Good morning,
The Bible is the greatest book ever written. It tells us how the world began, how it will end, and its complete history. It tells us about life and death. It tells us why there is so much wickedness in the world. It tells us of the love of God. It explains what sin is and why we need a Savior.
The greatest chapter of the Bible dealing with God’s word is Psalm 119. The 176 verses are divided into twenty-two groups of eight verses each. The first group of eight begin with the Hebrew letter aleph. The next eight verses begin with the Hebrew letter beth. This pattern continues throughout the twenty-two letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
Psalm 119:73-80 That I be not ashamed
“Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.
74 They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.
75 I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.
76 Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant.
77 Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight.
78 Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts.
79 Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies.
80 Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed.”
The Psalmist acknowledges the creative power of God, His judgements, and His merciful kindness. He requests God’s mercy for his comfort and life. He prays that God would take care of his enemies.
The Psalmist heart is centered around the word of God. He requests understanding to learn God’s commandments. Everything he does is “…according to thy word…” He hopes, delights, and meditates, in the word of God.
The result of the Psalmist’s desire to know God’s word is that “…my heart be sound in the statutes…that I be not ashamed.”
This challenges me to spend more quality time studying and applying God’s word to my life.
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001
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