Study of Psalm 119. Psalm 119:14

This continues the study of Psalm 119.  (Start the series here: http://createapositiveday.blogspot.com/2017/09/study-of-psalm-119-psalm-1191.html)

God Provides (by Rhonda Sawtelle)
Psalm 119: God's Word....

vs. 14: Provides Treasure

I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches. Psalm 119:14

Rejoiced: Cheerful, be glad

In the way: a course of life or mode of action

Your Testimonies: the code of law

As much as: according to

All: every one

Riches: wealth; by implication—enough 

What makes me happy? What is it the puts a smile on my face? What value to I put on things? What is worth a lot to me? 

The things that we enjoy and that we value highly, we make sure it fits our schedule. We will rearrange our schedules so that we can attend an event. We really do make time for what matters to us. 

Do I value God and His Word more than wealth? Does obeying God make me happy? The answer to both those questions should be "YES!" — and it should be evident in my actions, attitude, thoughts, and words. 

Be happy! 

Proverbs 8:18-21: Wisdom's Fort Knox

Riches and honor are with me, enduring riches and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, and my revenue than choice silver. I traverse the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice, That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, that I may fill their treasuries. Proverbs 8:18-21

Riches: far richer

Honor: splendor, glory, of external condition and circumstances

With: in one's possession or keeping, in his power

Enduring: valuable, advanced, eminent, surpassing

Riches: wealth, sufficiency

Righteousness: prosperity

Fruit: figurative of fruit of actions, i.e. their consequences

Revenue: income, what is produced

Traverse: walk steadfastly, unswervingly

Way: mode of action

Righteousness: as ethically right

Paths: moral action, and character

Justice: pronounce sentence (for or against); to vindicate or punish

Inherit: give as a possession

Fill: be full of, have wholly

Treasuries: a depository, armory, storehouse

Fort Knox Bullion Depository

Have you ever read some of the facts about the Fort Knox Vault? The vault door weighs more than 20 tons! Wow! Since Fort Knox is filled with gold, it has very high levels of security in place. 

Once again Proverbs explains that wisdom is far more valuable than the finest and purest gold. As of 5:47 am ET on Nov 3, 3015 the value for ONE OUNCE of 24K ranges from $1129.5 - $1138.8. That is just ONE OUNCE of pure gold. 

Think of the value of gold in Fort Knox. Then try to comprehend the value of wisdom, which is even greater. It's incomprehensible. Yet, even with the value of wisdom and how easily we can get wisdom, we still continue to ignore it. 

We have the "ultimate Fort Knox of Knowledge" at our disposal. We have the combination to the vault. It's available to us 24/7. But sadly, we'd rather search elsewhere and be content in our foolishness. 

If someone gave us access to Fort Knox and said, "Help yourself. Don't worry about taking it all, because we'll refill it. It will never be empty." Once someone picked us up off the floor, from fainting, we'd be in awe. But that is EXACTLY what WISDOM says. And instead of being in awe and enjoying all the wisdom wants to give us, we simply say, "No, thanks. I'll do it on my own." And we leave Wisdom's Fort Knox empty handed. 

I WANT access to Wisdom's Fort Knox! So, the first thing I must do, is make sure that my heart is permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG). For that is the combination to gain access to the vault. 

Wisdom's Fort Knox is available. Will you put it to good use? Or ignore it? 

Proverbs 8:10, 11: Focus and Desire

Receive my instruction, and not silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold; For wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her. Proverbs 8:10, 11

Receive: take, seize

Instruction: discipline (of the moral nature), chastening, correction

Not: a command

Knowledge: discernment, understanding, wisdom

Choice: absolute chosen; to be chosen

Wisdom: ethical and religious; it is of inestimable worth

Desire: longing

Compared: comparable, suitable, equal

We are obsessed with money. Don't believe it? Then take a look at how much is spent on lotteries. We all would love to see that BIG Million Dollar check arrive at our front door. We all dream of having more money and all the things we'd do if we had it. 

But greater value than any amount of money or jewels or gold is Wisdom. Yet, we don't often put forth the effort into seizing wisdom as we do money. And that leads to the question, "Why not?" 

Why don't we value wisdom? Why don't we need to importance and need for wisdom? Why, when it is available, don't we seize wisdom? Why? 

It begins with our focus and desire. When something is important to us, we make the effort to get it. Soon people will start camping outside of stores to be among the first to get that one particular toy or electronic device. Many will hit the stores at Midnight just to get those things they want. No matter how tired they are, or the weather, or how crowed the stores are—nothing will prevent them from their desire. They will seize the opportunity to seize that item. 

Focus and desire—for things is strong and will motivate us to make any sacrifice necessary to seize what we want. Where exactly is the focus and desire for wisdom? From my observation, it is clearly lacking in our society as a whole. 

Focus and desire begins in the heart. And a heart that is permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG), will have a strong focus and desire to seize wisdom! 

Do you have a strong focus and desire for wisdom?

Proverbs 3:14, 15: Incomparable

For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, and her gain than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies, and all the things you may desire cannot compare with her. Proverbs 3:14, 15

Better: good, rich, valuable in estimation, compare to something (better than)

Proceeds, Profits: commerce, gain, merchandise

Silver: sliver as merchandise, 

Gain: profits 

Gold: decision, diligent, fine gold

Precious: precious, highly valued

Rubies: value

All: entirety, whole 

Desire: delight, pleasure, all things to be desired, longing 

Cannot compare: incomparable, no match

"Her, she" refers to the Wisdom that was sought after and found in verse 13. 

Think of the most valuable thing you can think of..... wisdom supersedes that! Compare anything to wisdom and that thing will fall short. Wisdom is the greatest treasure one can attain. 

Think about this for a moment. When something breaks, or when we have an emergency, we want those helping us to have the GREATEST wisdom possible. For example, when our car breaks down we don't call for a surgeon to come fix it. Rather we call an auto mechanic, one who has knowledge about cars and the experience in fixing cars—in other words, WISDOM. 

As we live life, God offers us Wisdom so that we can enjoy peaceful refreshment (Proverbs 3:8) and make the best decisions in life as we live our lives in accordance with God's Wisdom. Proverbs 2:7 tells that God is storing up Wisdom for us (#TreasureUp), it's available. And then Proverbs 2:7 and 8 explain that because Wisdom is so valuable, God provides a Supreme Body Guard to protect us as we live in obedience to wisdom! 

Wisdom is incomparable to the most valuable things we can imagine. And it's readily available. But without a heart that is permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God, sadly, we ignore the incomparable resource and try to live on our own lacking knowledge. 

Incomparable—to the more valuable thing—it's available. The question is will I seek after it and take hold of it? 

Nonsense

Throughout this year, each day of the month, I'm "Treasure Hunting" in a Psalm. I've created a "Ponder Every Morsel of Truth" Book to record the truths as I learn them. The twenty-first of each month, I'm studying Psalm 28. Here's what Treasure I found today.

Draw me not away with the wicked, And with the workers of iniquity; That speak peace with their neighbors, But mischief is in their hearts. Psalm 28:3 (ASV)

Non·sense (noun)

1 a : words or language having no meaning or conveying no intelligible ideas; b (1) : language, conduct, or an idea that is absurd or contrary to good sense (2) : an instance of absurd action

2 a : things of no importance or value : trifles; b : affected or impudent conduct  http://www.merriam-webster.com

Sometime words seem like nonsense, they are gibberish, convey no intelligible ideas. And other times, we hear words that sound sweet and pleasant, and are just “fluff”. There is nothing behind the words, they are just words. 

Psalm 28:3 mentions those that speak peace, good things, but actually mean harm. As I thought about that, I had to evaluate my own speech. Do I speak nonsense just to be heard? Do I say one thing but mean another? Do I say I’ll do something, but have no intention of actually doing what I agreed to do? 

I thought about the phrase heard often in Christian communication, “I’ll pray for you.” That’s so easy to say, but often it’s said with good intentions, but we never follow through.  Saying “I’ll pray for you” and not praying is exactly like the wicked’s empty speech. We might was well be speaking nonsense, for our words have no meaning, they are just words. 

How do I know if my speech is nonsense or truth? The easiest way to make sure my speech is backed up with actions. If I say I’ll do something, I do it. The old adage is true, “actions speak louder than words”. One way to measure the value of one’s speech, is to evaluate their actions.  

So, will be speech be nonsense, of no value? Or will my words be truth, backed up by actions? 

To create a positive day, I need to make sure my speech is not nonsense, but that I’m speaking truth, backed up with actions. 

Do I really value God’s Word?

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 19. Here is what I learned.

The Word of the Lord is worth more than gold, even more than much fine gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey straight from the comb. Psalm 19:10 (NLV)

They are ·worth [desired; coveted] more than gold, even ·the purest [fine] gold. They are sweeter than honey, even the ·finest honey [droppings of the honeycomb]. Psalm 19:10 (EXB)

Desired: greatly beloved, covet, delectable thing, great delight, desire, lust, precious (thing).

Gold: gold as wealth.

Fine Gold: refined, pure gold.

Much: in abundance, enough, exceedingly, full, greatly.

Sweeter: sweet, sweetness.

Honey: honey, made by bees.

Dripping: flowing honey, honey from the comb, the purest honey. 

Honeycomb: the bees natural storage for the honey.

God’s Word. Do I value it? Do I give it the respect it deserves? 

If I do value God’s Word, then there should be a desire.... an overwhelming desire... to hear what God has to say. Then that desire would translate what I read into action. 

Wealth: abundance, affluence, assets, belongings, bounty, capital, cash, commodities, cornucopia, dough, estate, fortune, funds, gold, goods, holdings, lap of luxury, long green, lucre, luxuriance, luxury, plenitude, plenty, possessions, profusion, property, prosperity, prosperousness, revenue, riches, richness, security, stocks and bonds, substantiality, treasure, worth.

Gold, the purest gold. Far better than the purest gold. Highly valued. 

How do I know if I really value God’s Word?

First, do I take time to read it? Am I satisfied with 10 minutes of reading a few verses? How much time do I spend doing other things that have no real value... like watching TV? How often do I rearrange my schedule so that I can watch a certain TV show? And then consider the morals that show taught. So many of the TV shows on today, are filled with examples of sin—yet, I sit and watch them for hours.  I’d say , if I have time to watch (and fill my mind with ‘trash’) than I have time to study God’s Word. So, the question remains.. “Do I really value God’s Word?” 

Secondly, do I obey God’s Word? If I value something, I cherish it. Reading God’s Word is a great place to begin, but if I really value God’s Word, I’ll want to make it part of my life and allow it to change me into the person God wants me to be. 

And lastly, do I share God’s Word with others? Remember those TV shows that I rearrange my schedule to watch? I talk about those with others... and they have no eternal value. If really think that God’s Word is worth more than pure gold, shouldn't I want to share my “riches’ with others? 

The only true way to create a positive day is to make sure that I really value the richness of God’s Word.

What do I value?

What do I value? What is important to me? What matters? If something is important to me, then I make it a priority. If it's a priority, I do what's necessary to make it possible. If something is NOT really important to me than I don't spend energy, time or money on it. This is true for things and relationships.
If I value someone and consider them a friend, I'm willing to make them a priority. I will turn off the TV when he/she calls so I can listen and hear what he/she is saying. I schedule time on the calendar to get together with him/her. Some relationships I value more, so I spend more effort and time to develop that relationship. Some relationships aren't really as important to me, so I spend less time with him or her.
I have 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. How I use those hours is a window of what's important to me. Do I take a few minutes to send a note to a friend? Do I spend a few minutes to call someone to say 'hi"? Or do I spend that time watching the TV or surfing the web for strange and unimportant sites?
Often I hear, "I don't have time." We all have the same amount of time. We each make daily choices on how we spend that time. Even at work, choices are made as to which project or person will get how much time and attention. The more time we allot to a particular project, the more attention we spend on it.
I want to strive to spend each hour of each day wisely. Just as I want to make wise choices with my money, I want to make wise choices with my time and energy. Making wise investments now, will enrich my life for years to come.

Creating a positive day for myself, is often done by creating a positive day for someone else. Maybe it's sending a card to calling to say "hi, I care". Creating a positive day is a wise investment!