Lord’s Day, Vol. 2 No. 33

(1) Blessedness of Embracing God’s Word in Daily Living

Psalm 119 tells us the key to victorious living is an applied knowledge of God’s Word in our lives. Indeed, life is full of troubles, tears and sorrows. This is a fallen world that we live in. Yet there is peace, hope and joy in the Lord.

Psalm 119 is an acrostic psalm with each of the 22 sections of 8 verses beginning with succeeding letters of the Hebrew alphabet. This is done to facilitate learning – it is an aid for those who take up the challenge to memorize all of the 176 verses.

The preface of the psalm in verses 1-8 introduces the theme – blessedness of embracing God’s Word in the believer’s daily life. It was a constant prayer in the psalmist’s heart – “5 O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes.” There was a purposeful resolve to walk with God which led to a conscience without rebuke, “6 Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.”

God’s Word cleanses, counsels, strengthens and establishes His people.

We are reminded in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 “16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

The psalmist testified of the cleansing power of God’s Word in verses 9-16, the counseling power of God’s Word in verses 17-24, the strengthening power of God’s Word in verses 25-32 and the establishing power of God’s Word in verses 33-40.

(a) Cleansing Power of God’s Word (v9-16)

The Word of God cleanses the soul. When we hide God’s Word in our heart, it has a sanctifying effect.

John 17:17, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”

Psalm 119:11 “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”

One way of hiding God’s Word in our hearts is through our quiet time – “with my whole heart have I sought Thee.” The believer’s quiet time is a private devotion time, set aside to commune with God.

The elements of private devotion are prayer, reading and meditating God’s Word to seek out God’s message for us for the day. We must however guard our quiet time that it does not become a mechanical, thoughtless routine.

May we rejoice, meditate and delight in God’s Word so as to experience its cleansing power.

(b) Counseling Power of God’s Word (v17-24)

The counseling power of God’s Word in the believer’s life comes when God opens our spiritual eyes to behold the wonders of His truth (v18). It comes from the illumination of the Holy Spirit.

God’s Word helps us to discern between good and evil, and inclines our hearts to hate sins. It gives us strength to stand firm against persecutions (v23), doing the will of God.

(c) Strengthening Power of God’s Word (v25-32)

In times of affliction, God’s Word gives us strength to carry on (v25). The psalmist wrote about the “heaviness” of his soul (v28). Burdens that caused the soul to descend into despair.

However, God’s Word is able to strengthen the downcast soul. Therefore, the psalmist chose to hold on to God’s Word – “I have stuck unto thy testimonies.” (v31) The testimonies of God are His commandments. Once our heart is ‘enlarged’, we would not just walk, but run the way of God’s commandments (v32).

(d) Establishing power of God’s Word (v33-40)

Hence, the psalmist’s prayer was that God would teach him His ways and let him have understanding so that he would choose to walk the godly way as opposed to the vain and covetous way.

The believer shall be established because his fear is in the Lord. There is that tarrying with God in prayer that gives him the victory in overcoming and refraining from every crooked way.

May we take time to meditate upon these verses that we may be encouraged as we go through our daily challenges.

(2) Family Day

Family Day is scheduled on 13 September 2014, Saturday. We shall meet at West Coast Park (The Lawn) for kite flying from 4pm – 6pm and then adjourn to the Republic of Singapore Yacht Club (RSYC) for dinner. This would be followed by a time of devotional study of God’s Word from 8pm – 9.30pm in the RSYC function room. Please pray for good weather on that day and plan to attend BHBPC’s first Family Day. All are welcome.

Yours lovingly in Christ,
Pr. Lek Aik Wee