Questions for Littles: What does the psalmist love (v97a)? How often does he think about it (97b)? What do God’s commandments do for the psalmist (98a)? When does the psalmist have access to them (98b)? More than whom does he have understanding (99a)? How did this come about (99b)? More than whom does he understand (100a)? How did this come about (100b)? What has he been restraining (101a)? In order to be doing what (101b)? From what has he not departed (102a)? Who has kept him from departing (102b)? What is his experience in repeating and mulling over God’s words to himself all the time like this (103)? What does the psalmist get from God’s precepts (104a)? What does this lead him to do (104b)? How does God’s word function in directing what he does and where he goes (105)? What is one kind of worship that the psalmist has exercised in response to God’s Word in worship (106)? What does the psalmist experience in life (107a)? By what means does he hope that Yahweh will heal and strengthen and energize him (107b)?This week’s Call to Worship, Prayer for Help, and Confession of Sin came from Psalm 119:97-107.
Here is a picture of the believer’s life. If we had time to study the rest of the Psalm, we would find that this is not only a picture of Jesus Christ’s heart toward God as our own righteousness, but that there are many confessions of sin and cryings out for forgiveness—things that Jesus could only sing and pray as He considered His union with us (since He had no sin of His own to confess or be forgiven—just as we have no righteousness of our own to claim or plead).
We don’t see it often anymore—thankfully, as it was harmful and disgusting—but one used to frequently see men with a big bulge of something in their mouths that they were continually chewing on, chewing on, chewing on… sucking every bit of ‘goodness’ out of. Even little boys loved to do it—not tobacco but “big league chew” bubble gum.
That’s the picture in v103 of what it’s like for the believer to meditate upon (mumble to oneself, mull over, continually work through) God’s Word. It’s like sucking on honey. If we are going to have real, life-changing wisdom, then continual mulling over God’s Word is what’s needed far more than information (v99) or time (v100). And of course, mulling over words that demand action ought always to lead to putting it into action—even if it requires physically restraining our feet.
What is your practice for getting into God’s Word every day? What use do you make of it the rest of the day? How about weekly in corporate worship?Suggested songs: ARP119M “O How I Love Your Law!” or TPH175 “Your Law, O God, Is Our Delight”
No comments:
Post a Comment