As an all time go-to favorite of mine, Psalms has been a place of refuge for me on just about any path I found my feet walking. Whether I’m happy or sad, grieved or anxious, there’s a verse that speaks, uplifting my soul to greater heights in the Lord. So it’s of no surprise that I could personally relate to both these chapters.

Psalms 119

A noticeable theme recurred and hit home with me till the end of the passages of Psalms 119–The importance of God’s Word.

• Walking in the laws/ keeping His ways/ statutes/commandments/
• Keeping His testimonies

I can’t help being reminded of the love my own father had for the hidden treasures that the Word of God held.

Here are a few of my favorites:

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” verse 11‬ ‭‬‬

“This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.” verse 50

“For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.” verse 89‬ ‭‬

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” verse 105‬ ‭‬‬

“Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.” verse 114

Growing up I remember the gentle strength my father showed by taking out the old family Bible every Sunday, reading it for hours on end and at times reading aloud to us kids.

My little eyes were watching, taking it all in.

Even though I can count on one hand the few times we went to church. The living room was our church as we watched the tv evangelists.

There must be something good hiding within those pages, I guessed.

“And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.”

Isaiah‬ 45:3‬ ‭

For my Daddy sat long hours, mesmerized by the content it held. It made me desire to look further into the matter.

Staying busy, he mostly worked to provide for us seven kids. He could not afford to be wasteful with his time. This little detail always had me puzzled.

Oh, how I loved to look inside the pages of that huge weathered white Bible! There were paintings of Jonah being swallowed up by the whale. (great fish) Solomon, in all his grand wisdom, grabbing the heels of a baby to divide among the two mothers who claimed it was their own. And how brave David looked with his slingshot and stone, standing before that great giant! How cool was that? He quickly became my favorite character because of that family Bible.

Perhaps the most important evidence of just how much my Dad loved God’s Word was revealed to me the day of his funeral. My stepmom related with my pastor and myself, every night before retiring to bed, they each silently read a chapter from their bibles. She shared when Dad got done reading, he closed the book and kissed its cover. Every night he did that! This must have been a habit he developed as he got older, after all us kids moved away and he rededicated his life back to God. I never recalled seeing him do this while I was still at home. It deeply moved me to tears.

Psalms 120

“In my distress I cried unto the Lord, and he heard me.

I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭120:1, 7‬ ‭

How many times have we tried to live as a peacemaker only to find ourselves in a place where chaos and drama ensued and surrounded our lives?

How sad it is in today’s day and time, even families can be at war with one another! Time is so short, and God’s forgiveness is so great to usward! How can we not overlook our brother, sister, friend or family’s weaknesses, faults or failures? Considering our own shortcomings? And yet at times we struggle to forgive.

May we allow ourselves to be cleansed from all unrighteousness and let God’s good Word sanctify and wash over us!

How important is the Word of God to you? Do you struggle to find the time to glean from its wisdom on a daily basis? Do you search its pages as if it held hidden treasure? What can you do to set aside a time to read more of the Bible?

Heavenly Father, we ask you today to fill our hearts with a thirst and hunger for more of your Word. Help us to follow after Your commandments and let it wash over us like fresh living water! In Jesus name, we pray! Amen!

You can find more of this series here: Blogging Through The Bible Archives and here: Tammy @ Grandma Mary Martha StaceyLynn Wells @ Words From the Wheel and Angela G. @ No Longer Lukewarm.

Thanks for joining me on another adventure with Blogging Through the Bible, where like-minded sisters share their thoughts on each chapter of the Bible. 😊 It’s a blessing to have you here! Feel free to join in the discussion in the comments below.