1. Because it draws me to Meditate On It.
Psalm 119:78-92
[78] Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts.
Never in the history of me, have I seen such an arrogant society. Being raised with humility as a factor of who my family is. (We are by nature a humble people) I don’t understand arrogance. I understand confidence, and wish I had more of it in my own personal life, but there’s a big difference between being confident and arrogant. Confidence comes from a place of wisdom. Knowledge or talent sought, prepared and then shared. Arrogance comes from a place of defense. People will defend what they believe without even knowing why they believe it. They’ll criticize anyone who doesn’t agree as being ignorant. So, because I study the word of God, which has never been disproved, I’m ignorant. But they take the word of man, and they’re intelligent. Makes perfect sense, right?
Just because you don’t agree with me will never cause me to say someone is stupid. I’ve been wrong plenty of times. But I’m not wrong about the Bible and I’ll you why I can confidently say that. Because i haven’t only read it once. But multiple times and every time it is filled with wisdom of the day. It’s a living book, relevant to the world around me now even though it was being to be authored 3400 years ago. It’s still on the best seller list, even though it’s the same book, myself and other buy multiple copies. Something, or should I say Someone draws us to it. We want a relationship with Him.
Him Who is God. The very One that the arrogant world is so proud to be against. The very One who is the Savior of the earth.
So I wanted to share a little as to why someone like me, is lacks confidence on so many levels, can be confident in the Word of God and why I know it’s true. Every word, jot and tittle from cover to cover is indisputable. Not up for debate with me. Do I understand all 1444 pages of text in my bible… not even close. And that’s why I keep buying it and reading it because God has more to teach me. And you!
So let’s continue on in this little portion of Psalm 119 that started me on this path. I’m confident in the word of God because
2. It Draws me into leadership
[79] Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies.
I was not a born leader. I was a born follower. Most usually, right into trouble. But something happened when I discovered the Word of God. I grew a backbone where there was once no spine. People began to care what I thought, and I could offer sound advice because I had the rule book, the precepts of successful living. I certainly didn’t have it mastered (and still don’t) in my own life. But I know the answer to the questions people have because I can search them out in the word of God. And it’s right. And if they (and I) follow God’s advice, we’ll be successful. If we follow the flesh (meaning advice from the heart of man) we’re gonna be in trouble. I have plenty of experience on that end too. Often times those “testimonies” are stories of survival in spite of not taking God’s advice. And from that we can learn.
3. The Word of God Draws me to Study
[80] Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed.
That’s what Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:15 when he said “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
I have no claim to fame on bible wisdom. And I’ve had to tell people on more than one occasion “I don’t know the answer to your question.” But that’s followed by… “but I can find it.” Being sound in doctrine isn’t knowing it all from the top of your head. It’s knowing that the answers are in that book if I look.
That doesn’t deter Satan from causing me grief, or me from falling into days of doubt. I’m human.
David says in Psalm 119:8185
[81] My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word. [82] Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me? [83] For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes. [84] How many are the days of thy servant? when wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me? [85] The proud have digged pits for me, which are not after thy law.
In other words, there are days that we feel like we’re not going to survive. But our hope is in Jesus. So we will.
4. The Word of God Draws me when I Struggle
[86] All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me. [87] They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts. [88] Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.
The thing about hearing something over and over and over again, is it eventually begins to get your attention. So the world doesn’t have to have any evidence of their point. They just have to keep repeating their story long enough and suddenly people begin to believe it because they don’t go back to the word of God and check it out.
When Satan questioned Eve in the garden and said “did God say…” Eve didn’t go back and ask God. She just took Satan’s word for it. Satan has no new strategies. And why should he, his are still working. The world had even “almost swayed David. But he says that he “forsook not they precepts.” He just kept trusting the word of God.
So let’s put that theory into perspective. How many books has the naysayers sold. And how many books has God sold. The problems not in the book, the problem is that people aren’t reading the book.
David says “quicken” me Lord (make me) after thy loving kindness. Don’t let me be like them Lord. Make me like you!!!!
What a great word!
One of my greatest fears is that I’ll full of myself and lose connection with people. It’s not likely to happen, because I have humbling experiences almost ever day. But people who love me are always the encouragers and telling me that I’m doing a good job because they know I struggle with feeling like I’m doing a terrible job.
Fifth and Final
5. The Word of God Draws all Men
John 12:32
And I, if I be lifted up. From the earth, will draw all men unto me.
The Words of Christ. And He was lifted up, on the cross, and whether or not people admit it, they’re drawn to the cross. Many not only reject it, but deny it and fight it. If it didn’t mean anything, why do they care?
[89] For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven. [90] Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth. [91] They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants. [92] Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.
David said it, and I’ll sum my short thought up like this. There’s a reason the world hasn’t been able to destroy on squelch the sale of bibles. Because it’s publisher is out of this realm and untouchable. Glory to God!!!
There are books out there from days gone by that have sold millions and millions of copies. But none as many copies as they bible. Because it’s alive. And it is filled with nothing but truth.
