READ Psalm 119:169–176. 169 May my cry come before you, LORD; give me understanding according to your word. 170 May my supplication come before you; deliver me according to your promise. 171 May my lips overflow with praise, for you teach me your decrees. 172 May my tongue sing of your word, for all your commands are righteous. 173 May your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts. 174 I long for your salvation, LORD, and your law gives me delight. 175 Let me live that I may praise you, and may your laws sustain me. 176 I have strayed like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I have not forgotten your commands.
THE POWERFUL WORD. Psalm 119 has given us many directions about what to do with the Scripture. We are to read, learn, and understand it—to meditate on, memorize, and follow it. We are to take time to do this morning and night without fail. But all this is in vain unless God seeks you as you read his Word (verse 176). The Word of God is alive and active, penetrating and healing like a surgeon’s knife (Hebrews 4:12–13). If you aren’t sure about the Bible’s trustworthiness—or if you have friends who are aren’t sure—just give yourselves to reading it. Even if you don’t believe a knife is sharp, if it is, it can still cut you.
Prayer: Lord, here is the wonderful mirror “that mends the looker’s eyes: this is the well that washes what it shows. Who can endear its praise too much?”132 What healing, shaping power it has! Let me eagerly give myself to the Word. Amen.