense of hopelessness that prevails in our culture.  Isaiah writes to a people who are about to be taken into captivity because of their sin.  God knows that they will feel rejected, threatened and hopeless so He reveals His future plans for the nation in order to give them hope in the midst of the coming trial.  Hope is the expectation of good based upon the promises of God.  Many times when our lives are marked by the sins mentioned above it is because we have forgotten or failed to focus upon the promises of God’s Word. THE PROMISE OF GOD: From the very first day that God revealed His plan for the nation of Israel, He promised numerous descendants.  God chose Abraham, not because he was more righteous than any of the other people of his
Read more

1 Timothy 2:11-15

Let a woman learn quietly   with all submissiveness.    I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.    For Adam was formed first,   then Eve;   and Adam was not deceived, but   the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.    Yet she will be saved through   childbearing—if they continue in   faith and love and holiness, with self-control. There is certainly controversy and confusion about this passage in many churches today.  The idea of a distinction between men and women and their roles in the family and church certainly goes against the flow of many cultures around the world.  Some would argue that the literal and plain teaching of this passage is no longer applicable to today’s culture.  However, it is always dangerous to discard biblical teaching or try to interpret Scripture based on the cultures in which we live.  Certainly, the Spirit who inspired this text was aware of the many changes that would occur in future cul
Read more

1 Timothy 1:1-2

Paul,   an apostle of Christ Jesus   by command of   God our Savior and of Christ Jesus   our hope, To Timothy,   my true child in the faith:   Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. The true sign of maturity is multiplication.  Believers, churches, and ministries that do not reproduce are not demonstrating true maturity.  One of the key characteristics we can identify in Paul’s ministry is that he was constantly reproducing godly believers who were faithfully following the Lord.  Evangelism, discipleship, and leadership training are the hallmarks of mature ministers and ministries.   THE APOSTLE: Paul was called by God to be an Apostle.  Though Paul converted after the resurrection and assentation of Jesus, he met Jesus in the road to Damascus and was instructed by Jesus in the desert.  Paul considered himself to be the least of the Apostles because he persecuted the church and did not walk with Jesus on earth like the other Apostles.  However, God had
Read more