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#DailyDevotion Meditating On Scripture Has Practical Benefits Psalm 119 97How I love Your teaching (torah) I think about it all day long. 98Because I always have Your commandments (mitsvah), I'm wiser than my enemies. 99I have a better insight than all my teachers because I think of the truths (eduth) You wrote. 100I understand better than the old men because I follow the way You want me to live (piqqud). 101I keep my foot from walking on any evil path - I want to do what you say (dabar). 102I haven't turned away from Your regulations (mishpat) because You have taught me. 103How pleasant Your words (imrah) taste, better than honey in my mouth. 104I get understanding from Your decrees (piqqud); that is why I hate all deception. Well isn't that what we are truly like? What we love, we think about all day long. What do you think about all day long? The psalmist thinks about the teachings of the LORD. They are his constant companion. Perhaps we might be a little better off if we redirected our love towards the LORD's teachings. The Sermon on the Mount and Paul's letter to the Romans would be a good start. Of what benefit would it be for us to meditate, ponder and think about all the LORD has taught us in all of Holy Scriptures? What does the psalmist say? He is wiser than his enemies. The word of God gives us wisdom if we listen to it, trust it and do it. What did Jesus say? "Be as wise as serpents and as gentle as doves." He does want us to grow up and not just be simple Christians. Because he thinks and ponders the truths the LORD has written, he has better insight than all of his teachers. Well, wouldn't that be neat? Those who do study the Bible on a regular basis do seem to have better answers and sometimes better questions than those who don't. Understanding comes not only from reading, studying, meditating and pondering but also in putting everything done there into practice. He is not bragging when he says he has better understanding than the old men. It's because he puts into practice what the LORD has taught him in the scriptures. You too will gain greater understanding when you put what you read into practice. Verses 101 and 102 are parallel to one another. Keeping our feet from an evil path and not turning from the LORD's regulations are different expressions of the same thing. We want to do all the LORD has told us in His word. We want to lead God pleasing lives if our faith is in Jesus. He, the Holy Spirit, teaches us through His judgments. In them we see how our God wants us to live. If we are to live and practice all the LORD has given us in His Word, we most certainly need faith and the Holy Spirit to bring this about in action. It would otherwise be too much for us. The revealed will of the LORD in His Word is like honey in our mouths. It will be that way when we speak it out loud. Reading silently is a relatively new thing. When we read out loud we captivate several of our senses. Scripture tasting like honey is a theme in the Bible. We see it in Ezekiel and in Revelation. We see it is here as well. For those who find this is not so perhaps we need to check our hearts. Are we rebelling against what the LORD has told us? Do we trust He wants what is best for us? Again we get understanding from the LORD's decrees. His ways are the truth. Jesus is the way and the truth. When we understand this, we too will hate all deception. Deception is what separated us from the LORD in the first place. We should not love a lie. Trusting in Christ Jesus, we love the truth, who He is. Merciful God and Father, give us understanding through the study and practice of Your word so we may become wise, love Your truth, and live in all Your ways. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Read the full article

Psalm 119 73Your hands made me and formed me-help me understand, and I will learn Your commandments (mitsvah). 74Those who fear You will see me and be glad because I trust Your promise (dabar). 75O LORD, I know Your judgments (misphat) are just, and You were faithful when You made me suffer. 76May Your kindness comfort me as You promised (imrah) Your servant, 77and Your mercies come to me so that I may live because I delight in Your teaching (torah). 78May proud men come to shame because they wronged me with lies, but I'll think of how You want me to live (piqqud). 79Those who fear You should turn to me and learn the truths You wrote (edah). 80May my heart be blameless in Your laws (choq) that I might not come to shame. Verse 73 already shows a great amount of understanding when he confesses the LORD made and formed him. It is also great understanding to realize that by his own power and strength, he will need the LORD to give him understanding of His commandments. The LORD made us and knows what is best for us. This is a reason He gave the commandments—if we live by them willingly, we will be happier and so will those around us. When we understand the commandments we are more willing to do them. From understanding the LORD's commandments we go on to trusting in His promises. All of God's promises are gospel and are yes in Christ Jesus. Trusting in the LORD's promises exhibits a heart that fears, loves and trusts in God above all things. Those who also fear the LORD are glad when we see others putting their trust in the LORD as well. It's like when the angels in heaven rejoice over one person who repents. In verse 75 we return to a theme given in the previous section: the LORD causing the psalmist to suffer. He admits the LORD was correct in His judgments and just when He made him suffer. What good do we deserve in life if we don't trust in the LORD and do what He commands from a pure and willing heart? Yet, the suffering the LORD brings to us is His kindness. It directs us away from our immoral hearts to the mercy and kindness of our God. If we pay attention to our suffering then we will turn from our selfish and self-centered will and turn to the LORD. When we turn from the world to the LORD then the LORD's mercies will give us life, eternal life in Christ Jesus. This eternal life aligns us to God's will and has us delight in all the LORD Jesus Christ teaches us. He addresses those proud men who oppose him again. Instead of focusing on their lies about him, the psalmist will focus on how the LORD wants him to live. What does Jesus say, 44“But I tell you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you. 45In this way you will show you are sons of your Father in heaven...46If you love those who love you, what's your reward? Don't tax collectors do that, too? 47If you treat only your brothers kindly, are you doing anything extraordinary? Don't the people of the world do that, too? 48 So be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (Matt. 5) The psalmist, having received the understanding that he asked for in the beginning verses then calls for those who fear the LORD to turn to him to learn the truths taught to him. This is followed by his petition to be faithful to the LORD's laws so he would not come to shame. We do not want the LORD's name to be blasphemed among unbelievers because of our sinful actions. Instead, we want unbelievers to praise the name of the LORD when they see our good works. Heavenly Father, in Your great mercy and kindness, always turn us to You and Your word, laws, will and grant us understanding, that with circumcised hearts we may do Your will to the glory of the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen. Read the full article