"No Trivial Pursuit" October 19 Readings: Jeremiah 41-42, Colossians 1:24–2:23, Psalm 119:1–8, Proverbs 25:17–19

By


Today's Readings - Jeremiah 41-42, Colossians 1:24–2:23, Psalm 119:1–8, Proverbs 25:17–19


Devotional 


It is the answer to a commonly asked Bible trivia question: What is the longest chapter of the Bible? If you attended the Sunday Schools or VBSes that I did, you know the answer - Psalm 119. It is 176 verses long. It is very close to the center of the Bible. It is a well-known and wonderful chapter.

But it is much more than the answer to a trivia question!

It is one of the most carefully constructed chapters of scripture. It is an acrostic poem. Have you ever noticed that it is divided up into 22 sections of 8 verses each, and that each of those sections has a strange word at the beginning? Our reading today starts with the word "Aleph." That is the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Each of the 8 verses in this second begins with the letter aleph. The next section will be headed by the word, "Beth," and each of the verses in that section begins with the letter beth. You get the picture, I'm sure. Each of the 22 sections has eight verses each of which begins with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

But there is only one topic. Each of the 22 sections, each of the 176 verses; all of them focus on the same thing - the power and glory of the Word of God. In the days this Psalm was written, the focus was on the Law of God - specifically the Books of Moses, but generally referring to all of the Old Testament writings. The principles here apply to all of scripture, even those that were written a thousand years later.

As you read this chapter for most of the next month, look for what it says about this wonderful and powerful Bible you are reading. It is a light to our feet. When we hide it in our hearts, it helps us not to sin. It is the food that feeds our souls. The longest chapter of the Word is an ode the awesome power of God's word to accomplish God's purposes in God's people.

The first two verses of the psalm set the theme for the entire chapter. While "happy" is a common translation, I prefer the more traditional "blessed." It speaks to our standing under the favor and blessing of God - a result of obedience to God's word.
How happy are those whose way is blameless,
who walk according to the Lord’s instruction!
 Happy are those who keep his decrees
and seek him with all their heart.
God's Word is not just a storybook, a good read meant to entertain us. It is the story of God's plan of redemption and his call to us to repentance, faith and to a life lived under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. The Word of God is meant to be obeyed, and it is those who learn and live by all that is revealed in the Word of God who experience God's blessings.



Father, may your word be my law! Thank you for Jesus who is revealed there and the life that he gives. May I walk in obedience to every word. 

Think and Pray


Do you walk in obedience to God's word?
Do you seek to know God's word and follow its teachings, or do you walk in the wisdom of the world or in your own "truth?"

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Battle Begins" February 9 Readings: Numbers 31-36

By
Image
   Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2024 This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened."  Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.   The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New.  Bible Readings :   Numbers 31-36 Background:    We wrap up our reading of Numbers today with another difficult reading. Chapter 31 tells of a war with Midian and then the journeys of Israel are recounted in detail. The boundaries of the Promised Land are spelled out - far larger than modern Israel. Then we read of the founding of the cities of refuge and the inheritance of Zelophehad's daughters is finally
Read more

"Illusion of Power" September 5 Readings: Matthew 27:1-14, Mark 15:1-5, Luke 22:66-23:12, John 18:28-38

By
Image
  Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2024 This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened."  Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.   The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New.  Bible Readings :   Matthew 27:1-14, Mark 15:1-5, Luke 22:66-23:12, John 18:28-38 Background:    Jesus' trial continues. The authorities at the temple were ready to put him to death, but they lacked the authority to do that, so they had to parade the now bloody Jesus over to the Romans. First, they took him to Pilate, the Roman governor, who tried to pass the buck to Herod. Herod mocked him and then sent him
Read more

"He Prayed for ME!" September 2 Readings: John 17

By
Image
  Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2024 This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened."  Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.   The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New.  Bible Readings :   John 17 Background:    John 17 is truly "The Lord's Prayer." This is the prayer that the Lord prayed the night before he died, pouring out his heart to the Father on behalf not only of his disciples but for all of us who would follow. Daily Devotional:   He Prayed for ME! The night before Jesus died, just before he agonized in the Garden, before he was arrested, and put on trial,
Read more