Parents guide their children toward independence. God guides his children toward dependence… on him and his word. His precepts are one of the things we depend on.
We are studying the word precepts in Ps. 119. Remember that precepts are codes of wisdom or principles to guide our lives.
Just 2 minutes ago, I finished looking at and meditating on the verses on the left below, and wrote down my thoughts and responses on the right. I encourage you to do the same with the five remaining verses in Ps. 119 with the word precepts in them. The blank chart is at the bottom of this post. Copy and paste, work on them, and join me tomorrow for a look at them together.
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Psalms 119:100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.
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Practicing precepts (Bible codes of wisdom and principles) gives me more understanding than my ancestors. Here’s one that most of my predecessors probably didn’t get: The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing. (Psalms 34:10) The precept of seeking the Lord to have my needs met is one to remember today and always. |
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Psalms 119:104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.
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By meditating on his precepts, I get understanding, or “aha” moments, and it makes me hate every false way. Here’s one: Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. (Prov. 31:30) The false way that I hate is the emphasis on fashion and sex appeal. They are vain. Fear of the Lord provides satisfying internal beauty that no one can resist. |
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Psalms 119:110 The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts.
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The wicked are not my friends, and they want to trap me in their wickedness. (This can happen via TV or the internet as easily as anywhere else.) Yet, I haven’t tripped up from God’s precepts. Here’s a precept, or code of wisdom, to help with that: I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. (Psalms 101:3) |
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Psalms 119:128 Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.
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When I look at God’s precepts regarding any area of life, I have no doubt that they are right. I start with that assumption, and so, in comparison, I hate every false way. Here’s a precept I will assume is right and ponder today: The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat. (Prov. 13:4) I want a plump soul, so I know it’s right that I be diligent in studying God’s word vs. being a sluggard, and wishing I was God-fulfilled, but doing nothing about it. |
Study with me for tomorrow morning. As I think through the verses on the left, I think of precepts that come to mind that I can apply. At the top of your chart for tomorrow, copy and paste this statement: Precepts are codes of wisdom or principles to guide our lives.
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Psalms 119:134 ¶ Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts.
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Psalms 119:141 ¶ I am small and despised: yet do not I forget thy precepts.
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Psalms 119:159 ¶ Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O LORD, according to thy lovingkindness.
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Psalms 119:168 I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my ways are before thee.
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Psalms 119:173 ¶ Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts.
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