Where Do I Start in the Bible? Joy Bombs in the Psalms | Psalm 119:9-16, 57-64,105-112

I am so inspired by Corrie Ten Boom, a woman who hid Jewish people during World War II. She is the epitome of the example and importance of faith and perseverance through difficult times. It is so beautiful how, when you open God’s Word, you feel closer to Him. Today, you and I are going to be diving into Psalm 119. Here we go.

Show Notes:

Corrie Ten Boom Book: The Hiding Place

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Transcription:

Corrie Ten Boom, one of my heroes once wrote these words,

Gather the riches of God’s promises, those texts from the Bible, which you have learned by heart.

She would know because she and her family were arrested for hiding Jewish people in World War ii. She and her sister were taken to a concentration camp. Her father never made it past the processing department, but Corrie was all alone for a long time. She even turned to an ant for company in her solitary cell. I mean ant like the bug. She was able to receive God’s comfort in those dark times. Although she did struggle. You can read her story in an incredible book called The Hiding Place. She was just like the Psalmists in the Bible. She struggled, but she persevered in her faith. That’s why she’s one of my heroes.

Hi, welcome to the Bible for Busy People. My name is Erica, your host, and today we are diving back into the first edition of Joy Bombs in the Psalms for 2024. I can’t believe I forgot last week to do joy bombs in the Psalms, but we are back baby. We are going to find joy in studying God’s word together and you and I learned this week that the Psalms are songs of praise poems that contain every emoji from real humans who lived a long time ago, but who feel many of the same things that you and I feel today. We feel sometimes far from God. But isn’t it beautiful how when you open God’s Word, you feel closer to him? Today, you and I are going to be diving into Psalm 119. It’s the longest Psalm in the Bible. We talked about how the Psalms are often bite-sized pieces of God’s word that we can digest before the beginning of a busy day, but this one is long. So, I chose a few excerpts from this psalm and I hope that you’ll be so encouraged and refreshed as we dive into Psalm 119 together. Join me now in verse nine.

How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word. 10 I have tried hard to find you— don’t let me wander from your commands. 11 I have hidden your word in my heart,

See, just like Corrie Ten Boom said.

…that I might not sin against you. 12 I praise you, O Lord; teach me your decrees. 13 I have recited aloud all the regulations you have given us. 14 I have rejoiced in your laws as much as in riches. 15 I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways. 16 I will delight in your decrees and not forget your word.

Do you realize you’re doing exactly what King David was endeavoring to do in his time? You are not forgetting the Lord or his word today. You are taking time to reflect on the ways of God and to study his commandments. Good for you. Verse 57 now. We’re skipping down because this is the Bible for Busy People.

Lord, you are mine! I promise to obey your words! 58 With all my heart I want your blessings. Be merciful as you promised. 59 I pondered the direction of my life, and I turned to follow your laws. 60 I will hurry, without delay, to obey your commands. 61 Evil people try to drag me into sin, but I am firmly anchored to your instructions. 62 I rise at midnight to thank you for your just regulations. 63 I am a friend to anyone who fears you— anyone who obeys your commandments. 64 O Lord, your unfailing love fills the earth; teach me your decrees.

One of the things I love about the Psalms, we see this over and over again in the Psalms, which again you can find right there in the middle of your Bible, is that the psalmists, the people who wrote them rehearse God’s promises. If you’re like me, sometimes it gets easy to rehearse your worries. You go over the laundry list of the things that you need God to fix in your life. How much better would it be to spend time rehearsing the promises of God and saying, “God, your love is unfailing. I know you love my child or my parent or whoever it is, you’re worried about, more than I ever could. Your love is unfailing. Would you do your will in their lives?” Right? If we spent time instead of worrying, worshiping him. I heard it once said, I don’t know who to give credit to, but worrying is worshiping the problem. How much better to praise him, to rehearse his promises?

Have you ever had to study to be in a play? I’ve been in many plays throughout my life. Well, maybe a dozen and it was a long time ago, but boy, oh boy, you go over those lines again and again, don’t you until you know them by heart? And that’s what Corie Ten Boom opened today’s episode with this piece of advice.

Lord, help us to take your words into our hearts. Help us to rehearse your promises and they will rise up.

His words will when we need them. Okay, here comes my favorite part of Psalm 119 verse 105 now.

Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. 106 I’ve promised it once, and I’ll promise it again: I will obey your righteous regulations. 107 I have suffered much, O Lord; restore my life again as you promised. 108 Lord, accept my offering of praise, and teach me your regulations. 109 My life constantly hangs in the balance, but I will not stop obeying your instructions. 110 The wicked have set their traps for me, but I will not turn from your commandments. 111 Your laws are my treasure; they are my heart’s delight. 112 I am determined to keep your decrees to the very end.

Wow. I love it. David is basically saying, “Lord, I don’t like all this stuff that’s going on!” His life is hanging in the balance as he writes these words, but he’s choosing to say, I’m not going to stop studying your word, paying attention to your word, following your word, because when you follow the word of God and what it says, you’re following the Lord himself. Jesus is the word. That’s how we began our week together. The Word was with God and the word was God. That’s what we read in the gospel of John chapter one. You right now, you are spending time with the Word, with Jesus, and that is the beautiful thing. I hope you’ll continue to study God’s word and hang out with Jesus next time with me on the Bible for Busy People. Until then, you are so loved.

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