Psalm 119:18 Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things out of your law.1
Did you know that one of the proofs that you have truly been born again is how you keep, love and understand God’s law? I would say that is a “wondrous thing”! The short New Testament letter of 1 John verifies this. We don’t have to wonder about our salvation. God gave us the proof of the Spirit and the Word.
1 John 2:3 This is how we know that we know him: if we keep his commandments. WEB
This in no way implies that you earn salvation or keep it depending on how you treat God’s law. However, if you truly love God you will want to honor Him in the ways of His commands. 1 John 2:4-6
Our devotional for today focuses on Psalm 119. This is the longest of all the chapters in the Bible. I felt led to actually memorize it. I was in the middle of one of the most stressful times of my life. I was also very distant from God. I had put Him on the back burner. So, it seemed ironic that this would be the Bible study that I would choose at that point.
Gathering up my Bible and a ton of note cards, I did manage to memorize about half of it. It took me one full year. By that time the Spirit had my attention. My first thought about the Psalm was how redundant it seemed. But that sinful approach to God’s Word was a serious display of ignorance.
Wondrous Things!
God’s Law. God’s Love. God’s Book.
Through the days and months of intentionally applying this Psalm to myself, I saw my reflection in His heart. It was a sad wake up call. In the Holy Spirit’s mirror, I was shown a graphic detail of my apathy, laziness and ignorance toward the Savior of my life. The change created in me was very gradual. This was just the beginning of a new way to walk with my Lord.
Actually, that was fifteen years ago, and I still have so much growing to do. The Spirit has had to get my attention more than once since then. He is patient and kind.
As believers, we need God’s Word and His law to help us walk closely and obediently with Him. It gives us a true perspective on how to respond to life in this dark world. If we can identify what God calls right, then we won’t be fooled by the world’s errant view.
Also, you will know the same testimony is proven true in the lives of people who walk in a committed relationship with Jesus.
“… having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what the hope of his calling is, and what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints…”
I have selected a few of the verses from the 176 to help you get started. But you will want to read the whole passage for yourself. There is no joy like identifying the Holy Spirit’s voice for yourself as an individual child of God.
Psalm 119:10 With my whole heart, I have sought you. Don’t let me wander from your commandments.
Psalm 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
Psalm 119:18 Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things out of your law.
Psalm 119:32 I run in the path of your commandments, for you have set my heart free.
Psalm 119:37 Turn my eyes away from looking at worthless things. Revive me in your ways.
Psalm 119:60 I will hurry, and not delay, to obey your commandments.
Psalm 119:75 Yahweh, I know that your judgments are righteous, that in faithfulness you have afflicted me
Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light for my path.
Psalm 119:110 The wicked have laid a snare for me, yet I haven’t gone astray from your precepts.
Psalm 119:133 Establish my footsteps in your word. Don’t let any iniquity have dominion over me.
Psalm 119:165 Those who love your law have great peace. Nothing causes them to stumble.
Psalm 119:175 Let my soul live, that I may praise you. Let your ordinances help me.
Use the resources below to help you study this treasure from God’s Book. Never replace your Bible with blogs, Christian literature, sermons or other media. Always, only ever measure these by God’s Word alone.
As with all of God’s Word, ask the Holy Spirit to teach you. He will!
Something extra.
Another thing that I learned is that Psalm 119 is directly tied to God’s law. Not just the Ten Commandments, (Exodus 20) and the new commands given by Jesus, (Matthew 22:36-40) but to the nature of God’s Law. This is God’s holy nature. You can find eight attributes of God that are mentioned in this Psalm.
God is:
Righteous (verses 7, 62, 75, 106, 123, 138, 144, 160, 164, 172)
Trustworthy (verse 42)
Truthful (verses 43, 142, 151, 160)
Faithful (verse 86)
Unchangeable (verse 89)
Eternal (verses 90,152)
Light (verse 105)
Purity (verse 140)
- All scripture provided by World English Bible
Found on Biblegateway.com
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Getting the Seed out of the basket and into hungry hearts. Matthew 13 