Daily Devotion 23 July 2018 Psalm 119:105-112 The illumination of God

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 119:105-112 The illumination of God’s word

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

¹⁰⁶ I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.

¹⁰⁷ I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O Lord, according unto thy word.

¹⁰⁸ Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord, and teach me thy judgments.

¹⁰⁹ My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law.

¹¹⁰ The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts.

¹¹¹ Thy testimonies have I taken as a heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.

¹¹² I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes always, even unto the end.”

The word of God illuminates our way. If we read it and obey it, God’s word provides a clear path. It gives us direction and purpose. The Psalmist testifies to this point.

He says he will obey, give, not forget, and perform the words of God always. He states that the word of God is the rejoicing of his heart. He asks God to teach him and quicken (make alive) in his time of affliction.

We all like coming into a well-lit room. However, when a bulb goes out, the light dims. Then we cannot see as well. That is what happens when we neglect to read and obey the word of God.

God desires to illuminate our way. Are our eyes opened and hearts prepared to receive God’s blessings?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001