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 119:97-104 Benefits of loving God’s word
“97 O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.
99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.
100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.
101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.
102 I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.
103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.”
The Psalmist loves God’s word. He sees benefits to obeying the word of God. God’s word makes him wiser than his enemies, have more understanding than his teachers and the ancients, it keeps him from evil, it is sweeter than honey, and it gives him understanding.
The Psalmist meditates on God’s word. He obeys and applies God’s word to his life.
Is God’s word practical? I would say that it is. The benefit of obeying God’s word ultimately is life eternal. But the real fun is reading and finding those benefits. God has little gems scattered all through the Scriptures. Some are obvious and others take a bit more searching. What an adventure!
The end result is growing closer to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Go explore and see what you can find.
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001
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