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Pursuit of wisdom for today from the Ancient of Days

Psalm 19:7-11

Sweeter than honey.

Delusion, disorder, and disaster are everywhere we turn. It’s discouraging and confusion clouds our way. The issue is that our perspective is too narrow. Troubles cause us to focus on the pain we feel and push God out of our thoughts. This is what makes the Bible sweeter than honey: it brings God and His will back into the picture.

The Law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
v. 7

God’s word is perfect, blameless, above reproach. It is faultless. It never fails.

Life can fail us. People can fail us. Sometimes everything seems to be broken. Our souls can grow weary such that we don’t want to go on. When that happens, God’s word brings vibrancy back to life. It restores the soul.

God’s word is sure and true. It’s a reliable guide because God is perfect in wisdom and knowledge. In goodness, He has granted us beneficial instruction in the Bible.

Life is complicated, especially when sin messes up the circumstances. Human wisdom is actually foolish, chaotic, and destructive. When you are confused and don’t know where to turn, God’s word provides direction.

The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
v. 8

God’s word is right, correct, and straight. It’s not crooked nor perverse.

Perversity produces discouragement and depression. Our hearts long for a sight of something wholesome, vibrant, and growing. When you are discouraged, God’s word brings relief. Our hearts will rejoice in what we find there.

God’s word is morally pure, free from evil, and healthy. It holds no hidden agenda or deceptive scams.

Sin always involves lies, and deception takes us to places of dysfunction. When your heart is deceived, God’s word brings light to see the truth, light to see your way back home.

The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether.
v. 9

We cannot use God’s word merely as an instruction manual for living. You must meet God Himself in His word.

Don’t ignore Him or count Him as irrelevant to life. Pulling Him to the center of your thinking and honoring Him with worship is a clean way of life. It has permanent permanence.

The Lord is just and dwells in the realm of truth. All of the deceptions of this world will one day fall away completely. Those of us who know Him will bask in the wonder of His justice and truth. Even now we are seated in the heavenly realms with Him.

They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much pure gold;
Sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
v. 10

Having God’s word makes us rich and satisfied. Our spiritual wealth exceeds the value of any amount of gold. The pleasure, safety, satisfaction, and fulfillment brought to life by the Bible exceeds the sweetness of honey to our taste buds.

Moreover, Your servant is warned by them;
In keeping them there is great reward.
v. 11

With all of this before us, avoid falling. Be a doer of the word and not a hearer only. This life brings great reward, not financial, but a flourishing of your soul.

God’s word is precious, so soak it in like the warmth of the sun’s rays.

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Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org