Delighting in the Word of God

Psalm 119:16 (NKJV): I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.

The word 'delight' here is pronounced 'shaw-ah' in Hebrew, which can mean 'amuse (oneself) in'. 'To amuse (oneself) in' means 'to keep oneself occupied in a pleasant manner, usually by doing something enjoyable'.

Let's study a little about Psalm 119 now. The whole theme of this psalm is about the excellencies of the Word of God. It is also the longest psalm (and chapter) in the entire Bible, and is literally placed at the central of the whole Bible. It has 22 parts (stanza), from Aleph to Tav (i.e. all the 22 Hebrew alphabets). This is a 'picture' of the Word of God from the beginning till the end, yet it is one Book. If there's any chapter in the Bible that sums up (or summarizes) the whole Bible (i.e. the Word of God), it has to be Psalm 119!

Here are some of the highlights in Psalm 119:
(a) The Word of God is the word of truth that sets you free (see Psalm 119:45)
(b) The Word of God comforts you in times of affliction and gives you life (see Psalm 119:50)
(c) The Word of God brings hope in times of your need (see Psalm 119:81)
(d) The Word of God saves and rescues you from all troubles (see Psalm 119:94)
(e) The Word of God brings you to deeper understanding and spiritual maturity (see Psalm 119:99)
(f) The Word of God brings sweetness and joy to your life (see Psalm 119:103)
(g) The Word of God is your guide and direction in life (see Psalm 119:105)
(h) The Word of God is your shield and your hiding place (see Psalm 119:114)
(i) The Word of God brings light to your life (see Psalm 119:130)
(j) The Word of God gives you peace in life (see Psalm 119:165)

Note: Whether it is mentioned as the statutes, the commandments, the law, the precepts, or the ordinances in this psalm, for a believer in the New Covenant, all these speak about the same thing - the Word of God.

Jesus fulfils all the above (Matthew 5:17). He is also 'the Word became flesh' (see John 1:1-14). Interestingly, the Hebrew translation for the opening words in Psalm 119 goes like this: "Happy are those whose way is perfect." Who is this way? John 14:6 says Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life! He is also blameless and undefiled in every way, and therefore He is perfect. With this understanding, I can now read the opening words in Psalm 119 as: "Happy are those (the believers) whose Jesus (for He is the way) is perfect (blameless and undefiled in every way)." As a believer, know that you are so blessed because you have a perfect Savior and Lord in Christ Jesus!

To read and to experience the Word of God is like having a fellowship face to face with the Person of Jesus Himself. Why not see it this way - that every time you open the Bible, you are having a divine appointment with Jesus! Watch Him show up strong and real as you read the Word! And that's what makes reading the Word of God so alive and exciting! So, go ahead, look for Him and enjoy Him every time you open the Bible! In fact, He is in every page of the Bible. May the Lord open your eyes to see. He is in the Old Testament concealed, and in the New Testament revealed. Involve also the Holy Spirit, who'll always lead you into all truth and into deeper understanding of the Word. Praise God!

Psalm 119 also speaks of you being established in the Word of God (see Psalm 119:38). Allow Him to plant in you a deeper understanding (even things that 'eye has not seen, nor ear heard') by meditating on His Word and immersing yourself in His Word. When you have Him, you have everything (i.e. every good thing flowing in your life). The key is to find room for Him every day, no matter how busy you are in the midst of this fast-paced world! Let us not be like those days in Bethlehem, that even when the Word has already come, yet no one has room for Him to lodge! (see Luke 2:7)

People of God, all of men's ways (and methods) may fail, but His Word will not fail you. Never mind if you have gone astray before (just like the psalmist who wrote about himself in Psalm 119:176). It's never too late yet to start again. His grace is more than enough for you, and He is here to help you. There's a call to return to His Word today, and as you respond and begin to delight yourself in Him and His Word again, know that it is also the beginning of many more good things to come in your life, and for the year ahead. Amen!

He is stronger!

2 Chronicles 20:6 (NKJV): And (Jehoshaphat) said, "O Lord God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You?"

Jehoshaphat and all of Judah were looking to God for help at a time when a great multitude was coming against them (see 2 Chronicles 20:1-2, 2 Chronicles 20:12). And the Lord gave them this assurance (through Jahaziel), "Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's." (2 Chronicles 20:15) He (through Jahaziel) then continued, "You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation ('yeshuwah') of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!" (2 Chronicles 20:17) The word 'salvation' ('yeshuwah') here can also mean 'victory, deliverance, aid, help, welfare, health (healing), prosperity'.

So (the next day), they rose early in the morning and went out into Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: "Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established..." (2 Chronicles 20:20) The word 'Tekoa' here means 'the blast of the trumpet' (where victory is at hand), and 'be established' here means 'be strengthened, be strong, be assured, be firmed (or affirmed), be built up, be supported'. And what came after was an amazing victory for God's people (read 2 Chronicles 20:21-30). Praise God!

Let's go back now to the word 'stand' in 2 Chronicles 20:17. In cross reference, Ephesians 6:10-11 says, 'Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles (schemings) of the devil'. See the word 'stand' again? Here, it is 'histemi' in Greek, which, interestingly, means 'be established'! So, the apostle Paul was actually saying, "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may 'be established' against the wiles (schemings) of the devil."

Now, the big question many may ask: "How to be strong in the Lord?"

Not by your own self-effort (to fight the battle yourself) or by forcing yourself to be strong, but by 'putting on' the 'whole armor' of God! (see Ephesians 6:11-17) To 'put on' here is 'enduo' in Greek, which means 'endue with, clothe with, be filled with, fill your thoughts with, or be conscious of'. And who is this 'whole armor' of God? His name is Jesus! The 'whole armor' here also speaks of the 'wholeness, completeness, and fullness of God'! In other words, you become strong in the Lord by 'putting on' the 'whole armor' of God, i.e. by 'filling your thoughts with, or be conscious of' Jesus, who is your 'whole armor'!
Note: Of course, apart from 'putting on' the 'whole armor' of God, the apostle Paul also wrote, 'praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit' (Ephesians 6:18).

The next question: "And you mean Jesus is my 'whole armor'?"

Exactly! Just an illustration here: Imagine yourself now in a bullet-proof armored car, or a military tank (armored vehicle carrying guns), knowing that nothing on earth can come against you (or hit you), and the feeling that you are safe in it! As a matter of fact, this whole armored car is stronger than you are (in the inside). So it is (the same) with you being 'clothed with' the 'whole armor' of God! To be in the 'whole armor' therefore means to be in Christ!

In Ephesians 6:14-17, the belt, the breastplate, the shoe, the shield, the helmet, and the sword are all 'pictures' representing the Person of  Jesus Christ! So, it's not a question of what you do, or what is the 'whole armor' here, but knowing who you have, and who is your 'whole armor'! He is the Truth, He is your Righteousness, He is the Good News (Gospel) and the Prince of Peace, He is the Beginner (& Completor) of your faith, He is your Salvation (Yeshuwah), and of course, He is the Word of God! In short, He is your 'Whole Armor'!

People of God, the truth remains today that the 'enemy' can never withstand Him and His Word, whatsoever. Your God is stronger! In fact, He is stronger than any force of darkness on earth, or even all the forces of darkness in the spiritual realm put together! He is also stronger than any man's plan (or conspiracy) on earth, and infinitely stronger than all your challenges and problems (including health problems) on earth today. He is the same God yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8) - in Jehoshaphat's time, in the apostle Paul's time when he wrote about the 'whole armor', now in your time, and even forever more. Know that victory is already yours. He has already won it for you at the cross. Believing, and you shall be established. Amen!

A time to magnify the Lord!

Psalm 34:3 (NKJV): Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.

The word 'magnify' here in Hebrew is 'gadal', which means 'to see something (or someone) as exceedingly great, excellent, and large'. Therefore, the words 'magnify the Lord' here means 'to see the Lord as exceedingly great and excellent, bigger than anything (or anyone) else'. He is infinitely bigger than any of your fears (or problems/troubles) on earth, and even all the fears (or problems/troubles) on earth put together! After all, the Bible says He is the Possessor of heaven and earth! (Genesis 14:19)

And as a believer, you are indeed blessed because you have received Him as your Lord and God! In the Book of Genesis, Melchizedek said, "Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand." (Genesis 14:19-20)

By the way, 'to exalt His name' in Hebrew means 'to lift up His name (above all else), to raise His name (above all else), to extol Him, or to mount up to Him'.

Now, see what comes right after Psalm 34:3! Psalm 34:4 then says, 'I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears'. In other words, as you magnify the Lord and exalt His name, all your fears will also be gone! See the word 'all' here?

Psalm 34:5-6 then follows, 'They looked to Him and were radiant (i.e. lightened, become cheerful), and their faces were not ashamed. This poor man (i.e. humble man) cried out, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles'. See the word 'all' again?

The more you see Him great and magnified, the less your own fears (or problems/troubles) become! These are correlated.

So, people of God, no matter what happens (in this time and season), keep looking to Him, magnifying Him and exalting His name continually. The psalmist David himself said it this way, 'I will bless (i.e. adore, speak well of) the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth' (Psalm 34:1). Notice the words 'at all times' and 'continually' here?

In Him, you'll also overcome the 'giants' (of fear, trouble, intimidation, etc) around you (in this time and season), just as Caleb did (see Numbers 13:1-33, Numbers 14:1-24).

The name 'Caleb' in Hebrew implies 'to attack (and to overcome) with strength, courage, and vigor', and interestingly, Caleb was from the tribe of Judah! (Numbers 13:6) The word 'Judah' in Hebrew is 'Yehuwdah' (i.e. 'to celebrate'), which comes from the word 'yadah', meaning 'to praise and worship (with extended hands)'. So, when others lifted up their voices to complain against their leader (Moses) and cried in fear and anxiety thinking they would be like grasshoppers (or mere insects) to the 'giants' (Numbers 14:1), Caleb instead lifted up his voice, saying, "The land (Promised Land) we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land which flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people ('giants') of the land, for they are our bread..." (Numbers 14:7-9).

See the difference between Caleb and the other spies sent into the land of Canaan? No wonder the Lord then said, "But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it." (Numbers 14:24)

In the end, not only did Caleb successfully enter the Promised Land (when many others failed), he also received his inheritance in the land (see Joshua 14:6-15). Praise God! Believe you will too! A year of glory beckons! Receive the Spirit and strength that overcomes, in Jesus' name. Amen!