Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Pausing for Personal Reflection

I had every intention this morning of moving on to the next section of Psalm 119, but I find I can't do that yet.  I keep coming back to that word "wonderful"......
           "your testimonies are wonderful" (Psalm 119:129)......
I keep turning that word, that phrase over and over in my mind.
I'm reminded of so many things that are "wonderful"......God's Word, just as the psalmist says here.....but also the fact that I can hold His Word in my hand.  That I have multiple copies of the Scriptures at my disposal.  That I am free to read, to study, to share God's Word.  That I have multiple study tools available to me, both in my personal library and through the internet.  That it is a "wonderful" thing that God has revealed Himself to us through His Word.  That this Word is "living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword" (Hebrews 4:12).

I also find myself going to an opposite thought.....how sad it is, how it grieves me that so many - even of those who call themselves Christian - don't choose to spend time in God's Word.  That so many - even in the Christian community - are too busy, or don't think it is necessary, or don't have God's Word as a priority.  That not only do they not study the Word, they rarely even read it!  It grieves me.  I wonder what I can do to make a difference in this area? 

I'm also drawn back to a phrase we looked at a few days ago....."I esteem right all Your precepts concerning everything; I hate every false way."  And I wonder......if I hold every activity, every thought, every attitude, every choice up against that standard......would it really reflect that I esteem right ALL God's precepts, that I hate EVERY false way.  So, I'm camping out here for a bit.  Rather than put my head down and continue running forward through the Psalm, much like a football player trying to cross the goal line, I need to rest here for a bit and reflect.  I need to spend some time in the "application" phase of inductive study concerning this phrase.

What about you?  Has there been a verse, a phrase, a stanza that has tugged at your heart strings?  Why not go back and rest there a bit, listening carefully for what God has to say to you. 

"Deal with Your servant acording to Your lovingkindness and teach me Your statutes."
                                                                                                                             (Psalm 119:124)

Friday, May 21, 2010

The Word of the Day Is......

Yesterday we focused on the word "understanding"........"The unfolding of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple" (Psalm 119:130).  If you did some research, you discovered that the Hebrew word translated here as "understanding" means to discern, to perceive, to observe, to pay attention to, to teach, to consider diligently.  If you dug a little deeper, you may have discovered that elsewhere in the Old Testament (Isaiah 29, for example) as well as in this verse, we learn that it is God who is the source of understanding.  You may also have discovered (see Daniel 12) that those who hear do not always understand!  I think the difference may be that those who understand are those who have their "listening ears turned on", to use terminology my grandson would understand.  Hearing alone isn't enough......we need to have our ears, our hearts tuned in to the right Source.

Today's word is "wonderful".  Psalm 119:124 says "Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul observes them."  Take a minute to check your word study tools and look up the word "wonderful".  What did you learn?

Here's some of what I found:  the Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament says that the word translated "wonderful" means "unusual, beyond human capabilities."  The Complete Word Study Dictionary: Old Testament gives this definition:  "a miracle, a marvel, something unusual or extraordinary."  It goes on to say that except for a reference in Lamentations, the word always appears in the context of God's words or deeds.  It is the same root word used to describe the child to be born as Messiah as "Wonderful Counselor".

Put all that together and you have a really good picture of the psalmist's view of, his opinion of God's Word. 
He has a very high opinion of the Word of God, and this impacts his behavior......note the last half of the sentence.  What does that have to do with you and me?

The first question is:  exactly what is my/your opinion of the Word of God?  The follow-up question is:  how does that impact your/my behavior?  It's one thing to say we value, we esteem as right, we have a high opinion of the Word.  But if that opinion does not line up with our behavior......in other words, if we don't walk that talk......then it's only words.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Understanding

As we continue our journey through Psalm 119, we arrive today at the pe stanza.  Read this stanza (verses 129-136), look every synonym used for the Word of God and note what you learn about the Word in these verses.  Note also what the psalmist asks God for in this stanza.  Then there's one verse I want us to focus on today.

Let's turn our attention to verse 130....."the unfolding of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple."  Isn't that a wonderful verse?  Are you as excited as I am that God's words give understanding???  Certain parts of the Psalm may resonate with you more than others.  I'm sure that's true for each of us, depending on the particular circumstances of our individual lives.  Some verses bring comfort and hope when we are feeling overwhelmed.  Some challenge us in areas where our obedience may be lacking.  This verse brings hope to those of us who sometimes feel that our brain has somehow been disconnected from the rest of us!!!  What hope and comfort, what joy there is in knowing that our God gives understanding to the simple!

Remember Satan's words to Eve in Genesis 3?  "Has God really said?"  He may be saying those same words to you.....about this passage or some other....."has God really said His words give understanding to the simple?"  And we have the joy of being able to answer that question with a resounding YES!!!!

Join me in digging in a little deeper here.  Use your concordance (remember these are available on-line at sites like http://www.blueletterbible.org/ if you don't have one handy) to search for the word "understanding".  Maybe check a word study dictionary for exactly what the original word used in this passage means.  Then look at the references listed in the concordance where the word is used and find others in the Old Testament who had "understanding".  If you need a hint, check out the story of Joseph.....or David (remember, we can't know for certain whether or not he is the author of this particular Psalm).  How about Solomon?  Or Daniel?

What about the New Testament?  Where is the word "understanding" used in the New Testament?  What examples can you find of people who had "understanding"?

What about you?  Think about that today.  And thank God today for this truth......that the unfolding of His words "gives light; it gives understanding to the simple."

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Picking Up Where We Left Off.......

It's been a while since we sat together and focused on Psalm 119.  Today we're going to pick up right where we left off.  You may find yourself, as I did, wanting to go back and review a bit......reading the Psalm again, or perhaps reading this middle section where we are currently camped out, reviewing your notes, thinking back over what we have learned so far.  Once you've done that, let's move ahead to the ayin stanza, verses 121-128.  As usual, read the verses, note every synonym for the Word of God, and then make a list of what you learned about God's Word.

While this stanza continues to teach us about the Word itself, I think perhaps it teaches us more about the psalmist and the society in which he lived.  Read the verses again and look for what it has to say on this subject.  Do you see any parallels between what the psalmist was facing and life in our culture today?

This paragraph from the "Sweeter Than Chocolate: Psalm 119" workbook really stood out to me........"Although we have looked at numerous questions and applications for each of the stanzas of Psalm 119, the Ayin stanza focuses on one statement that has vast impications for the way we think as a society.  In verse 128, the psalmist says, 'Therefore I esteem right all Your precepts concerning everything.....'  In a world of relativism and a culture of questioning all authority such as ours, this statement is a countercultural as they come."

Here are some questions to guide your thinking today:
  • What situation is the psalmist in? 
  • Is there any indication of how long he has been in this situation?
  • The psalmist says that he has "done justice and righteousness" (verse 121).  What does he call on God to do?  Why?
  • Who does the psalmist consider to be in charge? What is the basis for your answer?  Give examples from the text.
Now that we have examined the psalmist's circumstances, his behavior, his attitudes, let's give some thought to our own.  Do you measure up with the psalmist's view of God's precepts?  How much of God's Word do you "esteem right"?  Before you answer too quickly, consider this......compare the amount of time you spend reading God's Word to the amount of time you spend reading books about God's Word.  How quick are you to jump to the footnotes/commentary in your Bible and then move on?  When you study, do you compare Scripture with Scripture to let the Bible speak for itself  OR do you just accept what the writer of a Christian book or a Bible study or a commentary has to say?  Which is truth and without error?

Continuing that thought, do you "esteem" the WHOLE Bible?  What is the attitude of our culture?  Do they (do you) accept some parts and reject others?  As you consider these questions, consider any alignment issues your own life may have.  Is this an area where you need to do business with the Lord today?

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Baggage

We had a wonderful vacation, but it's good to be home.  Except for unpacking the suitcases.  And doing all the laundry.  And trying to find a place for all the stuff we accumulated on the trip.  And emptying all the tote bags of stuff we took with us but didn't need.  We do it every time.  I had a tote bag full of books.....several options, in case I started one and didn't like it!  But who reads when they are vacationing at Disney World??  So, I have a tote bag of the books I took with me, plus the ones I bought while I was there!  It's a compulsion....I confess it!  I can't help myself.

As I was looking at all this "stuff". this morning.....all the clothes we took along but didn't wear, all the dirty clothes we brought home, all the stuff we bought while we (I!!!!) was out shopping.......all this "baggage", and wondering where to begin, I was reminded of a verse in Hebrews.  Now before you get your knickers in a twist that I am taking a verse out of context, be assured that I realize the passage is NOT referring to my vacation luggage but I do think this is a good illustration.  Here's the verse......

"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and teh sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus....."  (Hebrews 12:1-2a)

I feel certain that if I were running a literal, physical race, I wouldn't carry all this baggage along.  If I had to walk from point A to point B, I would only take essentials with me.  If I had been a pioneer woman crossing this great country in a covered wagon, I'm sure I wouldn't have been taking so many "extras" along for the journey.  But it seems I never learn.....no matter how good my intentions to "pack light", I still manage to travel with too much stuff!

The lesson is so much more important in the spiritual realm.  We are running a race......a marathon called "life".....the race that God has set before us.  How important it is that we don't carry a lot of extra, unneeded baggage along this journey.  Maybe our baggage is bad memories, or guilt over a previous behavior......each of individually has to identify and deal with our own baggage.  What excess baggage are you carrying around on your journey?  Isn't it time to  "lay it aside" so that you can "run with endurance" the race set before you?
Something to think about today.

We'll resume our journey through Psalm 119 tomorrow.

Monday, May 10, 2010

Celebrating Mothers

I had a wonderful Mother's Day yesterday......worship at FBC Brandon was wonderful, lots of babies were dedicated to the Lord, was able to spend time with Brian, Emily and Christopher, talked to Brandon and AJ on the phone last night, and my sweet husband took me out to dinner at a wonderful restaurant here in Jacksonville.  Our vacation is over (well, Al's vacation is over.....he's working as we spend this week traveling back toward home, but I'm still vacationing!).  As we begin a new week, I'm still thinking about Mother's Day.....remembering my mother and my grandmother and celebrating those memories.  I'm celebrating the joy of being a mother and a grandmother.  I'm so thankful for the blessing of my sons.....the sons God gave me, the ones the doctors said I would never have.  I'm loving my role as Nana, being grandmother to two precious little boys that bring me so much joy!  I'm celebrating the mothers of those little boys.......the "daughters" who came into my life because they are the women my sons chose.....the women who love my sons.  I celebrate the joy they each bring to our family, their unique personalities and gifts, and the blessing they are to all of us.

Mostly I celebrate that my mother and my grandmother, and the countless grandmothers before them that I never knew, as well as those "daughters" who are now part of my life, all love the Lord and His Word, and I celebrate the commitment of each of those women to teach His Word and His ways diligently.  I celebrate our commitment to have families who love Jesus.  I celebrate our desire to honor Him in all we do and say.

My prayer for us today is that we be found faithful.  There's a song called "Find Us Faithful" that talks about this concept......that all who come behind us find us faithful........that the fire of our devotion light their way......that the footprints that we leave lead them to believe.  I'm thankful today for the women who went before me who were found faithful, who left those kind of footprints.  I'm prayerful today that I will be found faithful, that the fire of my devotion will light the way for those who come behind me.  I'm prayerful that I will love the Lord with ALL my heart and soul and mind.....that my love will be evidenced in my behavior.....that I will leave for my sons and my "daughters" and my grandsons and all who follow behind me a legacy of that kind of devotion......that I will teach that diligently to my children and my grandchildren.....that my sons and "daughters" will teach those things diligently to their children.  I'm celebrating today what God will do in and through us when we commit ourselves completely to Him.

And I am so thankful that I had a Mother and a Grandmother who modeled that kind of love and devotion.

What are you celebrating today?  What are your thankful for today?  If your Mother is still here, tell her you today - and every chance you get - that you love her.  It will make her day!