God does much with the Bible and through the Bible.
“Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.” – Psalm 119:1–2
How does God bless us through His Word? God’s Word blesses individuals in five specific ways (as seen in Psalm 119):
God’s Word inspires awe.
We see in Psalm 119:161, “…my heart standeth in awe of thy word.” And in the context of that verse, thy is emphasized. The psalmist is awed by God’s words as opposed to those of a persecuting prince.
This awe leads the psalmist to continually be amazed at God’s Word—he writes in verse 164, “Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments.” And verse 171 reads, “My lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes.” God’s Word inspires awe and causes us to pray and to praise him. It brings us into a relationship with him.
God’s Word causes us to grieve over sin.
Verse 136 says, “Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.”
Studying God’s Word educates our consciences, sharpens our minds, and causes us to see this world and the people in it more as God does.
God’s Word also helps us stay pure.
Verse 9 is well known: “Wherewithal [How] shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word.” We read in verse 11, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Do you have any doubt that God’s Word encourages holiness? Look at verse 101: “I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.”
Remember how the Lord Jesus met temptation in the day of his flesh? He quoted the Bible to Satan. Why would you think that you stand in less need of knowing and using the Bible to help you with temptation than Jesus did? The Word of God is a storehouse of very practical helps for us as Christians.
God’s Word gives hope to the hopeless.
Again and again, the psalmist writes in essence, “I hope in Your Word” (vs. 43, 49, 81, 114, 147). To the afflicted, the Lord gives comfort (vs. 50, 52, 76), and to those undergoing trials, he gives joy. I’m encouraged by verse 111: “Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.” And verse 162: “I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.”
God’s Word gives peace.
“Great peace have they that love thy law: and nothing shall offend them” (vs. 165). To the young who read the Bible, he gives wisdom (vs. 98) and understanding (vs. 99–100). We read in verse 104, “Through thy precepts I get understanding.” This is why it makes sense to equate the Bible to a light: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (v. 105). Also, “The entrance of thy words giveth light” (v. 130).
God promises to delivers us. The psalmist knew what it meant to be in trouble. So if you’re in trouble today, God’s Word promises deliverance (v. 170) and gives help (v. 175), strength (v. 28), protection (v. 165), and even salvation (v. 41). The Lord shows us so much about himself through his Word. What we see in Psalm 119 is just some of what God’s Word does.
Keep a commitment to be in the Word
Why would you not spend your life getting to know the Bible better than you do today?
Next Step: Listen to the Sermon ”I will be in the Word” from Jeremiah 15:16.
This post is adapted from a chapter entitled “How to Know God: Meditate on His Word” by Mark Dever in The Inerrant Word: Biblical, Historical, Theological, and Pastoral Perspectives.
