A Beautiful Word

The Louvre in Paris is one of the most well-known art museums in the world, and with 35,000 objects d'art it's the largest. According to The List Love, you couldn't see everything the museum offers in one day, or even one week. You would need to spend 100 days, in their entirety, at the museum to glimpse each piece for 30 seconds. It's an avid art-lover who would spend one third of a year looking at the paintings, sculptures, and objects of decorative art. But even neophytes travel from around the world to view the beauty within these 15 acres.

Artists, art students, and lovers of beauty will spend time and money to see the world's greatest paintings. They'll gaze at them, study them, meditate on them, seek written descriptions about the piece and its creator.

We should do the same with God's word.

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Psalm 119 is the longest chapter of Scripture and is dedicated to the importance of Scripture itself. Coincidence? Unlikely.

In 2012, Ed Setzer wrote in Christianity Today that only 20% of American Christians read the Bible daily. With printed text, on-line versions, and apps, you'd think it would be higher, if only because it is more easily accessible and convenient than ever before.

"While the majority of churchgoers desire to honor Christ with their lives and even profess to think on biblical truths, a recent study found few actually engage in personal reading and study of the Scriptures."

Psalm 119 can't answer what keeps us from reading the Scriptures, but it will reinforce why it's so important.

1. We are blessed when we read the Scriptures and do what it says. Vs. 1-2:

How blessed are those whose way is blameless, Who walk in the law of the Lord. How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, Who seek Him with all their heart.

Blessed with money, health, and all good things this earth has in store? Not necessarily. But blessed with wisdom, grace, and hope, surely.

2. Knowing Scripture will keep us resist sin and temptation. Vs. 9-11

How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word. With all my heart I have sought You; Do not let me wander from Your commandments. Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.

The Holy Spirit's job is to remind us of what we know about God, ourselves, sin, and grace, among other things. We need to read the Bible so the Holy Spirit can do His work.

3. We will be revived when life presses us down. Vs. 25 and 28

My soul cleaves to the dust; Revive me according to Your word. … My soul weeps because of grief; Strengthen me according to Your word.

Reading the Scriptures will remind us of God's goodness when life itself isn't good and of God's patience when sin has caught us in a net. Scripture will remind us He is faithful and we are loved.

4. We can spread the truth of the Gospel. Vs. 42 and 46

So I will have an answer for him who reproaches me, For I trust in Your word. … I will also speak of Your testimonies before kings And shall not be ashamed.

We have known the grace of God, the gift of salvation through the blood of Christ. We feel it in our hearts, and it is written in black and white and red. Let's share it with the world.

5. We can encourage fellow believers. Vs. 63 and 79

I am a companion of all those who fear You, And of those who keep Your precepts.

May those who fear You turn to me, Even those who know Your testimonies.

Not only can we share God's grace with those who don't yet follow Him, we can also encourage our brethren in Christ. Maybe today we are pressed down and afflicted, but we'll come through the other side, and then it is our turn to share encouragement.

6. Scripture gives us hope. Vs. 89-93

Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven. Your faithfulness continues throughout all generations; You established the earth, and it stands. They stand this day according to Your ordinances, For all things are Your servants. If Your law had not been my delight, Then I would have perished in my affliction.

I will never forget Your precepts, For by them You have revived me.

We've said it before; this life is hard. But this is not all there is. Read the Bible. Be encouraged that there is hope for every believer.

As much as we're willing to gaze in wonder at the artists' creations in the Louvre, how much more should we gaze at the beauty of Scripture. Have you been blessed by regular Bible reading? Can you say, as the psalmist says, "How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!"