God’s Words are the Joy of My Heart!

Today my message is entitled “God’s Words are the Joy of My Heart!”

We will look at one section of Psalm 119 to see the Psalmist’s thoughts on God’s Word. The theme I found is “God’s Word always stands true no matter what happens in life. Therefore, our hearts are filled with joy even when life seems to hard.”

To start this look, we need to understand a few things about this Psalm. This is the longest chapter in the Bible. It is a didactic poem which Webster’s New World Dictionary states: “is intended for instruction; morally instructive.”

The Wycliffe Bible Commentary tells us that “The main purpose is to glorify the “Tora – God’s law or teaching.”… The Psalmist uses ten terms (Synonyms) for the law in this chapter: law, testimonies, precepts, judgements, commandments, statutes, sayings, word, way and path….

The Lion Encyclopedia of the Bible gives us this explanation of the Law.
“The Old Testament law, the ‘Torah’ or instruction, was the rule of life given by God (in the first five books of the Bible) to help His people know how to live. It included the ‘Ten Commandments’, the heart of the moral law. It also included social and religious laws, down to detailed matters of hygiene and daily behavior.”
Now let us read this passage and then look at what it tells us about living our lives today.

Psalm 119: 105-112 NIV
Nun
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.

106 I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws.

107 I have suffered much; preserve my life, O Lord, according to your word.

108 Accept, O Lord, the willing praise of my mouth, and teach me your laws.

109 Though I constantly take my life in my hands, I will not forget your law.

110 The wicked have set a snare for me, but I have not strayed from your precepts.

111 Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart.

112 My heart is set on keeping your decrees to the very end.

The Bible Reader’s Companion Book explains verse 105 so nicely. “The flickering light cast by the olive oil lamp of Bible times was only bright enough to show a traveler his next step. Scripture is such a lamp. It gives us just enough light to see where to place our feet so that we can walk safely into our future. The believer does not need a searchlight that casts light on coming weeks and years. All that is in God’s hand. We need only enough light to make sure that the next step we take is just and right.”

The Experiencing God Study Bible gives this thought to verses 111-112:
“God’s Word should be a mark of your life remembered by those you leave behind.”

The Wycliffe Bible Commentary sums this passage up like this: “The Light of Life. His pilgrimage through life is under the guidance of God’s teachings. He thus vows to follow the light wherever it may lead and whatever dangers may be involved.”

Eerdmans Handbook to the Bible sums this passage this way: “In the Psalm we see how eagerly and persistently the Psalmist applies himself to the task of understanding the law. He learns by heart. He longs for more. Nothing is allowed to deflect him from it. God’s Word rules his life and conduct, gives him hope and peace, leads him into life. His confidence in it is unbounded, and to see it broken genuinely distresses him. We possess far more of God’s Word than the psalmist did. But his love and regard for it often puts us to shame.”

Billy Graham, in his book “Til Armaeddon”, said: “Like Joseph storing up grain during the years of plenty to be used during the years of famine that lay ahead, may we store up the truths of God’s Word in our hearts as much as possible, so that we are prepared for whatever suffering we are called to endure.

Charles Spurgeon is quoted in Nelson’s Book of Stories: “Nobody ever outgrows Scripture: the Book widens and deepens with our years.

Denys Blackmore, President of Every Home for Christ, stated in the July/August 2019 issue of “Harvest Partner”, “We now live in New Testament times with the new covenant in Jesus Christ. The written Word of God we are blessed to have contains all that pertains to life and godliness for now and eternity. God’s Word is our life, our light, our hope, our solid ground.”

My opening theme was “God’s Word always stands true no matter what happens in life. Therefore, our hearts are filled with joy even when life seems to hard.”

Can we follow the example of the Psalmist in this passage and truly rely on God to lead us as we walk through the days we have here on earth?
I believe we can and should try hard, like the psalmist, to do what it takes to live God’s way, following God’s plan for us.

We are to do this with Joy! Not always happy but always proclaiming joy in the Lord. Have a great week!

*I told stories of me: cave climbing and lights out total dark.