Gimel [Psalm 119:17-32]
There are many self-help books in the world that can give you some information in our present day about how to do many things. But there’s only one Book that can actually do something to you—and for you—just by your reading it. I’m talking about things like “how to cleanse your way,” and “how to not sin against the Lord.” And it’s this Book that will continue to be the source of our study over the next several weeks.
This is a wisdom psalm, which means that it has the capability to make one wise. In fact, because this is the one Book that has proven itself true and has provided for us all things pertaining to life and godliness, it’s pretty much a given that if we study with our whole heart and mind, we stand to gain a lot of wisdom!
For example, here are some marching orders from the apostle Paul: “I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:1-5).
Our world and nation are in a terrible mess, and there’s only one Book that can turn things around. It’s the one Book that tells of God’s only Messiah and the means of our salvation, Jesus Christ, the Son of the true and living God. There are many people out there who absolutely despise God’s Word. They attack it, disparage it, and even deny it. But none of them can stop the Word today. In the book of Acts we read, “So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed” (Acts 19:20). If this was true in idolatrous Ephesus, it can be true for idolatrous America. The Bible is the one Book that contains the one hope for our country and our world. Psalm 119 will continue to remind us of the wonderful life-changing truths in the Book that is truly the Word of the Almighty God himself.
You’ve got your marching orders. Are you going to be ready in season and out of season, to convince, rebuke, and exhort others, no matter how you are received? Remember that the results aren’t your responsibility. Our job is simply to get the Word out about the blessings and freedom contained in the one Book that has all the answers we need to live our lives in a way that blesses the Lord. Let’s go!
Excerpt from “Beside Still Waters” now available on Amazon.
