How to respond to the Bible

Psalm 119 is the Bible-study anthem. I’m working through this psalm focusing on three things:

  1. Reasons to read and study the Word
  2. Ways to respond to the Word (today)
  3. How the gospel of Jesus makes this Psalm even better

The psalmist points to a few ways we should respond to the word of God in Psalm 119:1–8.

Firstly, we should keep God’s precepts diligently. “Diligently” is the Hebrew word for “greatly,” or “very much.” Our response should be the same as the Israelites’ when they first hear the words of the law: “All that the Lord has spoken, we will do!” (Ex 24:3)

Secondly, when we learn about God’s standards, we should be thankful. The word for “judgments” in v7 is a legal term. It’s a word used when a judge determines what is good and right and fair.

As we study the Bible, we’ll come across passages in which God tells us what is right, what is wrong, and what is holy. When we learn these things, we should be thankful.

Why? Because God is revealing himself to us. The more we learn about what God loves, the better our preferences can imitate his.