I Hope in Your Word

Posted on November 10, 2018 by Tim Farley

Reading the Word

Psalm 119:81–88 (ESV)

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.

Understanding and Applying the Word

Sometimes life is hard. It may even feel like you cannot go any further. This is how the psalmist felt. Listen as he says, “My soul longs for your salvation…My eyes long for your promise.” Here we read of one who is desperate for God to intervene.

As we read the feelings of the psalmist, let us not miss what sustains him through his trouble. It is because his hope is in God’s word and in the promises that God has made that he is able to persevere. Though the world is seemingly against him, he remains steadfast in living according to God’s word and waiting for the promises to be fulfilled.

This is what faith is all about. It is trusting in the word of God no matter what. It is believing the promises of God and living according to his word. It is believing that God is saving his people through his Son, Jesus Christ, and that one day he will gather his people to be with him forever. And faith is what gives us the strength to persevere in this word until we reach the next one where sin and suffering are no more. Do you trust the word of God?

**Shaped by the Word is a daily Bible reading devotional. Please use the links at the bottom to subscribe to this page. You can also share this post with your friends through social media using the buttons below. Thanks for reading!

You Have Made Me

Posted on November 9, 2018 by Tim Farley

Reading the Word

Psalm 119:73–80 (ESV)

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!

Understanding and Applying the Word

When you use a product, how do you learn to use it to its full potential? You read the manual. The manual is written by the designers of the product and it makes sense that they would know best how to use it.

God has made and fashioned us (cf. verse 73). Therefore, we should pay careful attention to his word to us that tells us how to live. This is why the psalmist desires understanding of God’s word. He wants to put it into practice because it is what is best. And when we live according to God’s word, we become a witness to the world of God’s greatness (verse 74).

Do you want to live a full and meaningful life? You will not find it by chasing after the world’s ideas. You will only find it by living according to God’s word. This is what Jesus meant in Matthew 16:24-25:

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Are you ready to follow the instructions of the One who formed and fashioned you? Commit yourself to reading his word and ask him to teach you his ways. There is nothing more satisfying.

The Good of Affliction

Posted on November 8, 2018 by Tim Farley

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Reading the Word

Psalm 119:65–72 (ESV)

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.

Understanding and Applying the Word

The Concise Oxford English Dictionary defines affliction as “a cause of pain or harm.” Why then does the author of Psalm 119 says in verse 71 that “It is good for me that I was afflicted?” After all, who likes to suffer?

The psalmist speaks of the good of affliction because it was through suffering at the hands of others that he turned to the word of God. As he was facing pain, he found hope through the promises of God. This is why the psalm ends by saying, “The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.”

Are you hurting or facing your own affliction? Turn to the promises of God that are recorded in his word. Know that God is faithful and always keeps his promises. And remember that he is good and does good (cf. verse 68).

Keeping Your Commandments

Posted on November 7, 2018 by Tim Farley

Knowledge Book Library Glasses Textbook

Reading the Word

Psalm 119:57–64 (ESV)

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!

Understanding and Applying the Word

Why do we devote ourselves to God’s word? That we might know it. And we desire to know it, not so we can answer trivia questions about it or win debates, but so we can live according to its teachings! This is the desire of the psalmist in these verses. He states, “I promise to keep your words,” and “I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandment.”

As you read your Bible, do not just do it so you can check off an item on your daily list or so you can gather more interesting information. We need to read our Bibles so we know who God is, what he has done, and so we might know how to live for him. We need to allow the word to impact our hearts, not just fill our brains. As we pick up God’s word each day, let us pray that God would use it to change us for his glory.

My Comfort in Affliction

Posted on November 6, 2018 by Tim Farley

Photo by Lynnelle Richardson on Pexels.com

Reading the Word

Psalm 119:49–56 (ESV)

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.

Understanding and Applying the Word

Going through difficult circumstances is not easy for anyone. It can bring stress, worry, fear, and a host of other emotions that we would rather not experience. Such circumstances can be even more difficult if they are caused or made worse by others who purposely wish to harm us. This is the situation with the psalmist in these verses. His is under attack from others who seek his harm.

Even though he is under attack, the psalmist remains hopeful. Why? Because he trusts in the word of God. He believes that God will be faithful to do what he has promised to do. The word of God brings the psalmist hope, life, comfort, and singing in the midst of difficulty. We too can face our circumstances in the same way. We too can trust in God’s word, knowing he will fulfill his promises to his people. When we do this, we are prepared to face whatever life may send our way and we can do so with hope.

I Will Speak before Kings

Posted on November 5, 2018 by Tim Farley

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Reading the Word

Psalm 119:41–48 (ESV)

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.

Understanding and Applying the Word

Boldness. This is the theme of these verses. The psalmist writes of speaking boldly to the world concerning the word of God. He will answer the one who taunts and he will speak before kings.

Too many of us are reluctant to share the word of God with those we know. Why is this? Is it because we do not believe it ourselves? Is it because we do not trust God’s word? Or, is it because we do not think of it as highly as we ought? We do not cherish it and love it as the very thing that gives us life and hope in this world. May we grow in our love for God’s word and may we proclaim it to a world that needs it more than ever.

Lead Me

Posted on November 4, 2018 by Tim Farley

Psalm 11935 [widescreen]

Shaped by the Word is a daily Bible-reading devotional. I do not publish devotional content on Sundays, but I do include a Scripture reading for the day. If you would like to follow along each day, please subscribe to this page. Thanks for reading!

Reading the Word

Psalm 119:33–40 (ESV)

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!

The Word Gives Life

Posted on November 3, 2018 by Tim Farley

close up of paper against black background

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Reading the Word

Psalm 119:25–32 (ESV)

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!

Understanding and Applying the Word

The psalmist reflects on great sorrow as he states, “My soul clings to the dust,” and “My soul melts away for sorrow.” What is the remedy for such emotional pain? The word of God! It strengthens and gives life.

We need the word of God. It is not just something that is nice to have nor is it something that we read just to gather interesting information. It is living and breathing. It works in our hearts and minds to transform us into new people. The word of God is essential to the believer if we are to live with an accurate understanding of the world around us. Let us not despair, but let us turn to the word and find hope and life.

Open My Eyes

Posted on November 2, 2018 by Tim Farley

close up photo of woman closing her eyes

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Reading the Word

Psalm 119:17–24 (ESV)

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.

Understanding and Applying the Word

God’s word is a wonderful blessing to mankind. However, not all view it that way. Many disregard it and think of it as useless. Some even rail against it and proclaim that it is harmful. If it is so wonderful, why do some treat it with disregard?

The short answer is that we need God to open our eyes. Scripture tells us that we are all spiritually dead. We are all sinful and our sin proves this to be true. It takes an act of God in our lives to change our situation and for us to desire the things of God. The psalmist calls out in verse 18, “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.” May we call out to God as well and ask him to open our eyes that we may love him and his word with all our hearts.

Your Word in My Heart

Posted on November 1, 2018 by Tim Farley

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Reading the Word

Psalm 119:9–16 (ESV)

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.

Understanding and Applying the Word

In this passage we find a well-known verse that reads, “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” The psalmist is concerned with living life God’s way. He desires to keep his way pure, not wander, and fix his eyes on God’s ways. He will do this by meditating on God’s word and never forgetting it.

Do you delight in the word of God? The psalmist speaks of delighting in God’s testimonies as much as in all riches. We may be quick to agree with this statement, but how many of us truly live like the word of God is the most valuable thing to us? What we spend our time on is a good indicator of what is important to us. How much time do we spend in God’s word? Can we really, truly say that we delight in it?

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