In the first half of this stanza of Psalm 119, the psalmist identified two ways that God’s Word makes an impact in his life. The second half identifies two more. See them for yourself in Psalm 119:133-136:
The first two reasons that the psalmist gave for God’s Word being so wonderful and so impacting in his life were mentioned in the first four verses of this stanza. First, God’s Word gives understanding; and second, it displays mercy. All together, in this stanza and in the next, there are seven different reasons.
The latter half of this stanza identifies two more reasons God’s Word is so incredible.
Frankly, none of the seven items on this list should be surprising. Every single one of them is found in various other places in Scripture, and each of them can be seen readily in one’s own experience with God’s Word, if you’re looking carefully at how it can impact your life.
Both of the ones listed in this passage of Psalm 119 seem especially obvious. However, they both bear a closer look.
Third, God’s Word Gives Direction
This seems to be one of the most obvious reasons of them all, but it is absolutely true. God’s Word gives us the insights needed to head in the right direction in our lives, no matter what the circumstances might be. The writer depicts a vivid visual image by asking God to direct his footsteps. He seeks to always be going in the right direction. And then he asks God to prevent any sin from ruling over him.
This is a request that I believe we should be asking God each and every day of our entire lives. Not just that God would direct our paths, but that he would prevent sin from ruling over us. We tend to minimize the impact sin has in our lives, and shrug it off as if it’s not really that big of a deal.
But it is. Sin is a very big deal. And we need to be very proactive in seeking to root it out of our lives. Our desire should be to not allow sin even a foothold in our lives. In Genesis 4:7, God tells Cain that “sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.” Root it out. Avoid it, at all costs. God’s Word can help us to do that.
Fourth, God’s Word Contains God Himself
God is to be found in his Word, and he reveals himself to the one who searches Scripture for him. Many of the people of the Old Testament desired to see God’s face. While God told Moses that no one could see his face and live (Exodus 33:20), through the pages of the Bible, we see God. He is there to be found. Why? Because it’s in the Bible that we can see Jesus, and Jesus told his disciples that “anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9)
In verse 136, the psalmist says that tears flow from his eyes because God’s Word is not obeyed. God can easily be found in the pages of the Bible, but so many either overlook him or ignore him. That broke the writer’s heart.
It should break ours as well.
Question: Do you weep over those who oppose God and his Word? Do you pray that God might reveal himself more fully to them? You can leave a comment by clicking here.