30 Days in the Bible, Day 13: Psalm 119:97-104

Many ancient cultures produced what is called by scholars today “wisdom literature.” The Israelites were no exception. The Bible contains several books that are entirely written in that genre, including most of the poetic books of the Old Testament. While Psalms is not entirely a wisdom book, it contains many references to wisdom, and several psalms would be considered pieces of wisdom literature. Wisdom was a prized attribute for a person in ancient cultures.

Our own culture generally values knowledge over wisdom. What is admired is the “expert” who has detailed knowledge about a particular field. Where modern thought falls short is in what the purpose of knowledge is. One can accumulate facts forever, yet never really use them to make a difference in life or society.

Ancient cultures can teach us a lot here, but we must be careful. Wisdom writings from other ancient civilizations stress the importance of wisdom for the individual. The wise person is one who can control himself and who uses what he has gained to make his own life better. Wisdom arises from pondering one’s own experiences and drawing the proper conclusions from them.

Biblical wisdom has a different emphasis. Wisdom comes not from personal life experiences, but from the Word of God. By meditating and studying the Word, you can learn to live a life that is directed by the Lord, and that avoids many experiences that give you a more painful kind of experience. (Ecclesiastes is a wisdom book written by someone who learned the hard way!) Since God is both omniscient (all-knowing) and wise, His revelation can point you in the right path.

Following the Scriptures doesn’t mean you will never have difficult experiences. (See Job.) What it will do is enable you, as you follow the precepts of God, to ensure that you don’t create difficulties for yourself through disobedience. This section of Psalm 119 (the “mem” section, for those keeping track of the alphabet) links the study of the Word with obedience to the Word. Wisdom thus becomes the practical way we put the Word into practice in our lives.

Even when going through trials, we can find wisdom in the Bible to take us through those times. We will have troubles, illness, loss, and struggle, but we can rely on the Word of God to guide us through those times. Let God’s wisdom, revealed by the power of the Holy Spirit through His Word, guide you along the path of your life.

30 Days in the Bible, Day 12: Joshua 1:1-9

The book of Joshua might have the most abruptly discouraging opening of any book in the Bible. Not only does it tell us that Moses is dead, that’s the first thing God says to Joshua in the book. Joshua had been trained and commissioned to replace Moses, so he knew this day would come. Moses had almost certainly informed him that he would not be returning from Mt. Nebo. The Lord told Joshua that Moses had died, since no one ever saw Moses’ body.

Yet even as prepared as he was, the reality of becoming Israel’s leader still might have given Joshua some second thoughts. Three times the Lord tells him to be courageous, and He adds a “do not be afraid” for good measure. Joshua had shown himself to be a man of courage during the journey to Canaan, but the Lord still reminded him to have courage as he took Israel into the land.

Certainly that courage came from knowing that the Lord was with him and with Israel, but God gave Joshua another source of courage and confidence. The Law that the Lord had given to Israel through Moses was intended to guide the nation and its leaders as they went forward in following God. Joshua was to constantly be reading, studying, and living the Word of God as the leader of Israel, and in that Word he would find the Lord speaking to him.

In addition to meditating on the Word, which we looked at yesterday, Joshua was to keep the Book of the Law “on his lips.” Whatever he said to Israel and its leaders, whatever judgments he made, whatever directions and orders he gave to the people, they were to be steeped in God’s Word. Although Joshua would speak with his own voice, he was to reflect what God had already said in his words.

A good preacher or Bible teacher will express God’s Word constantly. They won’t simply reflect the words of the passage they are addressing at the moment, but recall other parts of Scripture that bear on their teaching and its application to life. Not only that, but when they give advice or address an issue, it will be apparent that their words aren’t just founded on their own ideas or even a theological or philosophical system, but on the Bible.

We live in a world that wants to tune out Jesus and His Word. In order to engage with ideas and teachings that oppose the Lord’s will, we must be prepared to use the Word as the solid foundation for what we say. When we rely on the Word, and on the Holy Spirit as He guides us in knowing, understanding, and using the Word, we will have confidence and courage as we face the challenges of our society and culture today.

30 Days in the Bible, Day 11: Psalm 1

What does it mean to meditate on the Word of God? The psalmist uses an intriguing word here for “meditate.” It is a word that is often used to describe the growling of a wild animal such as a lion. This is not the roar of a sudden attack, but the extended sound that might be made to warn off an enemy that is approaching.

The word took on another meaning later, and it is used in the Bible of both the godly and the unrighteous. The idea is the thoughts of the heart, or the plans that are mulled over either to engage in rebellion against God or to consider His truth. Perhaps the meaning came from envisioning people muttering to themselves, or, in the case of meditating on Scripture, people reading it aloud softly to themselves.

The word implies an extended consideration of its object. If we are going to meditate on God’s Word, we can’t just read through it quickly and move on without thinking about it. We also should be moving past what occurs to us immediately to ponder the full depth of what the Bible says in a given passage.

Some passages will require more meditation than others. There are places in Scripture where I don’t believe any human being will ever fully grasp completely. Other passages relate straightforward information that can be understood with a few moments thought. We need to give the Word the full attention and time that it requires to unfold its meaning to us.

You can overthink what the Word says sometimes. I love reading the writings of early Christian authors, but some of them tried so hard to find a “spiritual” meaning for everything that they took stories and made every detail fit into some preconceived idea they thought was needed to make the Bible suitable for a sophisticated Roman audience. In the process, they made the Bible say things it didn’t intend (at least not in that place).

We must be careful that we don’t do the same kind of thing today. When we meditate on the Bible, it can be tempting to make it apply to our own situation in such a way that it looks more like wish-fulfillment than faith in what the Lord says. That’s why meditation requires deep thought, and an understanding of the rest of the Word. As we go “day and night” into the Word, and gain a broader as well as a deeper understanding of what the Spirit says through it, we will be able to apply Scripture to life in a way consistent with God’s intentions.

Reading the Bible in large chunks to gain a grasp of the full revelation of God is a valuable practice, one I engage in myself. It must be balanced, however, with time spent truly thinking about what specific passages teach us. A genuine understanding of the message of the Bible doesn’t happen overnight. It requires time, and a lifetime of study and meditation will continue to find depths of knowledge and wisdom we haven’t seen before. God speaks through His Word; we need to take the time to listen.

30 Days in the Bible, Day 10: Romans 12:1-2

Throughout the history of the church, there has been a debate about the place of the mind in Christian discipleship. Some have argued that we need to get beyond the frailties of human thought and open our minds to spiritual realities that can’t be humanly comprehended. Others argue the opposite, the true discipleship begins with cramming our minds full of facts and theological constructs so we can get a full grasp on divine reality.

Neither of these ideas are correct-or incorrect. What is missing is the balance between them. In today’s passage, we are told that spiritual transformation begins by a “renewing” of our mind. This doesn’t mean finding a new and different way for our minds to function, nor does it mean to simply add more information to what we already know. Paul is calling for us to change both the way we think and the content of our thought.

The Greek word for “renewing” is only used twice in the New Testament, both times by Paul. It is used here and in Titus 3:5, where it is used of the “renewal” of the Holy Spirit that results in salvation. The underlying thought is that if we wish to be renewed, we must be reborn as new creations in Christ. Changing your mind isn’t enough; you need to use your mind in a new way.

That’s why you can’t argue a person into the kingdom of Christ. I am a firm believer in the necessity and value of apologetics, the area of study that defends the truth of our faith. For many people, there are questions they need answered to open them up to a confrontation with the gospel. But the arguments themselves don’t bring people to Jesus without the renewal that only comes through the Holy Spirit. Changing a mind requires a change of heart.

Even after we come in faith to Jesus, we need to continually sacrifice ourselves daily and seek that renewal. I would love to tell you that a Christian mind comes automatically with salvation, but the Bible teaches us that it is a lifelong process. (That’s part of the main theme of these 30 days, by the way.)

One of my favorite prayers from the Book of Common Prayer is the Collect for the Second Sunday in Advent, a prayer for the Word of God to change us. The language is a little old-fashioned, but the point is well made: “Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast, the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.” As we allow the Word to enter us and change us, we will gain hope and peace through the Savior it reveals to us. 

30 Days in the Bible, Day 9: Psalm 119:105-112

If you grew up in a Sunday school or children’s program at a church, you probably memorized Psalm 119:105 at some point. (If you didn’t, you can do it now!) The verse is a tremendous reminder of the fact that the Word of God serves to illuminate for us the correct way we should live. Without it, we could not find our way through the darkness that sin creates in our world.

The remainder of this section of Psalm 119 (the “nun” section*) shows us how that darkness can affect us even when we follow the Lord. These verses speak of the trials we may face in our lives. Verse 107 speaks of suffering, which affects everyone at some time. Many scholars believe that David wrote this psalm, and he certainly experienced suffering in his life, some of which came even though he did what was right in God’s sight. Christians can expect that we will face trials and troubles in our lives as we live in a world corrupted by sin. Yet we can hold up in suffering as we rely on what the Word tells us about our Father and about our Savior.

Verse 109 speaks of danger that even threatens his life. Whether this was a specific danger or just a general statement of the hazards of life, it is a reminder that each day our lives may be at risk. None of us is guaranteed another day. Some Christians today are at risk of being killed, imprisoned, tortured, or exiled for their faith. Even as we face the risks of each day, we must not forget what the Bible teaches us, and allow the Word to draw us to the Lord so He can bring us through.

The danger in verse 110 is different. Here it isn’t the dangers and risks of everyday life, but the challenge of those who oppose God and want to trap us into falling away from Him. By remaining true to the teaching that God has given us in His Word, we can avoid straying from the proper path that it illuminates. The world wants to pull us away from Jesus, and to silence our witness. By remembering the revealed truth given to us through the Word, we can stand in times of trial and temptation.

The Word truly is a light for us, but it isn’t just a light that shines when all is going well. It is a light that takes us through darkness. We certainly live in a dark world today, just as those who lived in David’s time did. That true Word of God, now fully revealing the Savior and Lord who is its central theme, is just as effective for us today as it was for those who first read it. We must continue to allow its light to shine on the paths of our lives so that we might walk in way that please and honors Jesus Christ.

*Psalm 119 is an example of an “acrostic poem,” in which the alphabet is used to give structure to the poem. This psalm is divided into 22 8-verse sections. Each verse of a section begins with the same letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and the sections go through the alphabet in order. In this section, each verse begins with the Hebrew letter “nun.” If you ever wondered why your Bible has Hebrew letters at the head of each section of Psalm 119, here’s your reason.

30 Days in the Bible, Day 8: Psalm 19:7-14

[NOTE: In the “30 Days in the Bible” devotional, the reference for this is given as Psalm 10:7-14. It is actually Psalm 19:7-14. This is a typo on my part, and one I failed to correct before sending the document to be printed. I apologize for the error.]

We think of the Bible as a book, but it might be better to view it as a library. Not only are there 66 individual books in the Bible, written by 40 or more authors, but there is a variety of literary genres represented. There is narrative (stories), poetry, epistles (letters), wisdom (sayings), apocalyptic (strange-seeming writings about the future), and several other types of writing. Most books contain more than one kind of literature; for example, many prophetic books are written in poetic form. When we read Scripture, we are getting a cross-section of the kinds of writings that were written over 1500 years of history.

Despite all the differences in form and style, however, the Bible has one message to convey. Every genre brings out different aspects of that message, and we may find we appreciate some forms more than others. The Bible tells us about God, about His standards, about our condition, and about the way of salvation.

In the Old Testament, the Law was the revelation of God’s holiness and the terrible price that had to be paid for sin. Prior to the coming of Jesus to fulfill His earthly ministry and mission, the Law, with its sacrifices, showed that sin required the shedding of blood for forgiveness. The lambs, goats, and bulls that were sacrificed pointed to the ultimate sacrifice that would be made when Jesus went to the cross and sacrificed Himself for the forgiveness of our sins.

The psalmist here uses several words to describe the Word of God. Many of these words refer to aspects of the Law, including the word for Law (Torah) itself. He writes of statutes, precepts, commands, and decrees. While each of these terms has a slightly different shade of meaning, the idea that comes across is that whatever is written in the Word has an incredible value for us.

Perhaps more striking is the inclusion of “fear” in the list. We think of the “fear of the Lord” as our proper response to the majesty of God, not a fear that trembles afraid but one that recognizes our place in light of His glory. Here, though, the emphasis is probably more on the Word as what demands that reverential fear, the revelation of the Lord that calls us to come before Him with humility and holy respect. That use of the term fits in with the general structure of the poetry here.

Each word is connected to both an attribute and an effect:

1)      The Law is perfect, which refreshes the soul.

2)      The statutes are trustworthy, providing wisdom to those open to it.

3)      The precepts are right, and a source of joy for the heart.

4)      The commands are radiant, enlightening the eyes of our hearts.

5)      The fear is pure, and eternally existing.

6)      The decrees are firm, all of them righteous.

This could be a discussion for many posts, but the point is not to dissect the Word into its various component parts and assign them each a specific value, but to open up a larger, glorious vision of just what the Word is and does. As we continue to read and study the Word, may all of its parts continue to bless us in a variety of ways.

30 Days in the Bible, Day 7: Revelation 22:6-11, 18-19

While there are many who would agree that the Bible is God’s Word, some want to define what that means in their own way. Cults may accept the Bible, but want to add other writings that are on the same level with it. Various denominations may want to add the traditions of the church as an equal authority. Others might want to ignore parts of the Bible because they are “outdated” or “don’t speak to our modern society.” You can find many ways that the Word of God is given proper lip service, but essentially rejected in practice.

There is another way that we can “add to” or “subtract from” the Word of God without going so far in our doctrine, however. If we fail to learn, understand, and apply the whole Bible to our lives, we effectively take away from its authority. By choosing which passages we want to accept and simply ignoring those we don’t, we have placed ourselves above the Word.

One example of this kind of selective acceptance of Scripture is found with many “prosperity gospel” teachers. They emphasize the promises of the Bible regarding health, wealth, and success, while downplaying or even skipping over passages that teach about trials and tribulation. In the end, they have created a new Bible, and taken Biblical teaching out of the Word as surely as Thomas Jefferson’s scissors.

Accepting the full authority of Scripture doesn’t mean that we all will agree on every point. Christians have historically disputed doctrines like predestination and the end times. All sides in these disputes, however, recognize that they have to account for the whole of Biblical teaching. You can’t make a good case for a point of doctrine by choosing a few texts and not addressing the rest. I believe we will continue to debate many points within the church, but that those involved will do so with a proper understanding of what the Bible is and where its authority comes from.

As we read and study the Bible, we need to come to it as God’s authoritative Word. We may find parts of the Bible that are confusing to us at first, and maybe even some teachings that we wish weren’t there. There will be some passages we love to study, while others may be a real challenge to us. We need to accept all the Bible teaches, and understand the focus on Jesus as Lord and Savior, if we want it to unleash its power in our life.

Sometimes we might find that the most challenging passages aren’t the ones hard to understand, but those that we can comprehend but that tell us we need to change our lives. For example, the wonderful good news of Jesus starts with bad news: we’re sinners, separated from God, and we can’t help ourselves. People don’t like to be told they’re both evil and helpless. Without that tough foundation, though, there is no gospel, no story of how Christ came to take our place and how through faith in Him we are made right with God. You may find other teachings just a uncomfortable, but remind yourself whose Word you are reading. Then ask for the power to make the changes the Word commands.

People naturally want to make themselves the ultimate authority for their own lives. The Bible has a name for this; it’s called sin, putting yourself in God’s place. As we humble ourselves to approach God’s revelation, placing ourselves under its authority and seeking to understand its teachings better, we can overcome that desire and find our place in God’s family and kingdom.