Psalm 119 Sermon – The Transforming Power of God’s Word

Intro

What is the Bible? Try to answer in one sentence.

It is God’s Word. The Bible is at the center of Christian life. If your pastor would be to go on stage and preach a sermon from a Lord of the Rings book, hopefully, you would escort him off stage.

Every Sunday, the preacher says, “Open your Bible to…” It is in the Bible that God reveals Himself to us. I recently came across this verse in a Bible study.

Deuteronomy 27:8 – You shall write on the stones all the words of this law very plainly.

God reveals Himself, His plan, His works, and His law to us very plainly. It is not a code. It is not a deep secret that only the most erudite scholar can unlock. It is written in plain language so that normal people like you and me can read and benefit from it. It is a personal letter from God to us.

If your country’s president or your favorite athlete wrote you a personal letter, you would certainly read it. Probably, you would treasure it.

Sadly, many Christians do not treasure the Bible. A study of churchgoers in the West found that only 45% of churchgoers read the Bible once a week or more. About 1 in 5 never read their Bibles. Only about 20% read it every day.

I believe if believers just knew how powerful and life-transforming God’s Word is, they would make the time to read it. Today, we are going to look at the Mt. Everest of all passages on God’s Word, Psalm 119. The person who wrote it treasured it. His love for Scripture permeated every aspect of his life.

I hope that as we study this passage, we also will be inspired to love God’s Word more.

This is the longest chapter in the Bible, at 176 verses. It is divided into 22 sections; that is one for every Hebrew letter of the alphabet. Each section is eight lines long (8 verses) and each line begins with that letter of the Hebrew alphabet. For example, in section 1, each line begins with Aleph; in section 2, each line begins with Bet and so on. One could say it is a love song toward Scripture.

We are going to do something we haven’t done before, and that is to read the entire Psalm in church. It will take around 20 minutes. I was thinking about whether or not to read this whole Psalm, and I realized in a sermon about valuing and respecting God’s Word, it would be kind of hypocritical to skip reading it so that I can share more of my own thoughts.

As we read through, I would encourage you to listen carefully and to meditate on the text. Focus especially on these two questions:

A. What is the value of God’s Word?

B. What is the author’s attitude toward God’s Word?

Also, note what nouns are used to represent God’s Word. At the same time, think about your own attitude toward God’s Word.

Psalm 119 (ESV) – To listen as you read through, go to time stamp 6:59 in the above audio file of this sermon.

¹ Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord! ² Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, ³ who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways! ⁴ You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently. ⁵ Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes! ⁶ Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments. ⁷ I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous rules. ⁸ I will keep your statutes; do not utterly forsake me! ⁹ How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. ¹⁰ With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! ¹¹ I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. ¹² Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes! ¹³ With my lips I declare all the rules of your mouth. ¹⁴ In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches. ¹⁵ I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. ¹⁶ I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word. ¹⁷ Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word. ¹⁸ Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. ¹⁹ I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not your commandments from me! ²⁰ My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times. ²¹ You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from your commandments. ²² Take away from me scorn and contempt, for I have kept your testimonies. ²³ Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes. ²⁴ Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors. ²⁵ My soul clings to the dust; give me life according to your word! ²⁶ When I told of my ways, you answered me; teach me your statutes! ²⁷ Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works. ²⁸ My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word! ²⁹ Put false ways far from me and graciously teach me your law! ³⁰ I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your rules before me. ³¹ I cling to your testimonies, O Lord; let me not be put to shame! ³² I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart! ³³ Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end. ³⁴ Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart. ³⁵ Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it. ³⁶ Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain! ³⁷ Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways. ³⁸ Confirm to your servant your promise, that you may be feared. ³⁹ Turn away the reproach that I dread, for your rules are good. ⁴⁰ Behold, I long for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life! ⁴¹ Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord, your salvation according to your promise; ⁴² then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me, for I trust in your word. ⁴³ And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for my hope is in your rules. ⁴⁴ I will keep your law continually, forever and ever, ⁴⁵ and I shall walk in a wide place, for I have sought your precepts. ⁴⁶ I will also speak of your testimonies before kings and shall not be put to shame, ⁴⁷ for I find my delight in your commandments, which I love. ⁴⁸ I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes. ⁴⁹ Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope. ⁵⁰ This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life. ⁵¹ The insolent utterly deride me, but I do not turn away from your law. ⁵² When I think of your rules from of old, I take comfort, O Lord. ⁵³ Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked, who forsake your law. ⁵⁴ Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my sojourning. ⁵⁵ I remember your name in the night, O Lord, and keep your law. ⁵⁶ This blessing has fallen to me, that I have kept your precepts. ⁵⁷ The Lord is my portion; I promise to keep your words. ⁵⁸ I entreat your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise. ⁵⁹ When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies; ⁶⁰ I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments. ⁶¹ Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me, I do not forget your law. ⁶² At midnight I rise to praise you, because of your righteous rules. ⁶³ I am a companion of all who fear you, of those who keep your precepts. ⁶⁴ The earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast love; teach me your statutes! ⁶⁵ You have dealt well with your servant, O Lord, according to your word. ⁶⁶ Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments. ⁶⁷ Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word. ⁶⁸ You are good and do good; teach me your statutes. ⁶⁹ The insolent smear me with lies, but with my whole heart I keep your precepts; ⁷⁰ their heart is unfeeling like fat, but I delight in your law. ⁷¹ It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes. ⁷² The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces. ⁷³ Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments. ⁷⁴ Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in your word. ⁷⁵ I know, O Lord, that your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me. ⁷⁶ Let your steadfast love comfort me according to your promise to your servant. ⁷⁷ Let your mercy come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight. ⁷⁸ Let the insolent be put to shame, because they have wronged me with falsehood; as for me, I will meditate on your precepts. ⁷⁹ Let those who fear you turn to me, that they may know your testimonies. ⁸⁰ May my heart be blameless in your statutes, that I may not be put to shame! ⁸¹ My soul longs for your salvation; I hope in your word. ⁸² My eyes long for your promise; I ask, “When will you comfort me?” ⁸³ For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke, yet I have not forgotten your statutes. ⁸⁴ How long must your servant endure? When will you judge those who persecute me? ⁸⁵ The insolent have dug pitfalls for me; they do not live according to your law. ⁸⁶ All your commandments are sure; they persecute me with falsehood; help me! ⁸⁷ They have almost made an end of me on earth, but I have not forsaken your precepts. ⁸⁸ In your steadfast love give me life, that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth. ⁸⁹ Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. ⁹⁰ Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast. ⁹¹ By your appointment they stand this day, for all things are your servants. ⁹² If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. ⁹³ I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life. ⁹⁴ I am yours; save me, for I have sought your precepts. ⁹⁵ The wicked lie in wait to destroy me, but I consider your testimonies. ⁹⁶ I have seen a limit to all perfection, but your commandment is exceedingly broad. ⁹⁷ Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. ⁹⁸ Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me. ⁹⁹ I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation. ¹⁰⁰ I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts. ¹⁰¹ I hold back my feet from every evil way, in order to keep your word. ¹⁰² I do not turn aside from your rules, for you have taught me. ¹⁰³ How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! ¹⁰⁴ Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. ¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. ¹⁰⁶ I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to keep your righteous rules. ¹⁰⁷ I am severely afflicted; give me life, O Lord, according to your word! ¹⁰⁸ Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O Lord, and teach me your rules. ¹⁰⁹ I hold my life in my hand continually, but I do not forget your law. ¹¹⁰ The wicked have laid a snare for me, but I do not stray from your precepts. ¹¹¹ Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart. ¹¹² I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever, to the end. ¹¹³ I hate the double-minded, but I love your law. ¹¹⁴ You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word. ¹¹⁵ Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God. ¹¹⁶ Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live, and let me not be put to shame in my hope! ¹¹⁷ Hold me up, that I may be safe and have regard for your statutes continually! ¹¹⁸ You spurn all who go astray from your statutes, for their cunning is in vain. ¹¹⁹ All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross, therefore I love your testimonies. ¹²⁰ My flesh trembles for fear of you, and I am afraid of your judgments. ¹²¹ I have done what is just and right; do not leave me to my oppressors. ¹²² Give your servant a pledge of good; let not the insolent oppress me. ¹²³ My eyes long for your salvation and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise. ¹²⁴ Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love, and teach me your statutes. ¹²⁵ I am your servant; give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies! ¹²⁶ It is time for the Lord to act, for your law has been broken. ¹²⁷ Therefore I love your commandments above gold, above fine gold. ¹²⁸ Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right; I hate every false way. ¹²⁹ Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them. ¹³⁰ The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple. ¹³¹ I open my mouth and pant, because I long for your commandments. ¹³² Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is your way with those who love your name. ¹³³ Keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me. ¹³⁴ Redeem me from man’s oppression, that I may keep your precepts. ¹³⁵ Make your face shine upon your servant, and teach me your statutes. ¹³⁶ My eyes shed streams of tears, because people do not keep your law. ¹³⁷ Righteous are you, O Lord, and right are your rules. ¹³⁸ You have appointed your testimonies in righteousness and in all faithfulness. ¹³⁹ My zeal consumes me, because my foes forget your words. ¹⁴⁰ Your promise is well tried, and your servant loves it. ¹⁴¹ I am small and despised, yet I do not forget your precepts. ¹⁴² Your righteousness is righteous forever, and your law is true. ¹⁴³ Trouble and anguish have found me out, but your commandments are my delight. ¹⁴⁴ Your testimonies are righteous forever; give me understanding that I may live. ¹⁴⁵ With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O Lord! I will keep your statutes. ¹⁴⁶ I call to you; save me, that I may observe your testimonies. ¹⁴⁷ I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in your words. ¹⁴⁸ My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise. ¹⁴⁹ Hear my voice according to your steadfast love; O Lord, according to your justice give me life. ¹⁵⁰ They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose; they are far from your law. ¹⁵¹ But you are near, O Lord, and all your commandments are true. ¹⁵² Long have I known from your testimonies that you have founded them forever. ¹⁵³ Look on my affliction and deliver me, for I do not forget your law. ¹⁵⁴ Plead my cause and redeem me; give me life according to your promise! ¹⁵⁵ Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek your statutes. ¹⁵⁶ Great is your mercy, O Lord; give me life according to your rules. ¹⁵⁷ Many are my persecutors and my adversaries, but I do not swerve from your testimonies. ¹⁵⁸ I look at the faithless with disgust, because they do not keep your commands. ¹⁵⁹ Consider how I love your precepts! Give me life according to your steadfast love. ¹⁶⁰ The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever. ¹⁶¹ Princes persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of your words. ¹⁶² I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil. ¹⁶³ I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love your law. ¹⁶⁴ Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous rules. ¹⁶⁵ Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble. ¹⁶⁶ I hope for your salvation, O Lord, and I do your commandments. ¹⁶⁷ My soul keeps your testimonies; I love them exceedingly. ¹⁶⁸ I keep your precepts and testimonies, for all my ways are before you. ¹⁶⁹ Let my cry come before you, O Lord; give me understanding according to your word! ¹⁷⁰ Let my plea come before you; deliver me according to your word. ¹⁷¹ My lips will pour forth praise, for you teach me your statutes. ¹⁷² My tongue will sing of your word, for all your commandments are right. ¹⁷³ Let your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts. ¹⁷⁴ I long for your salvation, O Lord, and your law is my delight. ¹⁷⁵ Let my soul live and praise you, and let your rules help me. ¹⁷⁶ I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments.

What a beautiful Psalm. We can see that the writer had a deep respect for God’s Word. Throughout this Psalm, we see that the author was experiencing adversity in his life. He had enemies who were out to get him. He was persecuted. He was afflicted. He was afraid for his life. Yet, throughout all of his difficulties, God’s Word was his anchor. It gave him hope. It filled him with joy. It gave him purpose and direction.

He recognized the truth that God’s Word has the power to transform our lives.

The Word’s Transforming Power

Here are some of the things this passage says about those who follow God’s Word.

• He will be blessed (1)
• He will not be put to shame (6)
• He will keep his way pure (9)
• He will live a holy life (11)
• He will be given life (25, 37, 40, 50, 88, 93, 107, 149, 154, 156, 159)
• He will receive strength (28)
• His heart will be enlarged (32)
• He will receive understanding (34)
• He will walk safely (45, 133)
• He receives discernment and knowledge (66)
• He receives good (68)
• He is comforted in affliction (71, 76, 82)
• He receives mercy (77)
• Hope in affliction (92)
• He receives wisdom (98)
• He receives understanding (99, 100, 104)
• He receives guidance and direction (105, 130)
• He receives joy (111)
• He is safe (114, 117)

Do you want to be a blessed, righteous, safe, strong, wise, secure, hopeful, discerning, stable, and joyful person?

That is what God’s Word does.

Many years ago, I chose to major in the Bible. A lot of unbelievers have asked me about that. “Why did you major in the Bible? What can it do for you?” They considered it to be an old book that was not relevant. My answer is always the same, “Because the Bible has the power to change my life. It is the most practical thing I could study.”

Psalms 119:96 – I have seen a limit to all perfection, but your commandment is exceedingly broad.

His commandments are exceedingly broad. They give us the framework for how to live.

Through it, God speaks to every aspect of my life. He tells me how to be a husband. He tells me how to be a father. He tells me what kind of employee and boss to be. He tells me how to be a friend. He tells me how to solve conflicts. He tells me how to forgive and receive forgiveness. He tells me how to communicate with others. He tells me how I can be wise. He tells me how to be successful and how to invest. There is not a day that goes by without me using the wisdom I have learned from the Bible. Every single waking hour is full of opportunities to apply principles from the Bible.

Even seemingly obscure Bible passages are relevant today.

Two examples.

• Do not move an ancient boundary stone. We can learn to respect our neighbor’s and live a life of integrity. One practical application is for those living in apartment buildings to not take over too much space of the common space.
• Save your neighbor’s ox from a pit.  Most city dwellers seldom encounter oxen. However, we may find people’s lost mobile phones or wallets. We should return those even if it is inconvenient for us.

There are many reasons to believe the Bible is true. One of the powerful reasons is the simple fact that it changes lives. Millions upon millions of lives have been changed by the truths inside. His Word does not return void. If we had time for testimonies, almost every single one of you could come up here and tell us how God’s Word has changed your life. It is living and active.

The Psalmist loved God’s Word because he recognized its power to transform his life. Do you?

Our attitude toward the Word

Different words used for God’s law

He used many different words to describe God’s word. These different words show how he viewed revelation.

• Way – It is a way to live. It is a path to follow.
• Law – The word used is a reference to the Torah. It was binding. While he only had access to a portion of the Bible, we have access to the whole thing. We have more access to the Bible and resources to study it than at any time in human history.
• Testimonies
• Word
• Commandment – He rightly sees God as the authority. God is the king on the throne. As His subjects, we are to obey His commands. There were 613 commandments in the Torah.
• Statutes
• Precepts
• Rules – Many consider that the rules in the Bible are tedious and burdensome. But rules give structure and show us the proper boundary. They are meant for our good.

We do not know who wrote this Psalm, but we do know one important thing about him. He loved God’s Word.

He highly valued God’s Word

Psalms 119:72 – The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

My son, Josiah, likes to play “Would you rather?” with me. He asks me questions like, “Would you rather have feet for hands or hands for feet?” Well, I have a “Would you rather?” question for you. Would you rather top the world’s richest person list and have no access to the Bible or would you rather be poor with a Bible?” Do you like riches or God’s Word? This Psalmist preferred to hear from God than to have everything the world offers.

Psalms 119:16 – I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.

He uses the term “delight” often. It was not a burden for him to read the word. He didn’t groan and say, “Again?” He loved it. Because of that, he remembered it.

When you were growing up, did you ever say, “I forgot” about your homework or your chores? I did. Would your children forget if a friend invited them to a birthday party tomorrow? They would not. We forget things that are not as important to us. The writer delights in reading Scripture. He was not going to forget it.

Psalms 119:20 – My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times.

Note that word. Consumed. It was his passion. He was zealous about it. They filled his mind. They were his priority.

Psalms 119:23 – Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes.

I found this verse very interesting. Even when he was afflicted or persecuted, being attacked by others, perhaps in physical danger, he still meditated on God’s statutes. He is not distracted. Difficulties drive him to God, not away from God.

Psalms 119:103 – How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Since we are now familiar with the “Would you rather?” game, would you rather have a delicious meal of your favorite foods or spend thirty minutes in the Bible?

The writer had reached the point where he preferred God’s Word. If you put the Bible on one table and a juicy steak and homemade ice cream on the other, he would choose the Bible.

How about you? Oh, that we would have a heart like that. If you are not yet there, you are probably a normal person. Just spend a moment in prayer and ask God to give you that hunger for His Word.

His love for God’s Word was shown by the time he spent in it

When you recognize the value of God’s Word and have the right attitude toward it, look at what happens.

Psalms 119:147-148 – I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in your words. My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise.

Psalms 119:97 – Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.

Psalms 119:164 – Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous rules.

In the morning, he wakes up. His first thoughts go to God. During the day, even though he is busy, he meditates on God’s law. He thinks about it seven times a day. Seven is a number for completeness, showing us that it is a lifestyle. He is thinking about it throughout the day. Then, late at night, before he sleeps, he is still meditating on it. It’s like a sandwich where his first thought in the day is of God, his last thought is of God, and everything in the middle is as well.

How our lives would be transformed if we had the same attitude! Many times, we are not like that. We wake up and go straight into “What do I need to do today?” mode. Then we get busy and perhaps skip our Bible reading or postpone it until the evening. When we go to bed, we are tired and perhaps think, “I will read it tomorrow morning.” Then, the cycle repeats.

Let us train ourselves to be consistent. Let us pray that God will give us that heart of hunger toward Him so that He is our first and last thought each day.

Conclusion – The Hand of the Word – A Tool

There are five ways to hold on tightly to the Bible, represented by the HAND OF THE WORD. If you hold to Scripture with only 1-2 of these, your grasp of God’s Word will be loose and it will be easy for you to be swayed by culture and led astray. Consider whether you are diligently practicing all five methods of learning God’s Word.

Hearing – (Romans 10:17) The first way we can get God’s Word into our life is by hearing it. What can we do to hear it? We can go to church and Bible study to listen to teachings on the Word. We can ask questions of our Christian friends. We can listen to sermons online. The most important point is that we continually put ourselves in a position to listen to God’s Word being taught.

Reading – (Revelation 1:3a) Reading the Bible is the most basic way to understand it. It is great to listen to other mature Christians, but growing believers must have their own relationship to God and their own personal time to read the Bible for themselves. Jesus Himself often went off by Himself to pray and commune with God (Mark 1:35, Luke 5:16, 6:12). When we read the Bible, we need to remember that the goal is not to “get through” a certain number of pages, but to understand more about God and how to serve Him.

Studying – (Acts 17:11) Studying goes deeper than simply reading. It is examining the Scriptures with a purpose. It could be studying a specific topic like prayer. Or it could be trying to find an answer to a specific question like “What is God’s will for me in marriage?” The goal is not a rote recitation of facts and figures like we may prepare for exams in school. But one day, we will face a heavenly “exam” to see how well we understand the Scripture and, most importantly, how well we followed it.

Memorizing – (Psalms 119:9,11) Memorizing God’s Word is a very important way to overcome temptation. Even Jesus Himself dealt with temptation by reciting God’s Word (Matthew 4:4-10). There will be many times when we will face temptations or need to make quick decisions but won’t have a Bible nearby. And even if we have a Bible, it is sometimes hard to know where to look for an answer. It is really helpful to memorize verses on a wide variety of topics so that we can have them in our mind and know what God wants us to do in whatever situation we face.

Meditating – Psalms 1:1-3 says, “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the path of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” (Joshua 1:8).

Meditation is the key to all of the other methods. It is the thumb. When you hear the Bible through sermons or other methods, you should take notes and meditate on what you hear. When you read the Bible, you should meditate on it and not just flip the pages. When you study the Bible, you should meditate. When you memorize the Bible, you should think about it during the day.

It is similar to an artist admiring a painting. It is when we think about God’s Word that we try to find out what it really means and how we can apply it in our lives. We should make it a habit to meditate on the Scriptures we have learned not only while reading or hearing but even throughout the day as we go about our daily business.

If you practice these five methods, you can hold on to the word of life. When you hold fast to the moral anchor of Scripture, you can stand immovable no matter how much the sands of culture in this world shift, swallowing up the foolish in the ever-changing quicksand of moral relativity.

God’s Word has the power to transform our lives. The more time you spend in it, the more you will “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8).

Let us pray this Scripture as a prayer together.

Psalms 119:14-16 – In the way of your testimonies [let me] delight
as much as in all riches. [Please help me to] meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. [Please give me] delight in your statutes; [and help me to] not forget your word.

Discussion Questions

1. Each person in the group, use one sentence to share a way that God’s Word impacts you on a daily basis.
2. Share a creative way that you have (or would like to) get into Scripture deeper.
3. Which of the five methods to get into the Word mentioned (hear, read, study, memorize, meditate) do you need to improve in? What is hindering you and how you overcome that obstacle?

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