Category Archives: Studying the Bible

Skimming through Psalm 119, we find many different kinds of responses to God’s Word that make sense only if we grasp these truths:

• God’s Power Works Through His Word
• God is True to His Word
• God’s Word Benefits Us Today

Respond to God’s Word with Our Whole Being

The psalmist understood the importance and power of Scripture. He therefore responded with the whole of his being as seen in the following references.

MIND:

look upon (Ps. 119:6)
meditate on (Ps. 119:15, 23, 27, 48, 78, 97, 99, 148)
regard (Ps. 119:15, 117)
remember / not forget (Ps. 119:16, 52, 61, 83, 93, 109, 141, 153, 176)
behold (Ps. 119:18)
place before me (Ps. 119:30)
learn (Ps. 119:7, 71, 73)
know (Ps. 119:79, 125, 152)
consider (Ps. 119:95)

HEART:

treasure (Ps. 119:11)
rejoice in/at (Ps. 119:14,162)
delight in (Ps. 119:16, 24, 35, 47, 70, 77, 92, 143, 174)
cling to (Ps. 119:31)
trust in (Ps. 119:42)
wait for (Ps. 119:43, 74, 81, 114, 147)
seek (Ps. 119:45)
love (Ps. 119:47-48, 97, 113, 119, 127, 140, 159, 163, 165, 167)
lift up my hands to … shows that we honor or exalt it (Ps. 119:48)
hope (Ps. 119:49)
believe in (Ps. 119:66)
incline to (Ps. 119:36, 112)
fear (Ps. 119:120)
esteem right (Ps. 119:128)
stand in awe of (Ps. 119:161
praise (Ps. 119:164, 171, 175)

WILL:

run the way of (Ps. 119:32)
not turn aside from (Ps. 119:51, 102, 157)
turn my feet to (Ps. 119:59)
not forsake (Ps. 119:87)
not go astray from (Ps. 119:110)
choose (Ps. 119:30, 173)

MOUTH:

tell of (Ps. 119:13)
give thanks (Ps. 119:7, 62)
praise (Ps. 119:164, 171, 175)
sing of (Ps. 119:172)

ACTION:

walk in (Ps. 119:1, 35)
observe (Ps. 119:2, 22, 33, 34, 56, 69, 100, 115, 129, 145)
keep (Ps. 119:4-5, 8, 17, 34, 44, 55, 57, 60, 63, 67, 88, 101, 106, 134, 146, 167-168)
incline heart to perform (Ps. 119:36)
do (Ps. 119:166)

When we truly grasp the significance of God’s Word, we respond both internally and externally.

Observations about Responding to God’s Word based on Psalm 119

Look above under the list of how the psalmist responded in ways associated with his mind. He referenced meditating on and remembering (not forgetting) the most. — If we don’t keep the Word ever before us, we will find it too easy to forget its benefits and lose out on its power in our lives.

Under the list of heart responses, delighting in and loving it occur many more times. — If we don’t delight in or love His Word, we will undoubtedly fail to respond in the other ways, like trusting and obeying it.

Notice the large number of occurrences under the action list of observing and keeping. Both of those words signify watching over or guarding much like they would have kept watch over a vineyard or flock. — If we don’t consistently trust God to use His Word, we will likely let down our guard and not reap the benefits of His Word.

Read through Scripture and you’ll find a faithful God who is capable of keeping His Word. God always was and always will be true to His Word for “the Word of our God endures forever” (Isa. 40:8).

How God is Faithful to His Word

God responds in accordance with His Word as He accomplishes His purposes. The Psalmist therefore prayed …

Remember the word to Your servant, in which You have made me hope. (Ps. 119:49)

My soul weeps because of grief; Strengthen me according to Your word. (Ps. 119:28)

Let my supplication come before You; Deliver me according to Your word. (Ps. 119:170)

God makes it possible for us to understand and live by His Word. The Psalmist therefore prayed …

Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Your law. (Ps. 119:18)

Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes, and I shall observe it to the end. (Ps. 119:33)

Give me understanding, that I may observe Your law and keep it with all my heart. (Ps. 119:34)

Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, for I delight in it. (Ps. 119:35)

Incline my heart to Your testimonies … (Ps. 119:36)

Establish Your word to Your servant, as that which produces reverence for You. (Ps. 119:38)

Establish my footsteps in Your word, and do not let any iniquity have dominion over me. (Ps. 119:133)

Uphold me that I may be safe, that I may have regard for Your statutes continually. (Ps. 119:117)

Since God is True to His Word, What Does That Mean for Us?

Reflect on these implications:

Take God at His Word and pray accordingly. If God establishes a certain way, He will work through it. -— Let’s not disregard God’s ways and purposes just because we can’t see how it will work in our situation.

Interpret circumstances through His Word. God’s provision for us will line up with what He’s already set forth in His Word. — Let’s not expect Him to do something for us that isn’t “according to” His Word.

Trust God to help you, and those you serve, follow His Word. He’s the One who must enlighten us to understand. — Let’s not interpret Scripture based on our own understanding and preferences.

We follow the Word because “all Scripture is God-breathed” (2 Tim. 3:16). The Author is always dependable and always true so we can count on His Word to be the same.

• Learn more about our faithful and true God with this resources: Our God from A to Z Discipleship Tool
• Find even more resources about the God behind the Written Word at: Theology Resources

Some may question the relevance of a Book written long ago for us today. The Bible claims to be a useful tool to not only show us the way for eternal salvation but also to equip us to navigate life (2 Tim. 3:15-17). Read through Psalm 119 to see some specific ways Scripture benefits us as a source of power for our good. God’s Word provides so much of what we need for our everyday living and ministry.

How the Word Benefits Us According to Psalm 119

Here’s a list of what Scripture does for us from Psalm 119:

keeps our ways pure (Ps. 119:9)
prevents us from sinning (Ps. 119:11)
counsels us (Ps. 119:24)
enlarges our heart (Ps. 119:32)
produces reverence for God (Ps. 119:38)
revives us (Ps. 119:50)
provides comfort (Ps. 119:50, 52, 76)
helps us stand in affliction (Ps. 119:92)
makes us wise (Ps. 119:98)
gives us insight and understanding (Ps. 119:99, 100, 104)
lights our way (Ps. 119:105, 130)
sustains us (Ps. 119:116)
provides great peace (Ps. 119:165)
keeps us from stumbling (Ps. 119:165)
helps us (Ps. 119:175)

Who doesn’t need the above benefits today? The Word provides just what we need, when we need it. Even the same familiar passage can minister to us in different ways at different times. Why? — Because God, who is faithful and true, powerfully works through His Word.

Responding to the Relevant Power of God’s Word

When we understand all God’s Word does for us, we will exclaim, with the psalmist:

Your testimonies also are my delight; They are my counselors. (Ps. 119:24)

How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth! (Ps. 119:103)

I have inherited Your testimonies forever, For they are the joy of my heart. (Ps. 119:111)

Need Help on Where to Begin? Go To: New to Bible Bible Reading Discipleship Tool

Want Other Resources to Help Study the Word? Go To: Resources for Bible Study

God wants us to know His Truth so truth is important. He makes it known through a variety of means but not all ways are as reliable as some. All sources must line up with God’s written Word to be considered His Truth. Even Scripture must agree with itself. Otherwise, it is merely our understanding or interpretation.

Reliable Sources of Truth

• Scripture which is inspired by God and used by Him to sanctify and equip us (Jn. 17:17; 2 Tim. 3:16-17)

We need to use the Bible as the grid through which we evaluate everything else.

• Jesus who is the way, the truth, and the life who leads us to God the Father (Jn. 14:6)

We need to look at Jesus through the eyes of Scripture. We cannot make up our own version of Jesus, picking and choosing what traits we wish to believe.

• The Spirit of truth who testifies of Christ and guides us into all truth (Jn. 15:26; Jn. 16:13; 1 Jn. 5:6)

We need to remember that the Spirit will never contradict God’s Word. We are not the ones to determine how the Spirit operates.

Unreliable Sources

• Nature

Creation is enough to get us on the path toward God (Rom. 1:18-23) but not sufficient to “thoroughly equip us” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). We need to worship God because of what we can learn about Him through nature but never let any created thing become a substitute for Him and His Word.

• Pastors, Teachers, and Others

If even the prophets of the Bible needed to be tested (Deut. 18:22; 1 Thess. 5:20-21; 1 Jn. 4:1), so the teaching of those today who speak of God needs to be examined. Like the Bereans, we need to examine the Scriptures to see if what is said lines up with it (Acts 17:11).

• Our Interpretation

We need to get to God’s intent when studying Scripture, not what we want it to say. Even those who wrote down the words of Scripture did not write what they wanted to say but were guided by the Holy Spirit (2 Pet. 1:20-21).

The logical conclusion to all of this is that we need to read and study God’s Word so we are familiar with what is Truth. How else will we discern the veracity of other sources?

If you or those in your sphere of ministry need help getting started, check out this resource: New to Bible Reading Discipleship Tool