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Psalm 119:1 - Blessing And Joy Are Found In Walking With God.Psalm 119:1 (NIV) Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD.Psalm 119:1 (NLT) Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord. WORD STUDY God's Word Psalm 119 contains ten different names for the Word of God: word, law, saying, statutes, way, commandments, path, testimonies, precepts, and judgments. Each name indicates what the Word is and how we should respond to it. The writer pictured the Word of God as water (v. 9), treasure (vv. 14, 72, 127, 162), a companion and counselor (v. 24), a song (v. 54), honey (v. 103), light (vv. 105, 130), and a heritage (v. 111). Meditate on these pictures and see what they mean to your personal life of faith. [Chapter by Chapter Bible Commentary by Warren Wiersbe] INTRODUCTION This is the longest psalm, as well as the longest chapter of the Bible. [Believer's SB] Knowing and obeying God's Word will bring blessings to your life, some of which are given in the following sections. But if God is to bless you, you must sincerely seek the Lord and not just study the Bible. It is not facts in the head but truth in the heart that makes you grow in the Lord. [Chapter by Chapter Bible Commentary by Warren Wiersbe re Psa119:1-8] The theme of this unique psalm is the Word of God. Every verse except five (84, 90, 121, 122, 132) refers to God's Word, what it is and what it can do in your life if you let it. The arrangement is also unique. There are twenty-two sections of eight lines each, and the lines in each individual section begin with the same letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The first eight lines begin with Aleph, the next eight with Beth, and so on through all twenty-two letters. This may have been a device to help people memorize the psalm. The writer had a great love for the Word of God and was persecuted because he obeyed God and opposed sin. Most of the verses are either prayers for God's help or affirmations of the writer's faith in God's truth despite his difficulties. Meditating on this psalm ought to make you love and treasure the Word of God more and obey it more willingly. [Chapter by Chapter Bible Commentary by Warren Wiersbe] COMMENTARY PEARL The Wrong Way to Search for Happiness Many people today who are searching for happiness never will quite find it. As we look at celebrities with all their accomplishments, all their fame, and all their money, so many of them live miserable, empty lives. They're searching for something in the wrong way. Happiness is a by-product of holiness. You get your life in order, and happiness soon will follow. That is why nonbelievers never will know true happiness. They'll go after the devil's cheap counterfeits, which are shallow, because they have no deep well from which to draw. The world's concept of happiness depends on good things happening. In Psalm 119, we have God's original design for happiness. We discover how to find and maintain holiness and, as a result, happiness in our lives. First, we learn that if we want to be holy (and therefore happy) people, then we are to walk in an undefiled way. Verses 1-3 say, "Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord. Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths" (NLT). But walking speaks of progression and moving forward as opposed to simply sitting still. So, if you want to be a truly happy and holy person, then it means that you should not only avoid what is wrong but also embrace and actively engage in what is right. While Scripture tells us in many places what we should not do, it also tells us what we should do. Those who see the Bible and the Christian life as merely a list of rules and regulations have not carefully examined the manual. Yes, God tells us what to avoid. Yes, He warns us of things that are perilous to our spiritual health. But at the same time, He tells us what to engage in and what we must do. The Bible tells us to "run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts." But it also tells us to "pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace" (2 Timothy 2:22 NLT). The Bible also tells us, "Let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves" (Galatians 5:16 NLT). Those who are merely trying to avoid what is evil are missing it. There is more. It is not just what you do not do; it's also what you do. We must engage in spiritual growth. We must engage in godly living. And we must walk in the way of the Lord. Yet there are many Christians who put in the bare minimum. They engage in spiritual pursuits only when it's necessary, generally during times of crisis. When everything is going well, when the sky is blue, when the sun is out and the birds are singing, they don't really have a thought about God. But when a crisis hits, when the storm clouds gather, suddenly they are calling on the Lord out of necessity. That is not the way to live. [Greg Laurie from Harvest Ministries; https://www.harvestdaily.com] COMMENTARY The Value of Seeking the Lord We all have ambitions and desires. And while these are not necessarily wrong, we should analyze our priorities: Where do I invest my time and energy? What or who occupies my thoughts? As important as our earthly pursuits, responsibilities, and relationships may be, they cannot compare to the value of a life spent seeking the Lord. First of all, consider what it means to seek something. The word connotes a strong desire and an energetic quest to achieve it. Suppose you discovered a very productive vein of gold on your property. You wouldn't just stroll out and look at it occasionally. No, you would gather some equipment and diligently go out each day to chip away at the rocks and collect the precious metal. In the same way, seeking the Lord is not a quick and occasional encounter, but a wholehearted effort to know Him more intimately and follow Him more closely. Those who unreservedly pursue this kind of fellowship with God are determined to spend time with Him; they also want to forsake anything that could hinder growth in their relationship with the Lord. God's committed followers boldly claim His promises and trust Him to fulfill His Word. Their experiences with the Lord bring amazing satisfaction yet cause them to hunger for more of Him. The Christian life is meant to be a pursuit of God. To walk through the door of salvation and stand still, never drawing any closer to Him, is to miss the treasures that are available in Christ. Those who seek Him soon discover that knowing Him is the greatest reward of all. [In Touch Daily Devotional by Charles Stanley at www.intouch.org re vss 1-8] LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY 2 Timothy 3:15-17 - The Bible: God's Owner's Manual for Life. https://www.abible.com/devotions/2024/20240730-1228.html Ezekiel 11:19, 20 - The New Heart and New Spirit. https://www.abible.com/devotions/2019/20190226-1359.html John 13:17 - Blessed Are The Acquiescent, Compliant and Obedient Ones. https://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20200830-1103.html Matthew 7:21-23 - Having A Relationship With Jesus Is A Must! https://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20200606-0850.html Psalm 128:1 - Living For Jesus Brings Real Happiness. https://www.abible.com/devotions/2011/20110610-1231.html LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT https://abible.com/links/ |