The Big Picture

A dear friend of mine recently lost her husband.  As we were talking a few days ago about these last months of her husband's battle with cancer, and about how life has changed for her now that he's gone, she mentioned something John always said.....not only during his cancer journey, but over the other years of his life as well......that God sees the big picture and we don't.  I think that's an important truth for us to remember.

Often we're tempted to question God.  In conversations with friends just in the last week, there is much we could find to question.  There's the friend whose husband has just received a serious medical diagnosis.  There are several friends with family members battling cancer and other serious illnesses.  There are friends dealing with financial challenges.....and depression.....and bereavement.  There's a lot of "stuff" we have to deal with in this life.  Through it all, it helps to remember that God sees the big picture.  And to remember that God is in control.  That God is sovereign.  That He is El Elyon.

And that brings us to the point of this study.  As I've said before, we're not just interested in learning some names for God and some definitions.  I pray this is much more than just an academic exercise!  How I pray that we will get to know our God better as we learn His names.  That we will know Him in a deeper and more intimate way.  That we will take these truths we are discovering in the Scriptures and will apply them to our lives.  That we will truly be able to say "The name of the Lord is MY strong tower."

Here are the Scripture passages I would like you to examine today:

• Job 1:1-12
• Job 2:1-10
• Luke 22:31

What do you learn about the sovereignty of God?  Who is in control?  How do you know?  What difference does that make in your life?  How does what you have learned enable you to face today's circumstances - whatever they may be?

"Remember the former things long past, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, 'My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure'; calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of My purpose from a far country.  Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.  I have planned it, surely I will do it." (Isaiah 46:9-11)

Applying What We Have Learned

Our topic this week is the sovereignty of God as we explore what the Scriptures teach us about the name El Elyon, God Most High.  We're doing some "heavy lifting" this week as we will be examining a number of Scripture references to see what we can learn and then how we can apply it to our lives.  What difference does this aspect of God's character make to us?  How does understanding this aspect of His nature help us to know His name as a "strong tower" into which we can run and be safe?

As you read each of the following passages, note what God is sovereign over or what the passage tells you about His sovereignty:

• Isaiah 5:5-7
• 1 Samuel 1:5-6
• 1 Samuel 2:6-10
• Isaiah 45:6-7
• John 19:10-11

What did you learn that you can apply to your life today?  Think about that, and we'll continue tomorrow.

Who's in Control?

A song that has been popular in Christian music in recent years says "there is strength in the name of the Lord, there is power in the name of the Lord, there is hope in the name of the Lord."  We are going to see that, and so much more, as we continue our study on the names of God.  I'm so glad you've decided to join me on this journey, and would love to hear from you as our study progresses about what you are learning and how it is impacting your life.

Last week we began our journey in the beginning, in Genesis 1:1 with the name Elohim.  This is the most frequently used name for God in the Old Testament.  It is the name that designates God as God.    We also learned that this is the name given to our Creator God.  Seeing God as our Creator is a foundational truth in our faith and our Christian worldview.  This truth is woven throughout the pages of Scripture, not just into the first chapters of Genesis, as we saw from the Scriptures we researched last week.

Today we begin examining another foundational truth, the sovereignty of God.  We see this in the name we will be studying this week, El Elyon, God Most High.  Last week we looked into Psalm 20, "May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble, may the name of the God of Jacob set you securely on high."  If the "name of the God of Jacob" would "set you securely on high", if you you would trust Him to "send you help from the sanctuary and support you from Zion", then you must know him as El Elyon, the Most High.  Kay Arthur writes in her book Lord, I Want to Know You, "for if God is not sovereign, if He is not in control, if all things are not under His dominion, then He is not the Most High, and you and I are either in the hands of fate (whatever that is), or in the hands of the devil."  The Scriptures we are going to look at this week will show us our El Elyon, God Most High.  Let's begin with the following passages.  Look up each one, read it carefully, and the note what you learn about God's sovereignty.

• Daniel 4:34-35
• Isaiah 14:24, 27
• Isaiah 46:9-11
• Daniel 2:20-23

Once you have completed this assignment, take a moment to consider what difference this makes in your life.

As we take this journey together, you might want to be keeping a notebook or journal to record your findings.  And if you're particularly creative, you might want to "borrow" this idea from an on-line friend of mine.  As she studied the names of God, she put her scrapbooking skills to work and made a scrapbook of the names of God.  If you're like I am and don't consider yourself to be particularly "crafty", I challenge you to join me in not being intimidated!!  Just because we are not particularly skilled at calligraphy does not mean we cannot assemble a wonderful book with Scriptures and our personal insights to help us remember what we learn!  Think about that today.....how are you going to record what you have learned?

"And all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, but He does acccording to His will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of earth; and no one can ward off His hand or say to Him, 'What hast Thou done?' "  (Daniel 4:35)

It's a Beautiful Day!

As I write, I'm looking out the window at a variety of birds feeding on our front porch.  There are finches, hummingbirds, sparrows, indigo buntings, an occasional cardinal, and a little bird I haven't identified (need to check the bird book!) but that I refer to as the "hunchback".  He (or she) has what I can only describe as a hump of feathers just behind the neck!  I'm also seeing the great variety of trees across the mountains that I can see through the window.  I'm marvelling at the many different shades of green I see on those trees.  The sky is a beautiful blue today - what we sometimes refer to here in NC as "Carolina Blue".  It's a beautiful day in the mountains! The creation around me is stunning.......and all a gift from our Elohim, our Creator God.

As we finish our first week of study on the names of God, I think it's a good time to pause and review what we have learned so far, and then to consider how it applies to our lives.  It's so important that we not be content to learn names and definitions, but that in learning these different names for God, we get to know Him better - His character, His attributes, His nature - and that we apply what we have learned to our lives.

On Monday we'll begin examining another name - El Elyon.  But before we do that, here's your challenge today.  Review what we've learned so far about the importance of a name, specifically the importance of the Lord's name/names.  Review what we've learned about Elohim.  Read those Scriptures again.  Remind yourself again today of the ultimate purpose for which you were created - to give Him glory!  Praise Him today that we are "fearfully and wonderfully made"!  Let's worship our Elohim today!

What Would You Do Differently?

Yesterday we read this passage in Isaiah 43 and learned that we are created for God's glory........"you are precious in My sight....everyone who is called by My name, and whom I have created for My glory, whom I have formed, even whom I have made."  Our Creator God, Elohim, has created us for His glory.

What does that mean, to be created for God's glory?  The Hebrew word for glory, kabad, means "glory, honor, splendor, reputation," according to the Complete Word Study Dictionary - Old Testament.  If you dig a little deeper into your word study tools, you will learn that the meaning here is "to give a correct estimate or opinion of".

So, what does that mean to you and me?  How do we give a correct estimate or opinion of the glory, the splendor, the reputation of Elohim?  Think about it.  How would you live, what would you do differently today, if you focused on living for His glory and His alone?

Who Am I? Why Am I Here?

We may all have asked those questions at one time or another.  But before we examine those questions and the answers we find in Scripture, let's spend a little more time looking at the Hebrew word Elohim.  We learned yesterday that el means god, and can refer to any god as well as being used in reference to Almighty God.  In Hebrew, the him ending is a plural ending indicating more than one.  What does that mean?  Does it mean that God is more than one?  Well, yes and no!

Look at Deuteronomy 6:4:  "The LORD (Jehovah) is our God (Elohim), the LORD is one."  The use of the plural ending in Elohim is an indicator of the three-fold nature of God.  The word "trinity" is not used in the Scripture, but is a word we often use to refer to the three persons of the Godhead:  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Some years ago, as a children's choir director I was directing my choir in our spring musical.  I don't remember which musical we were doing that year, but I do remember one of the songs......a very catchy tune with a lyric that captures this deep theological truth perfectly:  "Three in one, and one in three"!

How does all this relate to the creation verse (Genesis 1:1) where we began yesterday?  Look up these verses:  Genesis 1:2-3; Hebrews 11:3; Colossians 1:16.  What is the activity and which person of the Godhead is involved?  Use your word study tools to find additional references that give us insight into the creation activity of each Person of the Godhead.

As we think about God as our Creator, what is the practical application for us?  Perhaps you have questioned your purpose in life.  Or you may have wondered "who am I?" or "why am I here?".  You may have other "why" questions about your life, about your physical attributes, about why you are the way you are.  Why were you created?

Look up the following verses and then consider how you would answer those questions in light of what you learn from the Scripture:

• Isaiah 43:1-7
• Isaiah 29:16
• Isaiah 64:8
• Revelation 4:11 (if you have access to a KJV, read it in that version)
• Ephesians 2:10
• Psalm 100:3
• Psalm 139

Are you fulfilling the purpose for which you were created?  If not, what needs to change?

What's in a Name?

We saw yesterday that in the time in which the Bible was written, a name revealed a person's character.  So, as we study the names of God, the answer to the title question is - a lot!!

We're going to begin at the beginning.  If you turn in your Bible to Genesis 1:1, you will find these words, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth."  We could spend a lot of time digging into that verse, but that is not our purpose in this study.  The first use of God's name occurs in the first verse of the Bible.  In Hebrew, the language in which the book of Genesis was originally written, the word used here for God is the word Elohim.  So, Elohim is the first name we will turn our attention to.

If you look at an exhaustive concordance of the Bible (one which lists every word and every time it is used), you will find that Elohim is the most frequently used word for God in the Old Testament.  This is the name that designates God as God.  This name occurs more than 2600 times in the Old Testament and is often paired with another of God's names, Jehovah, which we will study later. 

What does the name Elohim mean?  And what does it teach us about the person and character of God?
El means "mighty, strong" and is a word used to refer to gods, including God.  The ending of this name, the him ending, is interesting because it is a plural ending in the Hebrew language.  We'll discuss the implications of that tomorrow.  Right now let's focus our attention on the first instance where we see this name used.....in Genesis 1:1 where we are introduced to our Creator God, Elohim.

Look up the following verses and see what you can learn about Elohim.......who He is, what He has done:

• Genesis 1:26
• Deuteronomy 4:32
• 2 Kings 19:15
• 2 Chronicles 2:12
• Psalm 19:1
• Ecclesiastes 3:11
• Isaiah 45:5
• Amos 4:13
• Jonah 1:9

This is just a small sampling of verses where this name of God is used.  You might want to refer to your concordance for others, if you have the time.  As you read these verses, what did learn about God?

What is the practical significance of what you have learned?  How does what you have learned today from the Scripture help you  to know God as your "strong tower"?  Think about that today and we'll continue to explore that topic tomorrow.

As we close our time together today, read the following verses and spend some time in worship:

• Proverbs 18:10
• Isaiah 50:10
• Psalm 7:17
• Deuteronomy 10:17
• Romans 11:33-36

Today's the Day!!

Today's the day we begin our new study on the names of God!  Are you as excited about this as I am?  I can't wait to get started!  We often refer to God as our Father, our Heavenly Father.  That name may have been one that you clung to yesterday as we celebrated Father's Day, especially if you are like I am and your earthly Father is no longer here.  But in this study we are going to dig deeper than that and look at the names used in the original languages of the Scripture.  Each of these names will reveal truths to us about God's character and His ways.  So, we will be getting to know God better by getting to know His names.

In the culture in which the Bible was written, a name meant much more than it does today, at least in our American culture.  A name revealed a person's character.  Too often today we choose names for our children simply based on popular trends, or on family traditions, or because it "sounds good".  We don't usually give much thought to the meaning of the name.  It wasn't that way for the ancient Hebrews.  A name meant something!  So, as we spend these next several weeks examining names used for God in the Scripture, we will see that they meant something!  We'll learn what the name means.  And we'll learn how that makes a difference for you and me.

Through it all, we will continue to use the inductive Bible study principles that we began learning as we studied Psalm 119 together.  If you weren't with us for that study, not to worry!  There will be plenty of explanation as we go along!

Let's begin by turning to Psalm 20 and reading that through slowly and prayerfully.  Do you see any repeated words or phrases?  Anything that has to do with a "name"?  What do you learn about a "name"?  Also, look for any words or phrases that have to do with trouble or needing help.  Again, what did you learn?  Finally, are there any promises in this Psalm?  What are they?  You might want to make a list in your notebook or journal.

Did you learn anything in Psalm 20 about the name of the Lord?

There's a familiar verse in this Psalm......"Some boast in chariots and some in horses, but we will boast in the name of the LORD, our God."   What does that mean?

The Hebrew word that is translated  "boast" is a word that means to "have confidence in".  Does that help you understand the verse a little better?  When the Psalm was written, horses and chariots were common.  Not so much for us today!  We might say "some boast in tanks and armies", or some boast "in the power of the government", or "in their financial wealth", or "in their own abilities".  What are some other things we place our confidence in today?

The psalmist (in this case, David) says he boasts in the name of the Lord.  That means he places his confidence and trust in the name of the Lord.  As we said earlier, the Lord's name represents His character.  David states that his confidence and trust are in who God is.  What about you?  Where is your confidence placed today?  Note the question carefully......not where should it be placed, or where do you want people to think it is placed, but where have you placed your trust........not just for eternity, not just for the "big things" of life, but for the little things as well.  Think about that today, and we'll dig in deeper tomorrow.

If you're wanting to go deeper into this topic than this blog study, I recommend Kay Arthur's "Lord, I Want to Know You".  You can order it direct from Precept Ministries, or can probably find it in your local bookstore.

As we close, here's a fun assignment........do you know what your name means?  If you have children, do you know the meaning of their names?  Do a little research today, and if you would like to share your findings, leave a comment.  About that, or about anything else as well.

Welcome to this journey!  I'm so glad you are joining me!  I'll meet you back here tomorrow!

"The name of the LORD is a strong tower, the righteous runs into it and is safe." (Prov. 18:10)

Thursday's Thoughts

Let's begin with a cute story about one of my grandsons........AJ's Bible verse on Monday night at Vacation Bible School was "The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament sheweth His handiwork." That's Psalm 19:1 in the KJV.  Here's how AJ quoted the verse:  "The heavens declare the glory of God and the furniture sheweth His handiwork."  Did you chuckle?  I did!  That's really cute when it comes from the mouth of a four year old.  But as I thought about that, it occurred to me that there are many adults who do the same thing......maybe not quite so obviously.  But is it not true that Scripture is often misquoted, taken out of context, or misinterpreted, just to keep it in line with one's own particular viewpoint?   I'm not talking about the times our memory fails us, but those times when, whether deliberately or not, we are not "accurately handling the Word of truth."  (See 2 Timothy 2:15)

What's the solution?  I think one way we combat this problem is to do exactly what we have been doing in these recent months.  Slow down and study the Word for ourselves, make deliberate effort to observe, interpret and apply the Word accurately.  That's why I love the inductive method of study so much......we go directly to the Word itself as our primary source of information and we slow down (a challenge in our current busy, busy world) and take time to let the Word speak directly to us.

I'm a little bit sad to be finished with our study of Psalm 119!  I have been so blessed by this Psalm!  As I read the entire Psalm again yesterday, I was struck once again by how often the psalmist made the request "teach me Your statutes."  I think I counted nine times that phrase is used!  (If I counted right!)  And as we finish our study of this particular Psalm, that remains my prayer as well......"teach me Your statutes."  I suppose you could say that phrase, along with verse 38 ("Establish Thy word to Thy servant, as that which produces reverence for Thee.") are two of my biggest "take-aways" from this study.  Those requests are my on-going prayers as I continue in my study of God's Word. 

I'm looking forward to beginning a new study with you next week, a topical study on the names of God, and to getting to know our God better by knowing His names.  I hope you'll join me on the journey and invite your friends as well.  And would you be praying with me as I am praying toward beginning a local Bible study group here in my home.  There are a number of challenges associated with that, but will you just pray that God will give me His wisdom and direction concerning this study, when to begin and what portion of Scripture to study first.  Thank you so much!  I'll meet you back here on Monday as our next journey begins, beginning in Psalm 20.

Looking Back and Looking Forward

We have spent several weeks (months!) together in Psalm 119.  We have looked at 176 verses together.  We have learned much about the Word of God and about the psalmist.  As we come to the conclusion of this particular study, here's the last assignment for you.  Go back and read the entire Psalm again.  Reflect back on what you have learned as you have studied this portion of Scripture.

Are there particular passages that you found memorable?  Why?
Is there a particular truth that you have found to be life-changing?
Is there a particular truth that you have found to be difficult to align with?
What is the most important thing you want to remember?

As you read back over this Psalm today, or over the next several days, what specific applications are you going to make to your life?  Think of "specific" in this way......the difference between "I need to eat better" and "I will eat five servings of fruits and vegetables every day."  Go beyond "I should...." to "I will......".

I have loved this time to slow down and dig deep into this Psalm.  I hope you have, too.  I'm thrilled that you have joined me for the journey.  My prayer is that we will continue to dig deep into God's Word, that His Word and what we have learned from it and about it will take root in our lives, and that we will live out what we have learned!  If you would like to share any insights you have gained, any lesson you have learned, any opportunity you have had to put what you have learned into practice, feel free to leave a comment.

Thanks again for joining me on the journey!  I invite you to begin a new journey with me, beginning next Monday, June 21.  Invite your friends to join us as we get to know our God better by studying His names.

"Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever.  Amen."  (Hebrews 13:20-21)

Some Final Thoughts from Psalm 119

This week we're finishing up our journey through Psalm 119.  Next week a new journey will begin.  Today we'll focus our attention specifically on those last two stanzas (shin and tav, verses 161-176), and then for the rest of the week we'll be giving ourselves some time to review what we have learned and to process how to apply it.

So, today let's begin by prayerfully reading (again!) those verses.  Here are some questions to guide your thinking:

• What do you learn about the Word of God from these verses?  Are there any new insights, or is the message the same as/consistent with what the psalmist has said previously about the word?
• Do you see any significant words? We often refer to these as "key words".....they may or may not be repeated a lot, but they are central to the message of the passage.  One word that appears in both stanzas is the word "praise".  What does the psalmist have to say about praise?  When does he praise?  Why?
• The shin stanza mentions "peace".  Who has peace?  In a practical way, what does that mean?  How is your daily life impacted by this truth?
• What does the psalmist ask God for in these verses?  What commitments does he make?
• How do these verses fit into the overall context of the psalm?  Are they similar?  Different?  In what ways?

Finally, as you think back over these verses and what we learn from the psalmist - about the Word of God and about the psalmist himself - what life lessons are there for you and me today?  How are you going to apply what you have learned today?  What truths have you grasped from the Word today? 

Friday Already!

Is it Friday already?!  Where did the week go??  Today we're nearing the end of our journey through Psalm 119.....and what a journey it has been!  I have loved slowing down and working our way through this Psalm and have been so blessed by all God has shown me along the way.  And I'm blessed when I think of all of you out there and consider how God may be doing the same for you!  I'm already looking forward to our next journey together!  I've been praying a lot about where we go from here, and I'm very excited about our next journey.  But we'll save that for another day.

Today, we are going to focus our attention on the remaining verses of Psalm 119, the shin and tav stanzas, verses 161-176.  As usual, we will read the verses and look for every synonym for the Word of God.  Mark those words in the way you have marked them throughout the study, and then note what this stanza tells you about the Word.

As you read these verses, also note what you learn about the psalmist.  Ask questions of the text (who, what, when, where, why, how).  As you read, is there one thought that stands out to you above others, one verse or thought that can encourage you for today?  Are there questions you would like answers to as you read?  Have you found concepts you want to know more about?

As we finish out the week and approach the end of our time in this Psalm, what part of these stanzas is a "resting place" for you as we go into the weekend?  We'll begin digging  into these verses on Monday.  Until then, my challenge to you is to find one of these verses that can be the foundation for your prayer or your praise today.

"Let my lips utter praise, for You teach me Your statutes."  (Psalm 119:171)

Application

If you did yesterday's assignment - researching the word "revive" - you learned that the Hebrew word which is translated "revive" is the word haya, which means to be alive, to live, to keep alive, to remain alive, to sustain life.  (These definitions come from The Complete Word Study Dictionary, Old Testament and The Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament.)

As we look back over Psalm 119, we have seen David pray often to be revived:

• v. 25 - revive me according to Your word.
• v. 37 - revive me in Your ways.
• v. 40 - revive me through Your righteousness
• v. 88 - revive me according to Your lovingkindness.
• v. 107 - revive me, O LORD, according to Your word.
• v. 149 - revive me, O LORD, according to Your ordinances.
• v. 154 - revive me according to Your word.
• v. 156 - revive me according to Your ordinances.
• v. 159 - revive me according to Your lovingkindness.

So, as we review these findings, here's my question to you today.......how are we revived by the Word?  Consider that carefully and let's reason together.  What would be necessary in our lives for us to be revived by the Word of God?  A desire, a need for being revived.  That's part of it.  But how can the Word revive us unless we are spending time in it?  Unless we value it?  Unless we know what it says?

Can you think of a time -  or times - when the Word has revived you?  Do you find yourself in need of reviving right now? 

Obviously, one of the things we have seen in the psalmist's life is his love for God and for God's Word.  We have seen his commitment to follow God's ways.  So the question for us is this......how does the psalmist's relationship with God and His Word compare to our own?  The psalmist had a longing to understand God's ways, His precepts.  What about you and me?  This is our application point for today......something to think about.

"Establish Your word to Your servant, as that which produces reverence for You." (Psalm 119:38)

Revive Me

Do you ever feel in need of being revived?  I certainly do!  I'm sure we all have experienced days, or perhaps even seasons, in our lives where we felt weighed down by life, by circumstances around us, by the way we were being treated by others, by.........  You fill in the blank.  As we have journeyed through this Psalm, we have often seen the psalmist ask the Lord to revive him.  In the verses we are currently studying, we see this request several times.  In fact, he asks to be revived more than he asks for anything else in this passage!  As we have seen previously and see again in these verses, he is dealing with "persecutors" and "adversaries"......those who are "treacherous", those who do not keep the Word of God.   This may be the area where we can most relate to the psalmist, as we are living in a culture that has lost its regard for the Word.

But what does it mean to be "revived"?  I'm sure we each have our own mental picture of what that means......perhaps a cold glass of iced tea revives you on a very hot day.....or a visit from a good friend or from your grandchildren might revive you if you're feeling lonely......or you're revived by a really good night's sleep.  Is that what the psalmist means?

Here's your assignment for today.  Use your word study tools (remember you can use on-line tools if you don't have a Hebrew dictionary in your personal library!  Go to http://www.blueletterbible.org/), check the concordance to find out what Hebrew word (or words) is translated "revive".  Then look those words up in your word study dictionary and see what you can learn.  What did the psalmist mean, what was he asking for, when he used that particular word?  Remember that the word "revive" has been used a number of times in this Psalm, not just in these verses.

The closing line of this Psalm says, "The sum of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting."  That sums up how the psalmist feels about the Word.  Use your concordance and find other places where Scripture speaks about itself, both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament.  What does it say?

Since you are participating in this study, I think it is fair to say that you have a high regard for the Word of God.  Can you make a summary statement, as the psalmist did, concerning the Word that sums up your attitude toward the Word?  It's OK to use words directly from Scripture!

One final question......how are you going to apply what you have learned today?  What difference will it make in your attitudes today, in the choices you make?

Asking Some Questions

Good Morning!  Welcome back!  Are you ready for the next step on our inductive journey through Psalm 119?  As a reminder, since I haven't mentioned this in a while or in case you just found us today, studying inductively means we are going directly to the source, in this case Psalm 119, for our study.  It also means that we are asking questions of the text.....the 5Ws and an H.....who, what, when, where, why, how.  Keep in mind that every question will not always be answered, but we keep asking!

As we have journeyed through the Psalm, our main "what" has been the Word of God itself, and we have looked for synonyms the psalmist uses to refer to the Word and what those synonyms teach us about the Word.  The two stanzas we are currently looking at (qoph and resh) continue the same pattern we have seen throughout the psalm, using the words statute, testimonies, words, ordinances, law, commandments, precepts to refer to the Word of God.  (If you are new to our study and would like to know more, click on the archives......you can begin from the beginning at any time!).  So, our first question today is:  what did you learn about the Word from marking these synonyms?  Look at verse 152 for one answer to that question....."You have founded them (your testimonies) forever."  Or look at verse 160...."the sum of Your word is truth."

This stanza tells us a lot about the psalmist and about his regard for the Word of God.  What does the stanza tell us, or another way to ask the question is, how does the psalmist feel about the Word?  What is his attitude toward the Word?  How does he respond to the Word?  Beginning at verse 145, here are some answers to those questions:

• verse 145 - I will observe your statutes.
• verse 146 - I shall keep Your testimonies
• verse 147 - I wait for Your words
• verse 148 - that I may meditate on Your word
• verse 149 - revive me according to Your ordinances

You get the idea, right?!  Your assignment now is to slowly read these two stanzas, verses 145-160 and finish the list.  What do you learn about the psalmist?  How does he feel about God's Word?  What is his attitude?  What is he praying for?  If you made this list as part of yesterday's study, then go back over your findings.....review is part of our learning process!  Having made that list, how do we apply it to our own lives?  Think of it this way.....the psalmist says he observes God's statutes, that he meditates on God's Word.  Then ask yourself the question.....do I observe God's statues?  Do I meditate on God's Word?  Be honest with yourself......then talk to God about any areas that may need a little work.

As we think about the psalmist, let's go a little further today.  What do you learn from these verses about his situation?  What is going on in his life?  How does he respond?  Is that consistent with how he has responded previously?  Is it consistent with what he says about the Word of God?  Application:  what is going on in your life?  How are you responding?  Is that consistent with what you are professing about the Word of God?

Another of the questions we ask of the text in inductive study is when.  We haven't talked about when a lot in our study of this psalm, but let's look at the when question now.  Do you see any references to time in the verses we are studying today?  Here's a hint:  look at verse 147......."I rise before dawn."  That is what we call a time reference.  Now I don't know about you, but rising before dawn is not something I generally do, not willingly at least, so this is a place where I really have admiration for the psalmist!  Looking at that same verse, why does he rise before dawn? 

Look also at verse 152...."You have founded them forever."  There's another time reference.  Read the two stanzas again and look for (and mark with those colored pencils......I draw a tiny clock face.....just a circle with two hands) all the time references.  What have you learned?  And how can you apply it?  Here's a thought.....the psalmist is telling us when he pursues God.  When do you pursue God?

Let's look at another of those questions that we haven't previously given a lot of thought to......where.  Read the verses and see if you can find any "where" words.  Where will not always be a specific place like "at Jerusalem" or "along the road".  Sometimes the where words may have to do with distance.  Here's your hint:  look at verse 150 ("they are far from your law"....who is "they"?) or verse 151 ("You are near).  What do you learn?  What does it mean for your life?

Here's our bottom line for today......as we examine what we learn about the psalmist by asking these questions, what do we learn about his lifestyle, about his attitudes, about his "schedule", his time management, his priorities?  How does that compare with our own habits?  What areas do we need to change?  When are we going to start making those changes?  How will we be able to change the areas that need changing? 

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."  (Philippians 4:13)

What Are You Praying For?

We're nearing the end of our journey through Psalm 119.  Our remaining time in the Psalm will be spent not only in digging into these last stanzas of the Psalm, but also in reflecting back on what we have learned and in seeking how we can make what we have learned part of our daily lives.  As we approach these last four stanzas, we are going to deviate from our pattern just a little bit and are going to consider the stanzas in pairs, beginning today with qoph and resh.

So, get your copy of the Scriptures and let's prayerfully read these two stanzas today....Psalm 119:145-160.
By now you should be able to easily spot the synonyms the psalmist uses for the Word of God.  What do you learn from these stanzas about the Word?  How does what the psalmist says about the Word in these verses compare with what he has said previously?

Read the verses again and note other repeated words or phrases.  A couple of examples to get you started would be the words "cried" and "revivive".  What do you learn from observing the repeated uses of these words?  Are there other repeated words or phrases that you noted?  What did you learn?  Feel free to share your insights by leaving a comment!

Another thing to note as we observe these verses is what the psalmist is praying for.  What does he ask God for in these verses?  An example is found in verse 146...."Save me".  Another example is found in verse 149..."Revive me".  What other examples can you find?  (Note:  you may already have answered this question when you were looking for repeated words.  But review is good!)

As you consider what the psalmist prays for, as you study and meditate on these verses, how are you going to apply them in your own life today?  What are you praying for?

"Great are Your mercies, O LORD; revive me according to Your ordinances."  (Psalm 119:156)

Finishing Out the Week

Let's finish out the week by looking back over what we've learned this week, considering one new concept, and then looking forward to what lies ahead for next week.  We're approaching the end of this journey through Psalm 119.  It has been such a blessing to me......to spend time in the Psalm, to dig deep into the Scriptures and have God speak to my heart through them, to pray for all of you out there who are joining me on this journey.  I almost don't want it to end.....but at the same time I find myself looking forward to the next journey we will take together!!  More about that later!

We have spent time this week in the tsadhe stanza - the "righteousness stanza".  We have considered what righteousness is and how it relates to us.  In a previous stanza we had seen the psalmist grieve over those who did not follow God's commandments.  In tsadhe we have also seen the psalmist refer to the "foreverness" of God's Word.  As we move forward next week, we'll continue to see that theme.  But today, as we wind up our time in this stanza, let's look specifically at verse 139:  "My zeal hs consumed me, because my adversaries have forgotten Your words." 

Start by comparing this verse to the previous stanza (pe), looking particularly at verse 136.  Then consider the following questions:

• How do these verses compare as the psalmist considers adversaries who have forgotten God's Word?
• What is zeal?  (Maybe you want to check your dictionary for the definition!)
• Does zeal for God and His Word ever consume you?
• Are all zealous behaviors pleasing to God?  Explain your answer.  Be specific.
• Can you think of other examples in Scripture of people who displayed godly zeal?  Dig a little deeper into the Scripture and see what you can find out.
• How are you going to apply what you have learned today?

As we finish out our time together this week, take some time to quietly consider all you have learned.  Reflect on the words of this Psalm and ask God to show you how to apply the message of this Psalm to your life.  We live in challenging times.  How do we face these uncertain days except by arming ourselves with "the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God."?

Righteousness

Yesterday we began examining the tsadhe stanza, the "righteousness" stanza, and looking at what the psalmist had to say about righteousness.  It's interesting to note that he never refers to himself as righteous, not in this stanza or anywhere else in Psalm 119.  He speaks of righteous acts he has done (in the ayin stanza), but the quality of righteousness is something he attributes to God and to His Word.  Having seen what the psalmist had to say about righteousness, let's learn more by looking at a New Testament passage.

Read 2 Corinthians 5:17-21.  What does Paul have to say about righteousness?  How does he say righteousness relates to us?  How do the psalmist's words compare to what Paul says?

What does it mean to be a "new creature"?  What does that have to do with the way we live?  Do we consciously live as new creatures?

If you would like to take your study a step further, use your word study tools to determine what words have been translated "righteousness" or "righteous" in both the Old and New Testaments.  What do you learn?

One other passage of Scripture you might want to examine as we bring this topic to a close is Romans 4.  Look at Romans 4:1-9.  Paul speaks about Abraham being made righteous before the Law was given.  As you put all this together, what do you learn?

Summarize what you have learned about righteousness today.  What is your biggest take-away from this lesson?  How will you live today in light of what you have learned?

Continuing Our Journey

It's a beautiful morning here in the mountains.  The air is still a bit cool....birds are singing....I'm loving all the different shades of green as I look out the window.  Because we are on a western-facing slope, it takes a while for the sun to rise above the mountain that is behind us.  There's some fog in the valley below us this morning, but I'm sure that will burn off once the sun makes it to this side of the mountain.  The only sounds I hear are the singing birds.  It's very peaceful here this morning as I turn to God's Word.  The words of Psalm 19 come to mind......."The heavens declare the glory of God....."  How true that is!  Psalm 19 is actually very similar to Psalm 119, the psalm we are currently studying.  Although Psalm 19 is much shorter, there are many similarities as David speaks of the wonder of God and His Word.  You might want to check that out if you have time.

As we continue our journey through Psalm 119, let's begin the tsadhe stanza today.  Read with me verses 137-144, and note what you learn about God and His Word.  In addition to the synonyms for the Word that we are now very familiar with, did you see any other repeated words or phrases?

The word that jumps out at me is "righteousness", which is used four times in these eight verses, along with one use of the word "righteous".  So, in addition to making a list of what we learn about God's Word, let's also make a list of what the psalmist says about righteousness.  What does the psalmist say is righteous?
Consider those things today, and we'll continue this topic tomorrow.

Convictions

"F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote, 'At 18 our convictions are hills from which we look; at 45 they are caves in which we hide.'  Another analogy would be:  convictions are the fires that propel us and the fences that protect us."  (quoted from Turning Points by Dr. David Jeremiah.)

Having just celebrated Memorial Day, I've been giving a lot of thought to the word "convictions".  I'm in awe of the conviction of men and women in our armed forces who voluntarily put themselves in harm's way for the cause of freedom.  I'm in awe of, and grateful to, the men and women of generations past who sacrificed so much for our freedom.  And I am eternally grateful for the sacrifice paid at Calvary that secured my eternal freedom.  It seems almost tragic that we set aside one day a year to think on these things, rather than remembering every day the great price that was paid.  Is it not important enough to reflect on daily?  Is it not important enough to impact our daily lives?  Should we not also be living our lives with conviction?

As we have journeyed through Psalm 119, I think we can easily see that the psalmist was a man of conviction.  Here are some examples of his convictions:

• verse 8 - "I shall keep your statutes."
• verse 11 - "Your word I have treasured in my heart."
• verse 16 - "I shall delight in Your statutes."
• verse 30 - "I have chosen the faithful way."
• verse 44 - "I will keep your law continually."
• verse 83 - "I do not forget your statutes."
• verse 89 - "Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven."
• verse 93 - "I will never forget Your precepts."
• verse 112  - "I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes forever, even to the end."

This is certainly not an all-inclusive list.  We can learn much about the psalmist as we carefully read this Psalm.  And we can learn much from him!  His example of living with conviction regarding God's Word is an important lesson for us.  As we face daily living in a world that has lost its regard for the Word of God, we would do well to learn from the psalmist and follow his example.  Something to think about today......