"Therefore" in the Book of Psalms: Therefore I Love Your Word

 "Your word is very pure; therefore Your servant loves it." - Psalm 119:140

The psalmist loves the Word of God and knows why he loves it. God’s Word is pure. His Word has power to purify and guide us in the truth. Sinners yearning for purification find solace in its promises. Those transformed by its message cherish its purity, for the pure love what is pure. They despise everything contrary to that Word, desire to live by it, and strive to walk in its holiness.

May I, like the psalmist, continually find joy and strength in the purity and perfection of God's Word.

Topical meditation 2024

July 7

Therefore" in the Book of Psalms: Therefore I Keep Your Word

 

"Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them." - Psalm 119:129

Admiration of God's Word naturally leads to obedience. A person who has experienced the wonder of God's Word cannot help but keep it; the one who recognizes this treasure desires to keep it. God's Word is wonderful with all its commandments, promises, and revelations. It is wonderful in its holiness, simplicity, depth, wisdom, and power. It renews the soul, sanctifies, comforts, strengthens, instructs, and teaches us.

The psalmist saw that God's Word is wonderful, therefore he keeps it. It is impossible to admire God's Word and not obey it.

Lord, open my eyes to see the hidden treasures in Your Word, to admire them, and to obey Your Word.

Topical meditation 2024

July 6

"Therefore" in the Book of Psalms: Therefore I Hate False Ways

 "Through Your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way." - Psalm 119:104

Understanding the Word of God leads to hatred of falsehood.

It is not possible to truly understand God's Word and not hate sin. If I have learned from God's Word that sin grieves God, I cannot help but hate sin. If I have understood that pride leads to destruction, I will certainly hate pride and flee from it.

Therefore, to hate what God hates, I must seek to understand His Word.

Topical meditation 2024

July 5

"Therefore" in the Book of Psalms: Therefore I Will Rejoice

 "Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice." - Psalm 63:7

The psalmist has reason to rejoice: the Lord has been his help. Because the Lord has been his help, he dwells in the shadow of His wings. In this place of refuge, he is protected from temptations, fear, anxiety, and worries.

Every child of God can echo the psalmist's testimony: the Lord has been their help. He has aided us in overcoming temptations, persevering through tribulations, fulfilling our duties, walking the narrow path, and achieving victories in spiritual warfare.

Those who have such a Helper certainly have abundant reason to rejoice.

Topical meditation 2024

July 4

"Therefore" in the Book of Psalms: Therefore I Will Pray as Long as I Live

"Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live." - Psalm 116:2

The psalmist's reason for a lifelong commitment to prayer is clear: he will continue to pray because he has prayed before and received answers. Witnessing God's past works inspires us to trust Him for the future. Answered prayers encourage more prayer. If I've experienced even one answered prayer, it would be foolish not to take advantage of the privilege of prayer.

I can also testify like the psalmist: He inclined His ear to me, so I have made the same decision—therefore, I will call upon Him as long as I live. 

Topical meditation 2024

July 3

‘’Therefore’’ in the book of Psalms: therefore we will not fear.

 "Therefore we will not fear, though the earth shakes And the mountains slip into the heart of the sea." - Psalm 46:2

God's children have a profound reason not to fear, as the psalmist states in the previous verse: "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." (Psalm 46:1)

Our lack of fear is not due to the absence of reasons to be afraid—there will always be reasons to fear. However, we have a greater reason not to fear: we have a safe Refuge, a sure Refuge, a very present help in trouble.

Though the earth may be shaken, the confidence of those who trust in this Refuge will remain unshaken.

If I have such a Refuge, fear becomes unreasonable. So like the psalmist, I will declare: Therefore I will not fear.

Topical meditation 2024

July 2

"Therefore" in the Book of Psalms: Therefore I Remember You

"O my God, my soul despairs within me. Therefore I remember You from the land of Jordan and the peaks of Hermon—even from Mount Mizar." - Psalm 42:6

The psalmist remembers God in moments of despair. This act of remembering is not merely a consequence of despair but also a remedy for it.

How can a soul, freed, restored, and sanctified by the Lord, succumb to despair?

Let my response to despair always be this: to remember my Lord.

May I recall His words—words of eternal life, sanctification, empowerment, and comfort.

Let me remember His attributes: He is Almighty, Omniscient, Merciful, and Holy. Let me remember who He is to me—my Guide, my Refuge, my Fortress, my help in times of trouble.

Topical meditation 2024

July 1