Daily Devotional | Words of Life

Relationships change us. If we have a close friend or spouse that we share life with, it is inevitable that they will impact how we think and behave. In Psalm 119, the author has had a close relationship with God through studying His Word. He has immersed himself in Scripture and now crafts a poem testifying the enormous impact Scripture has had on him. How has he been changed?

The Psalmist recognizes his deep dependence upon God for all things, even asking God to help him understand His Word. He declares, “I am your servant; give me discernment that I may understand your statutes” (v. 125). As he grew in his knowledge of God’s Word, his dependence upon God for understanding grew as well (v. 105).

The Psalmist delighted in and loved Scripture. Ten times he uses the word “delight” in reference to God’s Word. He regularly confesses that he loves Scripture, “Oh how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long” (v. 97). Or, “their hearts are callous and unfeeling, but I delight in your law” (v. 70). The wicked here are described as unfeeling, while the Psalmist is filled with delight. Apart from God, people tend to love the wrong things. One of the benefits of meditating on God’s Word is that we grow to love what God loves and hate what He hates.

The author expresses a whole-hearted devotion to Scripture. This means that he does not just crack it open once in a while, but it is his persistent meditation. He reflects on it at night (v. 55), midnight (v. 62), all day long (v. 97), and even seven times a day (v. 164).

>> When you are devoted to someone, you spend time with them, listen carefully to them, and really seek to understand them. That is the kind of devotion the Psalmist expresses here. May we also grow in our love for God’s Word and allow it to change us!