In yesterday’s devotion I shared some thoughts on a precious verse from one of my favorite psalms – Psalm 119: “If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.” (Psalm 119:92). Today, I would like to share some amazing discoveries I have found through meditating on another special verse from Psalm 119: “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.” (Psalm 119:18).
The first comment I would like to make is that only when the Holy Spirit opens a person’s eyes is he or she able to actually see and experience the myriad of wonderful things found in Scripture. When we open the Bible why not use this special verse as our prayer before we even set our eyes on each verse. Invoking God to spiritually open our eyes makes so much sense since the deep things contained in the Holy Bible are spiritually discerned. Asking God to be our guide and illuminator as we journey together on this fantastic voyage and wonderful treasure hunt into the fabulous world of the Bible, in my book, is the greatest adventure of a lifetime.
So, just what are some of these wonderful things in the Word of God? Below are five verses that the Holy Spirit has shown me their deeper meaning, as I have traveled these past 45 years with the Lord as a seeker of biblical truth. These five verses have meant so much to me – I hope they will bless you as they have blessed me.
(Psalm 150:2)
“Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!”
One of the greatest insights I have ever been given by God is this special verse. One day while I was at the altar at church, the Lord told me that we need to praise Him according to His excellent greatness. He went on to show me that we don’t just praise Him based on how we feel but we praise Him based on who He is. In other words Jesus deserves our highest praises based on how majestic, holy, and loving He is, and not just on how we may feel about Him in the moment. When God showed me this insight I began to understand that we can praise Him at all times, regardless of how we feel because He is always worthy to be praised and glorified by His children.
(Genesis 50:20)
“And for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.”
In the book of Genesis, we read how Joseph’s brothers, out of jealousy, sold him into slavery. Only many years later did his brothers come face to face with Joseph, who was now basically the Prime Minister of Egypt. Joseph’s brothers meant evil for him, but God turned the tables and used Joseph to save many people during the great famine in Egypt. In God’s sovereignty He decrees to regulate and control the results of our sinful self-determined choice. So, while God permitted His free creatures to sin, He also purposed to overrule it and the evil that results from it. I love this verse because it shows how God can work all things for ultimate good in my life even when I make poor choices.
(Psalm 119:72)
“The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.”
In Psalm 119 the psalmist uses many different words to refer to the Word of God – the Bible. For example, some of the words used are His commandments, precepts, statutes, testimonies, ordinances, word(s), and in our verse above law. What the psalmist here is saying is that the Bible is more precious to him than much gold and silver. Gold and silver are great to have because they can get you “things,” but the Bible is far greater because it can give you wisdom, peace, joy, and eternal life. I for one like “things” but they can’t compare with the true riches that come from the Holy Bible.
(2 Corinthians 4:17)
“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”
We are told in (2 Corinthians 4:17) when we endure the momentary light afflictions in our lives, by being obedient to God’s Word, we will see this investment in the Lord’s work producing for us, “…an eternal weight of glory…” Imagine having a bank account which has as its value, “an eternal weight of glory.” God has a wonderful plan for each of us and He is using our afflictions and trials for eternal purposes. We need not analyze everything God does but instead just trust Him in everything. As we do this we will learn to love Jesus more and this world less.
(Hebrews 12:2)
“looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Can joy and suffering coexist? The Bible tells us not only can they, but they should, in the life of any Christian that is walking in the will of the Lord. In this verse we see that we are the joy that gave Jesus the strength to go to the cross because He knew by doing so we could be reconciled to Himself; and what joy that must have brought Him. In this verse Jesus, rather than look at the cross as an instrument of ultimate pain, torture, and suffering, chose to look at it as an instrument of ultimate glorification to the Father. We, likewise, when we suffer for the gospel, can experience great joy because we know we are doing something that is pleasing to the Lord. Knowing that by enduring suffering, I can bring glory to God, at least for me, gives me great joy.