Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.
Psalm 119 v.18
What is your expectation when you pick up God’s Word and begin to read? I guess that for many, that is a question we would rather not answer in public for a number of reasons.
Perhaps you don’t actually read God’s Word that often relying on what you hear on Sunday when you join with others, hopefully soon in person rather than via Zoom.
Perhaps if you are honest your reading is haphazard dipping in here and there when your conscience pricks.
Perhaps you think to yourself I really cannot get excited by the laws and regulations that seem to take up a lot of the Old Testament books.
Perhaps you think, I have read this before, why do I need to read it again?
Perhaps there are big chunks of God’s Word that you have never read.
Perhaps reading the Bible is just too much to ask.
It is very likely that one or more of the above have been your reaction to the Bible (God’s Word) at some time in the past and maybe even today as you have lighted upon this Blog. If this is the case then learn from the Psalmist’s approach.
Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your word.
He came with excitement and high expectations. The whole of this Psalm, the longest chapter in the Bible, oozes wonder and delight in the Word of God. How like him are you?
It may just be a desperate attempt to find reasons why we often find it hard to engage but I wonder if we should drop the word Bible, which from the Greek simply means ‘books’ and follow the Psalmist in the many different words he uses for this collection – Word, Law, Precepts, Testimonies, Decrees, Commands, Statutes in very case preceded by the pronoun ‘Your’ referring to God !
I suggest that this gives us a fresh focus for as we pick up this book we are engaging with God. He has spoken and he has caused his words to be written down for our learning.
It should surely be something high on our agendas to read and hear the words of God. What a privilege to have a God who has revealed himself through his word, so freely available to us, and supremely in his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
I encourage you to look carefully at how you engage with God’s Word for in it is all we need for Salvation and for living godly lives. It is an over-worked analogy but we need physical food for our bodies if we are to function as we should. Likewise we need the spiritual food that is in God’s Word if we are to live lives which honour him and challenge the world.
So come daily to this heavenly resource with expectation and excitement and pray with the Psalmist:
Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your word.
That is surely a prayer that God loves to answer and as he does you will be blessed and be equipped to be the person God wants you to be.