Psalm 119: 97-99

          97) “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. 98) Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me. 99) I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes.”

          The first half of verse 97 ends in an exclamation mark. In the Amplified Bible verse 97 reads, “Oh, how love I your law,” again, there is an exclamation mark. The writer wanted us to see that studying God’s word, delving into the bible daily, as important, necessary, something that must be done. Here is what the Pulpit Commentary says about verse 97: Study that leads to love: A cursory view of God’s word may have no result; but a serious study of it, a continuous and prayerful meditation upon it, will end in a strong attachment to it. It will become the source of perennial enjoyment it will be prized above all price.” (perennial means: lasting a long time, enduring; appearing time after time or year after year, recurrent. Or a synonym for that would be continual); So here we see to fully understand God’s word, we must continually read it. In doing that, the power contained within it is given to us, guiding, directing and uplifting us, as we go through our day. It’s power, in the form of the Holy Spirit, also walks with us through the difficult circumstances and trials that Satan orchestrates as he tries to hinder our walk and add doubt in our minds. The power from the words we meditate on are a “Lamp for my feet and a light on my path.” Psalm 119: 105.That light also radiates from us, so others will see it and be drawn to us, allowing us to share with them, God’s love, compassion, mercy and grace. Our daily meditation on His word also encourages us to put that word into our hearts, through memorization of the verses we read. You could say that the verses we memorize is the oil we need to keep His lamp (His word) in our hearts burning brightly, showing others who we live for. Our love for the study of His words enables the Holy Spirit to engrave in our hearts not only the love Christ has for all he has created, but for us to meditate on throughout our day. In 2 Corinthians 3:3, Paul writes this, “You show and make obvious that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, not written with ink but with [the] Spirit of [the] living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.  We then can use those words to encourage others and show them the love that Christ has for them, to witness to them verbally and through how we live our lives allowing God to make an impact in their lives.

In verse 98 we see, “Your commands make me wiser that my enemies, for they are ever with me.”  From the Pulpit Commentary comes this explanation. “With practical wisdom, so that he can order his way aright. This is what is meant here by “wisdom” and “understanding.” By means of it he can: outwit his enemies, no matter how crafty their policy.” We can also replace the word “enemies” with the phrase Satan and his daemons.  “KNOWLEDGE: “The study of the word of God, of the will of Christ, will make the disciple to understand (1) what his enemies are ignorant of; (2) what is of greater intrinsic value than any science, or art, or language;” Through our love for His word, contained within our hearts, we can recall them, as Satan and his daemons temp us during the day. By storing up His commands, we are storing up ammunition. We can use that ammunition for our defense, firing back at Satan. When that happens, he flees from us because the word in our hearts, the Holy Spirit, is more powerful than anything Satan can fire at us, as he tries to knock us off the road that we walk for Christ. By having the word in us, we are continually armed in Christ, for Christ. Again, having His laws in our hearts and allowing that law to radiate from our lives draws others to us, to share the gospel with them, and in so doing brings added encouragement to our hearts because we know that we are obeying what God has instructed we do, for Him. Isaiah29:18 says this: “In that day the deaf will hear the words of the scroll. And out of gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see.” And in 60:19 it says: “The sun will no more be your light by day, not will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.” Christ has given us an obligation to tell others about Him. By giving of ourselves, by the emptying of our hearts to others, that enables the Holy Spirit to enter in, re-filling us in even greater measures. Our lives will shine forth because of how we act, speak and live. All because of our love to study His precepts daily,

          Verse 99 reads, “I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statues.” Looking at the Pulpit Commentary again, we read this, “Becoming wiser than his teachers.” They (the teachers) may be full of sound doctrine, but the soul that is partaker of God’s grace is wiser than they.” “Understands more than the men of olden times.” Understanding gotten by the precepts of the word is better than that gotten by long experience.”

          Each day, as we meditate on His word, our hearts are filled with the power and knowledge of Christ. In doing that, we understand that we must live our lives as Christ shows us. Psalm 119:148 says, “My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises.” Proverbs 4:7 tells us this, “Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.” We disregard worldly doctrines, because we live by faith, not works, as others do because Satan has blinded them to the true meaning of Christ’s word.

          In the second reference, it stated, “precepts gotten by the word is better than that gotten by long experience.” You can take the words “long experience” one of two ways. 1^st meaning may be that experience gained through worldly ways is not sufficient for being saved. That type of experience relies on our own power and strength, which is fallible, unable to accomplish anything close to what our Savior can, and does, for us and all who truly believe. The 2^nd meaning may be, the experience we gain by living our lives by what we meditate on daily. Matthew 7:24 tells us this, “So everyone who hears these words of mine and acts upon them [obeying them] will be like a sensible (prudent, practical, wise) man who built his house upon the rock,” AB. James 3:17 says this, “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace—loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy, and good fruit, impartial and sincere.”

          In closing, we must daily do these 4 things: 1) love the word! Jeremiah 15:16 “When your words came. I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O Lord God Almighty.” Allow the Holy Spirit to fill you with the power, grace, mercy and peace, as we daily live for Him. 2) meditate on and in, that word at the beginning and end of your day. Romans 6: 22 “For in my inner being I delight in God’s law.” 3) Open your heart so that Christ can direct your steps, words and actions. James 3:17 “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.”   We must always keep in mind that we may well be the only way others see Christ. Again, if we truly radiate Christ love, mercy and grace through how we live and treat others, they will be drawn to us. And 4), When God opens a door for us to share, use the power and courage, we have gained through our meditation on His word. Psalm 39:3 “My heart grew hot within me. And as I meditated, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue:” As we have heard here, we need to just let the words He will give us, flow out of our mouths. Use the “fruits” that He has given us, to be used to further His Kingdom, bringing His light, that radiates out of our hearts, touch others’ lives in order that our Savior may become their Savior, so that they can use the power of God in their hearts to add more light into this dark world.