#DailyDevotion Meditating On Scripture Has Practical Benefits
#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