Review

⁹ _____can a ______person _____
    on the _____of ________?    By ______according to your _______.
¹⁰ I _______you with ____my _______;
    do not let me _______from your _________.
¹¹ I have ________your _______in my _________
    that I might ________against _____.
¹² ________be to you, _________;
________me your ________.
¹³ With my ________I ________
    all the _______that come from your ________

TODAY

¹⁴ I rejoice in following your statutes
    as one rejoices in great riches.
¹⁵ I meditate on your precepts
    and consider your ways.
¹⁶ I delight in your decrees;
    I will not neglect your word.

Study

There are four “I” statements that are expressions of the psalmist’s response to God’s Word:

1. I _________ to obey God’s Word in the same way that many humans respond to great earthly wealth; to me, God’s Word *IS* great wealth!
2. I _________ on the knowledge and understanding God has given
3. I _________ on God in having given them, his character throughout all history and in my life
4. I _________ in God’s Word; much more than mere willing obedience, I actually take great J_Y in the perfection of His truth.

There is one negative response:

1. I will NOT ________ God’s Word.

Q: How do I stack up to these intentional expressions of a right standing with God?

Q: What about my personal habits with God’s Word? What does it mean to neglect something?

Q: If I am reading God’s Word, can I still be neglecting it in some way? How so? (Hint: The answer is YES.)

Here’s a truism:

If I’m not reading God’s Word, I’m not rejoicing in it.

If I’m not rejoicing in God’s Word, I’m not obeying it.

If I’m not obeying God’s Word, then I’m going to stop reading it.

If I stop reading God’s Word, I’m not going to rejoice in God. . . .

Q: But what if I read God’s Word and I can’t understand it?

A. First, call out to God in prayer and ASK God to give you understanding. He has promised to be there for you, if you are earnestly wanting to know and understand Him (Psalm 119:144; 1 Corinthians 2:12). Get up and go on your day and wait on Him to provide the understanding.

Secondly, seek understanding through a Biblically-faithful pastor, a mature Christian friend who faithfully attends corporate worship (church), www.goingfarther.net, a Christian counselor, or Christian literature (www.christianbooks.com) (2 Timothy 2:7).

Q. But what if I read it and understand it, and I do not feel any emotion of joy?

A. There are many reasons why we may not “feel” happy dappy. Perhaps we are under conviction: God has opened our eyes to something amiss in our hearts or in some action or word we have spoken, and we are not feeling too happy about confessing and making it right. Perhaps we are sick or depressed and need a physician to help us. There are other reasons why the emotions don’t come at the time of the reading. That’s okay!

Here is where faith comes in. Follow through on the reading, and praying to God for understanding, with the willingness and behavior of obeying what you read. The joy will come. The reason for our joy is that God is proven true in His Word as we see those truths enacted. If we don’t obey, we’re not giving God the chance to show Himself to us and to show Himself faithful. Read the book of Daniel, the story of a model prayer “warrior” in times of great need.

The bottom line is this: Emotions are not the point; God’s Sovereignty over our lives and His love poured out for us give Him the authority to command our obedience. Our obedience (first) to read, pray, and follow through in our daily life will bring us the appropriate emotions in due time.

Think of it this way: For now, the pattern is there like the sunflower sketch on the banner of this webpage. It is only when I put color to the pattern (my acting upon the pattern) that I will really joy in that artwork. I will see the pattern of the yellows and goldens of the flower against the backdrop of the greens in the leaves and my eye and heart will be pleased.

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever.” — Psalm 111:10

Memorize

⁹ _____can a ______person _____
    on the _____of ________?

    By ______according to your _______.
¹⁰ I _______you with ____my _______;
    do not let me _______from your _________.
¹¹ I have ________your _______in my _________
    that I might ________against _____.
¹² ________be to you, _________;
    ________me your ________.
¹³ With my ________I ________
    all the _______that come from your ________
¹⁴ I _________in ________your _________
    as one _________in great ________.
¹⁵ I _________ on your ____________
    and __________your ________.
¹⁶ I _______in your __________;
    I will ___________your ________.