Tag: God’s law

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Meme Meditation.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Oh, how I love your instructions! I think about them all day long. Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are my constant guide. Yes, I have more insight than my teachers, for I am always thinking of your laws. I am even wiser than my elders, for I have kept your commandments. Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭97‬-‭100‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Psalm 119 is structured as an alphabetic acrostic, with 176 verses divided into 22 stanzas of eight verses each. Each stanza begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and each verse in a stanza begins with the same letter. For example, the first stanza is named “A” and each of its eight verses begins with the letter “A”.

Today’s devo is brought to us by the letter “M.” Mem is the thirteenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Numerical value: 40. Sound: “M” Meaning: 1. Water. Chabad.org explains, “The word mem stands for mayim, which means water. Water constitutes a vital element in our lives: a human being is largely composed of water and the majority of the earth is covered with it. Torah, the most vital element in our spiritual lives, is referred to as water, as it states: “Ein mayim ela Torah13—There is no water but Torah.” As the Prophet tells us, “He who is thirsty shall go and drink water,” meaning that a Jew’s thirst for spiri­tuality will never be sated by looking to other cultures or religions. The only thing that will quench one’s thirst is water, which is Torah. Just as a fish cannot survive without water, a Jew cannot survive without Torah.”

It is believed that Ezra wrote Psalm 119 as a manual for devotion. The “מ Mem” stanza is a beautiful meditation about God’s law, His instructions for life, guidance and wisdom. The most memorized verse in this passage is vs 103, “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” Echoing the words of David in Psalm 19:10, “[God’s Law] They are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb.” Which also reminds me of Psalm 34:8, “Taste and see that the LORD is good.”

The psalmists do a wonderful job of giving us picturesque language to help us associate God’s goodness with things that we are very familiar with. God’s wisdom, like “Mem,” water, is pure and refreshing. It is like eating of tasty wisdom that sets up for success above our enemies and helps us excel in understanding even beyond our teacher and elders. Not in a competitive or arrogant manner, but in humble curiosity of an unquenchable appetite to know God! And, it is GOOD!

Prayer

​Dad,
I have tasted and I have seen the goodness of your Word. It has been that delicious treat for the cravings of my soul. It has been a light in darkness, illuminating my path ahead. It is everything the Psalmists have declared it to be. Thank you for your living Word that eternally works within me! I am a satisfied customer of your grace and mercy! Amen.

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THE Psalm of Psalms.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

”Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.“ ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Most likely written by David and placed here as the “preface,” the anchor of the Psalms. This Psalm, especially this verse, is one of the most memorized psalms written. The normal three ways of getting and gathering wisdom among others is while walking, standing or sitting around. Psalms emphatically teaches that this should NOT done in the company of the wicked, sinners nor scoffers! The worst way to gain wisdom is following the advice of friends who do know God, but openly mock Him. However, as Deuteronomy also writes, there is another way to gain wisdom! It says, “as you love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and strength,” Talk about them with your children as you sit, walk, lie down and get up! Psalms declares how to GET wisdom and Deuteronomy explains how to give it away.

Happy is the one who takes delight in God’s law, His ways. And learns to meditate on God’s law day and night. The comparison of company we keep to gain the wisdom necessary to live life well does not come from those who gawk, mock and scoff God’s truth! It comes from humbly and consistently soliloquizing, speaking, musing and muttering God’s law. If you’ve been to Israel and watched orthodox Jews, especially at the wailing wall, you’ll see and hear them still do this today. Quietly, just under their breath they are reciting the Law, praying the Psalms and speaking the Words of God. They are still practicing this ancient Psalm! We think of meditating as quiet, reflection, but the Hebrew mindset is of speaking God’s word. Not mumbling nonsensical sounds, but the eternal, powerful truth of God’s Law. Happy – blessed is the one who desires and takes pleasure in doing this.

Do you want to learn wisdom? Then learn God’s Word – memorize it, meditate on it. Post it on your bathroom mirror, your refrigerator. Do you want to teach it to others? Give it out while you sit, walk, lie down and get up!

Prayer

​Dad,
Your Word is not only a light to my path and my feet, it is life and wisdom for my soul and health in my body. Your Word brings comfort, guidance, clarity, truth and strength to my life. I am forever grateful for Your Word and so thankful that it has been recorded and passed down for us today. Your Word will never fail. It will accomplish everything that You have determined it to do!

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Cravings for shallowness.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

“Wickedness never brings stability, but the godly have deep roots.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭12‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This Proverb is definitely a puzzle to be solved, a riddle that requires thought and comparison to other Biblical truths and principles. The wisdom writer seems to be focusing on one particular object lesson in this saying – the tree. With the words “deep roots,” we get a picture of the gigantic oak, or better, the olive tree, that is strong and sturdy because it sits beside a deep and abiding stream of water. Like a tree planted by the stream, the Psalmist declared.

Contrarily, like a sapling that is never satisfied, the wicked go wandering looking for something better. It craves for the results of depth and permanence, but grows impatient or bored with its surroundings. The wicked want more, or different, or something they just can’t get a hold of. And in desperation, that longing, they move away from the place of permanence, to seek satisfaction. One commentator wrote, “Though men may advance themselves by sinful arts, they cannot settle and secure themselves. But those who by faith are rooted in Christ, are firmly fixed. Another, “Man is metaphorically compared to a tree, especially the olive. Wickedness gives him no firm hold for growth or life.” The shallow search yields constant movement, the thrill of change, but no chance for good fruit to be borne.

If our life is compared to a shallow sapling tree, the end result is not just death or emptiness, but also no legacy. This would drive humans to despair. Not just to look back and find emptiness, a life wasted on the search for meaning or just “more.” But also realizing there was nothing notable of your life to be remembered by.

Proverbs gives these warnings to the young, so they might think about the seriousness of such matters BEFORE they hop around and never find nor live the deep life. If you have moved so often, physically or relationally or emotionally, take wisdom’s advise. Find a stream (a community), find a solid spot by the living water (relationship with Jesus), stay put and establish deep friendships that nourish and restore. Then you will be a Psalms 1:3 person. “They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.”

Prayer

Dad,
Psalm 19 comes to mind when I think about your ways, your instructions, “The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.” I remember the song based on these verses. That your laws are to be be desired MORE than gold, even the purest of gold. And, they are sweeter than honey straight from the honeycomb. I know that I know, that I know, your word is life – the fulfillment of everything I have ever wanted. You, and your word, is enough, I need not search further.