HIDDEN RICHES
Opening Prayer
Lord, may my heart be fertile ground to receive Your Word today.
Read Psalm 119:1–24
א Aleph
1 Blessed are those whose ways are blameless,
who walk according to the law of the Lord.
2 Blessed are those who keep his statutes
and seek him with all their heart—
3 they do no wrong
but follow his ways.
4 You have laid down precepts
that are to be fully obeyed.
5 Oh, that my ways were steadfast
in obeying your decrees!
6 Then I would not be put to shame
when I consider all your commands.
7 I will praise you with an upright heart
as I learn your righteous laws.
8 I will obey your decrees;
do not utterly forsake me.
ב Beth
9 How can a young person stay on the path of purity?
By living according to your word.
10 I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.
11 I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.
12 Praise be to you, Lord;
teach me your decrees.
13 With my lips I recount
all the laws that come from your mouth.
14 I rejoice in following your statutes
as one rejoices in great riches.
15 I meditate on your precepts
and consider your ways.
16 I delight in your decrees;
I will not neglect your word.
ג Gimel
17 Be good to your servant while I live,
that I may obey your word.
18 Open my eyes that I may see
wonderful things in your law.
19 I am a stranger on earth;
do not hide your commands from me.
20 My soul is consumed with longing
for your laws at all times.
21 You rebuke the arrogant, who are accursed,
those who stray from your commands.
22 Remove from me their scorn and contempt,
for I keep your statutes.
23 Though rulers sit together and slander me,
your servant will meditate on your decrees.
24 Your statutes are my delight;
they are my counselors.
Footnotes
- Psalm 119:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the stanzas of which begin with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet; moreover, the verses of each stanza begin with the same letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Is reading the Word a chore or a pleasure?Psalm 119 is an acrostic with a paragraph for every letter in the Hebrew alphabet. There is no storyline to it, but a clear theme: the value of God’s Word. Here are three ways by which we can benefit from the Scriptures, one from each of the first three paragraphs.
Live according to God’s Word (1). Scripture reveals to us the heart and mind of God. As we get to know the Bible, we learn His ways, how to live the kind of life that pleases God. As we obediently apply its teaching, we find we are living wisely.
Hide God’s Word in your heart (11). The Scriptures have a powerful effect, teaching us right from wrong and pointing us in the right direction. In particular, they can help us to stay on the path of purity, an important consideration for all, but especially for young people living in a promiscuous world (9).
Meditate on God’s Word (23). To meditate is to think deeply about something, to chew over its meaning and its application for our lives. When we do this with Scripture, the benefits are enormous, and we begin to discover for ourselves wonderful nuggets of God’s truth.
Apply
What do you think it means to delight in God’s Word? How might you increase the quantity or quality of your daily intake of Scripture?
Closing prayer
God, I want to love Your Word as the psalmist shares. Give me a deep, increasing desire for Your Word.
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