July 12, 2015
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

God’s Word Is Cool!

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

Loving Lord, on this Your day, I draw aside from the quickened pace of my everyday life, to celebrate Your Holy Name.

Read Psalm 119:129-152

[129]פ Pe Your statutes are wonderful; therefore I obey them. [130] The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. [131] I open my mouth and pant, longing for your commands. [132] Turn to me and have mercy on me, as you always do to those who love your name. [133] Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me. [134] Redeem me from human oppression, that I may obey your precepts. [135] Make your face shine on your servant and teach me your decrees. [136] Streams of tears flow from my eyes, for your law is not obeyed. [137]צ Tsadhe You are righteous, LORD, and your laws are right. [138] The statutes you have laid down are righteous; they are fully trustworthy. [139] My zeal wears me out, for my enemies ignore your words. [140] Your promises have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves them. [141] Though I am lowly and despised, I do not forget your precepts. [142] Your righteousness is everlasting and your law is true. [143] Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands give me delight. [144] Your statutes are always righteous; give me understanding that I may live. [145]ק Qoph I call with all my heart; answer me, LORD, and I will obey your decrees. [146] I call out to you; save me and I will keep your statutes. [147] I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word. [148] My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises. [149] Hear my voice in accordance with your love; preserve my life, LORD, according to your laws. [150] Those who devise wicked schemes are near, but they are far from your law. [151] Yet you are near, LORD, and all your commands are true. [152] Long ago I learned from your statutes that you established them to last forever.

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflect

“Precisely because the Bible is not ‘the latest thing’ or ‘what’s trending,’ it gives us the essential perspective” (Howard Snyder).

How inured are we to our society’s attitude to God? When a TV presenter, in an attempt to discredit the Bible’s message, gets in an implied dig making it appear ridiculous (e.g., falsely interpreting it in the light of science), do we shrug our shoulders, or are we truly grieved? For the psalmist, God’s Word is “wonderful” (129). It’s cool, as we would say today. Terrific! Wonderful! Fantastic! Why? The “unfolding” of God’s Word brings light (130), comprising mercy (132), guidance (133) and rescue (134), all of which are so precious that the psalmist is deeply upset when God’s Word is disobeyed (136,139).

God and his Word are “righteous” (137,138,144). In the Old Testament, righteousness denotes the fulfilling of the demands of a relationship. So, in covenant relationship with the believer, God is always what he ought to be, true to his promises; and the life given by his Word is life as it ought to be (144). The psalmist is strengthened by his conviction of this, having thoroughly tested it in his own experience (140). Indeed, a meaningful life is deeply intertwined with a growing understanding of and obedience to God’s ways.

Such an understanding also results in serious prayer (145-149), knowing that, although circumstances can be threatening (the threat is “near”), God is also “near” (150-151). ”The threat is not glossed over; it is put into perspective by a bigger fact” (Derek Kidner, 1913-2008). Armed with such confidence we can face the taunts of society, even as we rightly grieve when God’s Word is ignored, made fun of or flouted. Whether such taunts come through the television or are more personally directed at us (e.g., a comment from a colleague at work), we can stand firm, knowing that God and his Word “are fully trustworthy” (138)–and wonderful!

Apply

Is there anything you could do to counteract the frequently negative public image of the Bible?

Closing prayer

Lord, my prayer is to echo the words of the psalmist, “Make Your face shine upon Your servant and teach me Your decrees” (135).

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