TABLE OF CONTENTS DEVOTIONAL, JOURNAL, & SMALL GROUP CURRICULUM... INTRODUCTION...

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3 TABLE OF CONTENTS SPIRITUAL GROWTH CAMPAIGN The Authors... SPIRITUAL GROWTH CAMPAIGN Overview and Commitments... SPIRITUAL GROWTH CAMPAIGN Leadership Team... SPIRITUAL GROWTH CAMPAIGN Resources... ABBREVIATIONS... HEBREW ALPHABET... HERMENEUTICAL GUIDE... DEVOTIONAL, JOURNAL, & SMALL GROUP CURRICULUM... INTRODUCTION... WEEK 1: LONG for God s Word DAY 01: LONG for God s Word DAY 02: LONG for God s Word: For It Is Our Joy DAY 03: LONG for God s Word: For It Is Our Blessing DAY 04: LONG for God s Word: For It Is Our Treasure DAY 05: LONG for God s Word: For It Is Our Source of Life DAY 06: LONG for God s Word: For It Is Our Mirror DAY 07: LONG for God s Word: For It Is Our Guide WEEK 01: Small Group Curriculum WEEK 2: LOVE of God s Word DAY 08: LOVE of God s Word DAY 09: LOVE of God s Word: For It Is Our Strength DAY 10: LOVE of God s Word: For It Is Our Need DAY 11: LOVE of God s Word: For It Is Our Testimony DAY 12: LOVE of God s Word: For It Is Our Comfort DAY 13: LOVE of God s Word: For It Is Our Portion DAY 14: LOVE of God s Word: For It Is Our Sustenance WEEK 02: Small Group Curriculum WEEK 3: LEARN from God s Word DAY 15: LEARN from God s Word DAY 16: LEARN from God s Word: For It Is Our Instruction DAY 17: LEARN from God s Word: For It Is Our Interpreter DAY 18: LEARN from God s Word: For It Is Our Explanation DAY 19: LEARN from God s Word: For It Is Our Hope DAY 20: LEARN from God s Word: For It Is Our Foundation DAY 21: LEARN from God s Word: For It Is Our Sanctification WEEK 03: Small Group Curriculum WEEK 4: LIVE out God s Word DAY 22: LIVE out God s Word DAY 23: LIVE out God s Word: For It Is Our Vine DAY 24: LIVE out God s Word: For It Is Our Food

4 TABLE OF CONTENTS CONTINUED DAY 25: LIVE out God s Word: For It Is Our Lamp DAY 26: LIVE out God s Word: For It Is Our Shield DAY 27: LIVE out God s Word: For It Is Our Surety DAY 28: LIVE out God s Word: Be Doers of the Word WEEK 04: Small Group Curriculum WEEK 5: LEAD with God s Word DAY 29: LEAD with God s Word DAY 30: LEAD with God s Word: For It Is A Guide to Our Witness DAY 31: LEAD with God s Word: For It Is Our Wonder DAY 32: LEAD with God s Word: For It Is Our Righteousness DAY 33: LEAD with God s Word: For It Is Our Prayer DAY 34: LEAD with God s Word: For It Is Our Salvation DAY 35: LEAD with God s Word: For It Is Our Source of Success WEEK 05: Small Group Curriculum WEEK 6: LIBERTY through God s Word DAY 36: LIBERTY through God s Word DAY 37: LIBERTY through God s Word: For It Is Our Sword DAY 38: LIBERTY through God s Word: For It Is Our Spoils DAY 39: LIBERTY through God s Word: For It Is Our Shepherd DAY 40: LIBERTY through God s Word: For It Is Our Freedom WEEK 06: Small Group Curriculum EPILOGUE SMALL GROUP GUIDE Spiritual H.A.B.I.T.S Small Group Leadership Small Group Sample Schedule APPENDICES Appendix 1: How to Become a Christian Appendix 2: New Believer Devotional A Letter from Pastor Chris to New Believers New Believer Introduction Step 1: Assurance of Your Salvation Step 2: Publicly Declare Your Faith Step 3: Join a Small Group Step 4: Develop Spiritual Disciplines Step 5: Become Others Focused Step 6: Share Jesus with Others Step 7: Trust Jesus Daily

5 SPIRITUAL GROWTH CAMPAIGN The Authors Jason Bratcher has been in full-time ministry for nearly nine years, having most recently served at Christ Community Church in Huntersville, NC. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Kentucky where he majored in Philosophy and Computer Science. He also completed his Master of Divinity (M.Div.) in Theology at Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary with a 4.0 GPA. He has plans on becoming a Discipleship Pastor/Professor. Jason has been married to his wife Katie for five years. Chris Dortch has been serving in vocational ministry since 1993 and currently serves as the Lead Pastor of First Baptist Church Mount Sterling. He graduated Summa Cum Laude (4.0 GPA) from Liberty University with a Bachelor of Science in Religious Studies (Theology and Biblical Studies). He also completed his Master of Divinity (M.Div.) and Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) degrees from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary with emphases in Pastoral Ministries and Church Leadership respectively. Pastor Chris has been married to Cheryl for over 25 years and they have one son, Carson. Carson and his wife Jessica live just north of Charlotte, North Carolina. Charlie Holder began working with teens while in college through serving as a Bible study leader, camp counselor, and volunteering for student events. He graduated from Liberty University in 2014 with a Bachelor of Science in Sport Management. He holds a Master of Arts in Religion (M.A.R.) with an emphasis in Discipleship and Church Ministry and is currently working on a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. Charlie is engaged to Sarah Slusher and they will be married October 21, Kris Mann has been serving in various ministry roles since He is a deacon at First Baptist Church Mount Sterling. He is actively involved in prison ministry, pulpit supply, disaster relief, and short-term missions. Kris holds a Bachelor s Degree in Business Administration from Alice Lloyd College and a Master s Degree in Juvenile Justice Studies from Eastern Kentucky University. Kris is dating Kayla Daulton and enjoys spending time with his family and fishing. Christopher Wilson has had the privilege of being in ministry for 16 years and is currently serving as the Worship Pastor of First Baptist Church Mount Sterling. He graduated from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio with a Bachelor s Degree in Music in Christopher is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. His passions in ministry are leading worship and international missions work. Over the past 10 years, he has been blessed to lead hundreds of people in missions work to Peru, Guatemala, and most recently Mongolia. He and his wife Naomi have two precious children, two year old Clara June and newborn Henry Everett. 5

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7 SPIRITUAL GROWTH CAMPAIGN Overview and Commitments Our church family has produced our very own materials for our upcoming 40 Days Spiritual Growth Campaign. Over the next 40 days we will be focused on deepening our church s long history of appreciation for God s word. Through our weekend worship services, small group studies, and the daily devotions and journal, our entire church will focus on God s word for 40 days! Imagine the impact of our entire church focused intently on Scripture for a period of 40 days. Each person devoted to spending time in God s word and time in prayer on a daily basis. Undoubtedly, individuals will grow in the faith. Our church family will be better equipped to fulfill the Great Commission. Our families will be strengthened. Even our community will benefit from our growth! This is the type of unity that Paul wrote about in Philippians 2:2, Fulfill my joy be being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. There are three major commitments of this spiritual growth campaign: 1. Individual Commitment (Daily Devotional & Journal) This campaign is designed to help you develop and strengthen your daily time with the Lord in His word and in prayer. Each day, you will read a brief devotion, followed by a Prayer/ Challenge and a One Last Thought that are designed to assist you with application of the biblical principles. Ministers of the Gospel, who are part of our very own church family, wrote these daily devotions! 2. Small Group Commitment (Sunday School & Home-Based Small Groups) One of the powerful elements of the spiritual growth campaign is encouraging one another through authentic biblical community called small groups. Whether your small group is Sunday School Based or Home-Based, it is essential to the 40 Days spiritual growth campaign to commit to a small group for the six weeks. The small group aspect provides an environment for discussion, application, and accountability. Through our time in small group, we hope that you will be encouraged, you will grow in your faith, and our church will be unified in love, spirit, and purpose as together we search the Scriptures! You can visit the 40 Days Information Table in the lobby to commit to a small group for 40 days! 3. Worship Service Commitment (Weekend Worship Services) Each Sunday of the spiritual growth campaign, we will focus on a particular aspect of Psalm 119 and discover personal application. There is no need to sign up, just show up! 7

8 SPIRITUAL GROWTH CAMPAIGN Leadership Team The Campaign Director Jordon Wade works closely with the Lead Pastor and manages the coordinators in making sure everyone has the resources they need. The Campaign Director can usually be found at the 40 Days Information Table in the lobby each Sunday. The Prayer Coordinator Juanita Hawkins is not only praying for the success of the spiritual growth campaign, but is concerned with involving others in prayer for the campaign. If you would like to join the Prayer Team for the spiritual growth campaign, please contact Juanita. The Evangelism Coordinator Garrett Collier will give oversee the 40 Souls with God s Word project. Our goal is to get 400 copies of God s word into the hands of people in our community and reach 40 souls with the Gospel (cf. 2 Timothy 3:15). If you would like to participate in this soul-winning project, please contact Garrett. jesuschecksmy @gmail.com The Sunday School Small Groups Coach Teresa Long will be responsible for training and equipping Sunday School Small Group Leaders during the campaign. If you have questions about leading or joining a Sunday School Small Group, please contact Teresa. tmlinky@yahoo.com The Home-Based Small Groups Coach Kris Mann will be responsible for recruiting, training, and equipping Home- Based Small Group Leaders during the campaign. If you have questions about hosting, leading, or joining a Home-Based Small Group, please contact Kris. kristofferdmann@gmail.com The Worship Pastor Christopher Wilson will assemble a creative team to gather ideas and then work with the Lead Pastor in planning and implementing the thematic worship services during the campaign. If you are interested in being part of this creative team, please contact Christopher. christopher@fbcmtsterling.com The Student Pastor Charlie Holder will be responsible for coordinating all student activities and student small groups during the campaign. charlie@fbcmtsterling.com The Lead Pastor Chris Dortch will give spiritual leadership to the campaign, casting vision, and motivating the congregation to get involved. chris@fbcmtsterling.com 8

9 SPIRITUAL GROWTH CAMPAIGN Resources There are numerous resources that have been developed for this spiritual growth campaign. We hope that you will familiarize yourself with each of the tools available to you! Days of God s Word Devotional & Journal You re holding it! This book will be your guide as we search the Scriptures over the next 40 days. Additional books are available at the Resource Center in the lobby. You can also download the ebook at Days of God s Word Small Group Guide You re still holding it! This book also contains your small group lessons. There is no difference between the leader s guide and participant s guide. It is all one small group guide in which participants can follow along with the facilitator s notes Days of God s Word Audio Book The daily devotions are also available in audio format on CD. Whether you are on the go or simply need audio assistance, this resource will help you keep up with the daily devotions Days of God s Word Scripture Memory Key Tags The Scripture memory key tags are another way to meditate upon God s word. There are 18 verses printed on a plastic tag to easily carry with your keys Days of God s Word Family Questionnaire This year we will be going door to door in an effort to share Jesus with our community. We will be gathering information about our community s view of the family. We are praying for 400 copies of God s word to be distributed and we are also praying for 40 souls to respond to the Gospel. Visit our website at for details about participating in this event Days of God s Word Website You can visit for more information about these and other resources. As the spiritual growth campaign progresses, we may have new ideas and resources that we will make available here. 9

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11 ABBREVIATIONS Old Testament (OT) Gen. Genesis Exod. Exodus Lev. Leviticus Num. Numbers Deut. Deuteronomy Josh. Joshua Judg. Judges Ruth Ruth 1 Sam. 1 Samuel 2 Sam. 2 Samuel 1 Kgs. 1 Kings 2 Kgs. 2 Kings 1 Chr. 1 Chronicles 2 Chr. 2 Chronicles Ezra Ezra Neh. Nehemiah Esth. Esther Job Job Ps. Psalms Prov. Proverbs Eccl. Ecclesiastes Song Song of Solomon Isa. Isaiah Jer. Jeremiah Lam. Lamentations Ezek. Ezekiel Dan. Daniel Hos. Hosea Joel Joel Amos Amos Obad. Obadiah Jonah Jonah Mic. Micah Nah. Nahum Hab. Habakkuk Zeph. Zephaniah Hag. Haggai Zech. Zechariah Mal. Malachi New Testament (NT) Matt. Matthew Mk. Mark Lk. Luke Jn. John Acts Acts Rom. Romans 1 Cor. 1 Corinthians 2 Cor. 2 Corinthians Gal. Galatians Eph. Ephesians Phil. Philippians Col. Colossians 1 Thess. 1 Thessalonians 2 Thess. 2 Thessalonians 1 Tim. 1 Timothy 2 Tim. 2 Timothy Tit. Titus Philem. Philemon Heb. Hebrews Jam. James 1 Pet. 1 Peter 2 Pet. 2 Peter 1 Jn. 1 John 2 Jn. 2 John 3 Jn. 3 John Jd. Jude Rev. Revelation Latin Abbreviations c. Latin circa around or approximately cf. Latin confer confer or compare e.g. Latin exempli gratia for example. Literally, for the sake of example. etc. Latin et cetera and others or and the rest. ff. Latin folio and the following (verses, paragraphs, pages, etc.) Literally, on the next page. i.e. Latin id est that is. Literally, that is to say. 11

12 HEBREW ALPHABET There are 23 (22 if you count Sin and Shin as one as Psalm 119 does) letters in the Hebrew alphabet, all are consonants. Vowel marks (dots and dashes under, above, and between the consonants) were not added until about 400 ad. Six of these letters (Bet, Gimel, Dalet, Kaf, Pe, and Taw) have alternate pronunciations if they are accented with a dot in the center. Five letters (Kaf, Mem, Nun, Pe, and Tsade) have alternate forms which are used if they are the last letter in the word. 12 Hebrew Letter Alternate Form Name Transliteration Pronunciation Alef silent א ב ב ג ג ד ד Bet b b as in boy v as in vine Gimel g g as in God gh as in aghast Dalet d d as in day dh as in the He h h as in hay ה Waw (or Vav) w (or v) w as in way ו Zayin z z as in Zion ז Ḥet ḥ ch as in Bach ח Tet ṭ t as in toy ט Yod y y as in yes י ך ך כ כ Kaf k k as in king ch as in Bach Lamed l l as in lion ל Mem m m as in mother ם מ Nun n n as in now ן נ Samek ṣ s as in sin ס Ayin silent ע ף ף פ פ Pe p p as in pastor ph as in alphabet Tsade ts ts as in boots ץ צ Qof q k as in king ק Resh r r as in run ר Sin ś s as in sin ש Shin š sh as in ship ש ת ת Taw t t as in toy th as in thin

13 HERMENEUTICAL GUIDE As you study God s word, it is helpful to have some guiding tools. Hermeneutics is just a fancy word for the study of proper methods of interpretation, especially of the Bible or literary texts. 2 Timothy 2:15 suggests there is a correct manner to interpret Scripture, rightly dividing the word of truth. Below are some suggestions to help you make observations of Scripture. OBSERVATIONS OF THE PASSAGE What is the context (what is going on) of the passage? What did this passage mean to the original audience? What timeless principle(s) can be found in the passage? OBSERVATIONS OF STANZAS Is there a progression or digression in the passage? Does the author use question and answer format? Does the author use dialogue in his writing? Does the author use if...then... conditional clauses? What actions belong to God and which belong to people? Are there emotions or a tone being conveyed by the author? OBSERVATIONS OF SENTENCES Are there repeated words? Are contrasts being made? Are comparisons being made? Is there a list of at least three things listed? Is there a cause and effect? Are there conjunctions? Are there figures of speech? Imagery: Words that evoke a sensory experience in our imagination. These will be concrete in nature to draw our attention to something more abstract. Simile: Comparison of two things using the words like and as (e.g., The wrath fo the Lord is like a storm ). Metaphor: Comparison of two things directly without the words like and as (e.g., The wrath of the Lord is a storm ). Hypkatastasis (Indirect Analogy): Comparison with out directly stating it is a comparison, (e.g., The storm of the Lord ). Anthropomorphism: A type of metaphor that pictures something nonhuman as having human characterists (e.g., God having eyes, ears, and a face). 13

14 Personification: Something nonhuman doing and saying things like a human. Apostrophe: A direct address to something/someone absent as though they were present. Hyperbole: An exaggeration for the sake of effect (e.g., My tears have been my food day and night, Ps. 42:3). Metonymy: When one word of idea is substituted for something closely associated with it. Below in Amos 7:9, Issac is another way of saying Isreal. The high places of Isaac shall be desolate, And the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste. Synecdoche: A part of something serves to represent the whole idea or itme. In the example below from Ps. 44:6, bow and sword stand in for all weapons or even war. For I will not trust in my bow, Nor shall my sword save me. Irony: When the author says the opposite of what he actually means. Below in Amos 4:4, God is telling the people do the opposite of what He desires to point out their sin. Come to Bethel and transgress, At Gilgal multiply transgression; Bring your sacrifices every morning, Your tithes every three days. OBERVATIONS OF WORDS What key words are in the passage (repeated words)? What are the difficult words in the passage? What are the verbs (action words)? What are the pronouns (e.g., I, you, me, she, herself, it, etc.)? 14

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17 INTRODUCTION What makes the book called The Bible so special? What makes it the best-selling book of all-time with over 5 billion copies sold and distributed ( Best Selling Book of Non-fiction. Guinness World Records.)? That s billion with a b. The Bible is God s revelation of Himself to mankind. In other words, it is the Word of God. It is not a book that merely shares what men think about God, it is God revealing Himself through written words to communicate with mankind, His creation (cf. 1 Thess. 2:13). Not only is the Bible the Word of God, it is a living book (cf. Heb. 4:12). That means that God s Word has the power and ability to speak to your heart and produce life-change in such a way that no other book can do. Our doctrinal statement from the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message identifies our beliefs concerning the Scriptures. The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God s revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. It reveals the principles by which God judges us, and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation ( The Scriptures. The Baptist Faith and Message, 2000). As Christians, we believe the Bible is authoritative. It is the final authority concerning our faith and practices. In other words, the Bible defines what we are to believe (faith) and how to live out our faith (practices). The 40 Days of God s Word devotions are built around Psalm 119 with supporting passages that share the same theme. Psalm 119 is all about God s Word. It is also an acrostic through the Hebrew alphabet. There are twenty-two groups with eight verses in each group (i.e. 176 verses). Each line within a group begins with the same letter from the Hebrew alphabet (there are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet). Unfortunately, this acrostic doesn t translate into English. Instead, you will notice the Hebrew letter identified and then followed by the eight verses (e.g. Aleph (1-8), Beth (9-16), Gimel (17-24), Daleth (25-32), etc. There are three things that we hope to accomplish through 40 Days of God s Word. First, we hope that you will discover that God s Word is relevant for your life. While there may be 5 billion copies of Scripture out there, there is a growing lack of knowledge concerning the Bible. The Bible tells us All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Tim. 3:16). If you want your life to have purpose and wholeness, the Bible will equip you and bring the completeness that God desires for your life. Second, we hope that your love and appreciation for God s Word will grow. Psalm 119:97 declares, Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. We will never mature in our faith apart from an abiding love and devotion to spending time in God s Word. The more time we spend in God s Word, the stronger our walk with Christ 17

18 will be. Third, it is my prayer that our church will be strengthened by the power of God s Word. We (the authors of this book) hope that your daily devotions will serve as a catalyst for discussions around the dinner table with your family, around the coffee table with your friends, and even around the conference table with your co-workers. Here are some of the components and how they can help you deepen your walk with the Lord over the next 40 days: Scripture Verse: Each devotion begins with a verse of Scripture that you can meditate on throughout the day. You could even develop the spiritual discipline of Scripture memory as well. The Devotion: The devotion provides a brief understanding of the Scripture passage through commentary and application. Prayer/Challenge: This section provides you with a brief prayer or action step to move you toward application of the biblical truth. One Last Thought: The One Last Thought is short synopsis of each day s devotion. It provides a summary of the biblical truth as a closing thought. Journaling: There is space with each day s devotion to write down your own personal thoughts on what God is teaching you. Your retention for learning is increased when you write things down in your own words, even if you never look at it again! Small Group Curriculum: While the daily devotions are for your individual walk with the Lord, the Small Group material will serve as a guide for prompting discussion among a small group of believers over the next six weeks. If you are not currently in a small group, visit our 40 Days Information Table in the lobby to find out how you can join one of our small groups. I am looking forward to discovering how the Lord will challenge us as a church over the next 40 days as we spend time with God through His Word! Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth! Ps. 86:11 Pastor Chris Dortch 18

19 WEEK 1 LONG for God s Word This week we will discover that when we long for something it is more than desire, it is an eager and persistent yearning of the whole heart in which nothing else can bring satisfaction. Ask God to increase your appetite for God s word. 19

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21 DAY 01 LONG for God s Word by Chris Dortch Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 1 Peter 2:1-3 If you don t have a longing for God s word, then start desiring it! This passage commands us to desire after God s word. Don t dismiss the command too quickly. What God commands He also enables. When Jesus commanded the lame man by the pool of Bethesda to pick up his bed and walk, He also enabled him with the ability to do so (cf. John 5:8-9). When Jesus commanded the man with a withered hand to stretch out his hand, He also enabled him with the ability to stretch forth his hand (cf. Luke 6:10). Each command of God comes with divine enabling. God will never ask you to do something and then not enable you to do it. Jesus commanded each of these men to do something that they were not able to do. Our response to an impossible command from God should be faith that is matched with obedient action. When we long for something it is more than desire, it is an eager and persistent yearning of the whole heart in which nothing else can bring satisfaction. Have you ever had a food craving? Perhaps you were craving ice-cream and nothing else would satisfy that craving. When you long for something you won t let anything stand in your way to attain it. The idea of longing for God s word is a deep craving in which nothing else will do. Don t let anything stand in your way! Perhaps this next 40 days seems to be an arduous task instead of the longing of your heart. Let me encourage you to ask God to enable your desire for His Word. Instead of the next 40 days being a difficult chore, it can become the joy and longing of your day. Lay aside the desires of the flesh and desire the pure milk of the word. Sometimes we don t desire God s word as we should because we have developed an appetite for the wrong things (e.g. malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and evil speaking). When we begin to desire God s word, we will experience spiritual growth! Just as milk 21

22 provides the sustenance for a newborn baby to grow, God s Word gives life. PRAYER/CHALLENGE: Ask God to give you a longing for His word. Perhaps there are other desires of the flesh that are more prominent in your life. Ask God to help you lay those desires aside. ONE LAST THOUGHT: Develop a longing for God s word. What God commands He also enables. 22

23 DAY 02 LONG for God s Word: For It Is Our Joy by Christopher Wilson Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful. Praise the Lord with the harp; Make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings. Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy. For the word of the Lord is right, And all His work is done in truth. He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth. He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap; He lays up the deep in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast. The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, The plans of His heart to all generations. Psalm 33 I heard it so often as a young Christian. The Old Testament was about pain and failure and warfare; the New is about hope and joy and love. The word of God is full of many things, to be sure, but it is certainly not as simple as that. We can see that God and His word have been a constant source of joy to His people through the ages. Take, for example, Psalm 33. The writer opens this psalm with the command of rejoice! Take a moment to read it. As with many of the commands found in Scripture, we aren t simply told what to do for no reason. Do you remember those times as a child in which your parent asked you to do something and you responded, why? Your parent might have quickly retorted with something along the lines of because I said so. Maybe you have become that parent yourself, but that s not the type of father that God is! There are always very good reasons for us to follow God s instructions and more often than not He makes them very clear. God s word, here, commands us to rejoice. He doesn t stop there though. This psalm is then filled with the reasons why we rejoice. We take joy in the Lord because the praise of God s people is beautiful in His sight (cf. Ps 33:2). We take joy in the Lord because His word and works are truth (cf. v.4). We rejoice because the world Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance. The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men. From the place of His dwelling He looks On all the inhabitants of the earth; He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works. No king is saved by the multitude of an army; A mighty man is not delivered by great strength. A horse is a vain hope for safety; Neither shall it deliver any by its great strength. Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy, To deliver their soul from death, And to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, Because we have trusted in His holy name. Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, Just as we hope in You. 23

24 is filled with His goodness and by His word everything exists (cf v.6-9) The psalmist s list goes on and on. PRAYER/CHALLENGE: Pray today that the Spirit would help you to understand the word of God and to fill you with joy when you read it. ONE LAST THOUGHT: Sometimes we don t feel joyful. Sometimes life can be down-right depressing. The next time you re struggling to find a reason to be joyful, turn to His word. It is one of His greatest miracles and blessings for us. It won t take you long, no matter where you begin, to find reasons to rejoice. 24

25 א - ד Psalm 119:

26 Personal Hermeneutical Study Notes I. Observations A. Observations of the Stanza B. Observations of the Sentences C. Observations of the Words II. Interpretation A. What did the stanza mean to the original audience? B. What are the timeless principle(s)? III. Application A. How do these principles apply to my life? B. What action step(s) am I to take? 26

27 DAY 03 LONG for God s Word: For it is Our Blessing א ש ר י ת מ ימ י ד ר ך ה ה ל כ ים ב ת ור ת י הו ה א ש ר י נ צ ר י ע ד ת יו ב כ ל ל ב י ד ר ש וה ו א ף ל א פ ע ל ו ע ו ל ה ב ד ר כ יו ה ל כ ו א ת ה צ ו ית ה פ ק ד י ך ל ש מ ר מ א ד א ח ל י י כ נ ו ד ר כ י ל ש מ ר ח ק י ך א ז ל א א ב ו ש ב ה ב יט י א ל כ ל מ צ ו ת י ך א וד ך ב י ש ר ל ב ב ב ל מ ד י מ ש פ ט י צ ד ק ך א ת ח ק י ך א ש מ ר א ל ת ע ז ב נ י ע ד מ א ד א Blessed are the undefiled in the way, Who walk in the law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart! They also do no iniquity; They walk in His ways. You have commanded us To keep Your precepts diligently. Oh, that my ways were directed To keep Your statutes! Then I would not be ashamed, When I look into all Your commandments. I will praise You with uprightness of heart, When I learn Your righteous judgments. I will keep Your statutes; Oh, do not forsake me utterly! We begin our look at Psalm 119 with a mini Beatitudes, Blessed are the undefiled in the way, and Blessed are those who keep His testimonies. This initial blessing and the first stanza (vv. 1-8) as whole set the tone for the rest of the chapter. Just as faith comes from hearing the word, so blessing comes from obeying the word. Those who walk in the law of the Lord will be blessed because God s word contains all the truths and wisdom they need to lead a blessed life. In fact, the more we familiarize ourselves with and understand the word of God the deeper our blessings become. There is an important dichotomy to take notice of in these first few verses. To walk in the way of the Lord requires us to both love God (seek Him with our whole heart) and to obey His word. These two things must occur together. In fact, this is the key to the whole chapter. Love and obedience are natural companions, If you love Me, keep My commandments (Jn. 14:15). We must have a love for God s word in our hearts and our actions if we are ever to be called His servants and live a blessed life. In these eight verses alone we are instructed to keep our way undefiled, to walk in the law of the Lord, keep His testimonies, do no iniquity, walk in His 27

28 28 ways, keep His precepts diligently, and twice to keep His statutes. As Christians, and Protestants specifically, we have developed an aversion to a focus on obedience to God s law. Yes, salvation is a free gift and received in faith alone; however, blessing is not. Christ cannot be Lord of our life until we obey His commands. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves... But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. Jam. 1:22,25 Those who live by God s word have a blessed life because they have the security and assurance that the Lord is with them in all that they do. Lest we become too focused on the rules, however, the author of Psalm 119 places a warning to us all in v. 5, Oh, that my ways were directed, to keep Your statutes! As humans we are all in the exact same fallen condition. None of us can obey the word of God without divine intervention and assistance. Because of this, nowhere in Scripture are we called to be hall monitors. We are not to spend our time monitoring others behavior for spiritual infractions. God calls us to a fuller devotion based upon being like Christ. As Manton stated when writing about this type of faith focused on the don ts, That ground is naught, though it brings not forth briers and thorns, if it yields not good increase (Manton, vol. 6, 37). Keeping a list of rules may keep us from sins of commission but they can never bring about the spiritual increase that God has promised if we will only obey His commands. God desires that we be like Christ and that can only happen through obedience. Blessing naturally leads us to praise and, hence, the other major emphasis in this psalm. No matter what the author s circumstances, we find him praising God for His word. Notice that the author s praise of God is connected with him learning God s word. He praises God, not just as the object of worship because He is worthy, but because of what he has received from God. At first, this may sound strange. Shouldn t we worship God because of who He is regardless of our circumstances? Absolutely! The author s circumstances aren t in view here (vv. 1-8). What he is referring to is receiving a more intimate relationship through knowledge of God. Have you ever thought about why God created us if He is infinite and has everything He needs within Himself? He no more needs our praise than He needs our service, but yet He desires it. Why?

29 God is not seeking our worship just because He deserves it after all, there are angels that accomplish this night and day but because our worship of Him gives us more of Him, it deepens our relationship with Him and softens our hearts for His work. God commands our worship not because of what He receives from it, but because of what we receive. Every time we engage in worship, our goal should be to walk away with more of Him in our hearts. It is never wrong to praise God for who He is, worthy of all praise, but we short change ourselves when we do not stay long enough to walk away with something too more of Him. As Thomas Manton wrote, To serve God is to make him the object of worship, to seek God is to make him the end of worship, when we will not go away from him without him (cf. Gen. 32:16, Manton, vol. 6, 22). PRAYER/CHALLENGE: Spend some time in prayer praising God for His goodness. Praise Him for the blessings that come from Him. ONE LAST THOUGHT: God wishes to bless us, but we must first seek to gain more understanding of him through our obedience and praise. 29

30 Personal Hermeneutical Study Notes I. Observations A. Observations of the Stanza B. Observations of the Sentences C. Observations of the Words II. Interpretation A. What did the stanza mean to the original audience? B. What are the timeless principle(s)? III. Application A. How do these principles apply to my life? B. What action step(s) am I to take? 30

31 DAY 04 LONG for God s Word: For It Is Our Treasure ב מ ה י ז כ ה נ ע ר א ת א ר ח ו ל ש מ ר כ ד ב ר ך ב כ ל ל ב י ד ר ש ת י ך א ל ת ש ג נ י מ מ צ ו ת י ך ב ל ב י צ פ נ ת י א מ ר ת ך ל מ ע ן ל א א ח ט א ל ך ב ר ו ך א ת ה י הו ה ל מ ד נ י ח ק י ך ב ש פ ת י ס פ ר ת י כ ל מ ש פ ט י פ י ך ב ד ר ך ע ד ו ת י ך ש ש ת י כ ע ל כ ל ה ון ב פ ק ד י ך א ש יח ה ו א ב יט ה א ר ח ת י ך ב ח ק ת י ך א ש ת ע ש ע ל א א ש כ ח ד ב ר ך ב How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You. Blessed are You, O Lord! Teach me Your statutes. With my lips I have declared All the judgments of Your mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways. I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word. Today s stanza begins with a rhetorical question, How can a young man cleanse his way? Before we get to the answer, take note of what this passage is not saying will lead a young man to the path of holiness: good intentions, his conscience, custom, the example of others, desire, laws of men, superstitious observances, or spiritual rituals all the things we consistently turn to to find our own answers. Instead, the author s answer is taking heed of the word of God, and only the word of God. So what does taking heed mean? The answer is simple, we are to make God s word our treasure. Now for the hard part, making that happen. We cannot treasure something we do not value and pursue diligently with passion. This is a simple truth that cannot be made clear enough. If God only passes through our minds for an hour or so on Sunday, He is NOT our treasure. Actually, it is rather simple to identify the things in our lives that we do treasure, and the author has shown us where to look: what you have sought (v. 10), what you have hidden (v. 11), what you have declared (v. 13), and in what you have rejoiced (v. 14). First, what is it that you find yourself seeking? Wealth? Honor? Amusement? The answer to this is usually the thing on which you find yourself spending the most free 31

32 32 time doing. Second, what things have you hidden in your heart? What is it that you spend the most time watching, reading, and thinking about? Is it sports? A hobby? Politics? The mind can contain a lot of information on a great number of subjects, but the heart is different. The heart is the source of the affections, the seat of those things that move us and drive our actions. As such, it can only hold on to a few things. Therefore, if we are to have Scripture ready for our use, if we are to prevent vain thoughts filling our minds, if we are to have a guide when we have no other source on hand, if we are to have supply for our prayers, if we are to have aid against our temptations, if we are to have relief in times of affliction and if our conversations are to be made gracious and loving we must store and treasure the word of God within our hearts and not just our minds. What we treasure will always erupt from our hearts. In John 4, Jesus tells the Samaritan woman that anyone who drinks of the water He gives will have a fountain springing up inside of them. Instead of needing to come to the well, God intends that our hearts become a well in this dry and thirsty world. The fountain that He establishes within us is meant to provide the same water to others. If we truly treasure God and His word the way He intends, God s truth will flow out of us constantly and naturally. This can only happen if we make God s word our greatest treasure. Third, what is it that you find yourself talking about the most with others? What is it that you can speak about with ease because you are so well versed in all its intricacies? Everyone has a voice within them, The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is worth little (Prov. 10:20). This voice is not something we can keep quiet. Whatever it may be, it will come out because no one can tame their tongue. The voice of the covetous person will be about material possessions and things they want. An epicurean will speak of amusements and things that make them happy. The ambitious will speak of honors and positions they want to hold. The discontented will speak of the wrongs done to them and those who keep them down. But the godly person, will declare the judgments of God (v. 13). Finally, what do you do that gives you the most happiness? What is it that refreshes your spirit and recharges your batteries? It is likely that the answer to all these questions is the same one or two things, and this is where your treasure is. It is this treasure that has captured your affections and not just your mind. Love can never be idle, it will either turn to earthly things or heavenly. Which one

33 depends upon what we pursue the most. Fire consumes everything around it, is God s word a fire in your veins? Is it what you delight in? Is it what comes out of the treasure in your heart? In the last two verses the author shifts to what he will do in the future because of God s word and what we must do if we are to make it our treasure: meditate (v. 15a), contemplate (v. 15b), delight (v. 16a), and not forget (v. 16b). Due to the influence of the eastern religions, the concept of meditation contains the idea of clearing one s mind of all thoughts. However, this is never what Scripture is talking about. When Scripture instructs us to meditate on God s word it means to take what we have learned and apply it to our hearts. We are to spend time holding up our lives to the mirror of Scripture so that we can get a clear picture of what we are like. This is done, not by emptying our minds, but by repeated contemplation and putting the word into action. What does Scripture tell us that we need to get rid of from our lives? What does it tell us we need to start doing? This process of comparing one s life to the light of Scripture is often a scary one to think about. This, too, tells us that Scripture is not our treasure. The word is meant to be our delight not our terror. We should relish spending time in it, meditating upon it, and being transformed by it. It should lead us to praise God for His word to us, and because we delight in it we will never forget what it teaches. If we find it difficult to bring ourselves to read and memorize Scripture, it is likely we do not delight in it. Somewhere, many people get the idea that being a Christian is like riding a bike. We can neglect studying and practicing it for years and still pick it up one day and ride with no problems when we want. In reality, being a Christian is more like learning a second language. If we do not spend time studying it and using it every day, it will quickly flee from our minds and only the faintest scraps will be left when we need it most (cf. Matt. 13:8-23). PRAYER/CHALLENGE: Ask God to bring Scripture to your mind during the quiet moments you have throughout this week instead of other things that are robbing God of His proper place in your heart. ONE LAST THOUGHT: If we are ever to speak God s language of love and holiness, then we must remain in the word of God in order to keep our minds and hearts fresh with its truths. We cannot delight in and remember something that only faintly touches our mind. 33

34 Personal Hermeneutical Study Notes I. Observations A. Observations of the Stanza B. Observations of the Sentences C. Observations of the Words II. Interpretation A. What did the stanza mean to the original audience? B. What are the timeless principle(s)? III. Application A. How do these principles apply to my life? B. What action step(s) am I to take? 34

35 DAY 05 LONG for God s Word: For It Is Our Soure of Life ג מ ל ע ל ע ב ד ך א ח י ה ו א ש מ ר ה ד ב ר ך ג ל ע ינ י ו א ב יט ה נ פ ל א ות מ ת ור ת ך ג ר א נ כ י ב א ר ץ א ל ת ס ת ר מ מ נ י מ צ ו ת י ך ג ר ס ה נ פ ש י ל ת א ב ה א ל מ ש פ ט י ך ב כ ל ע ת ג ע ר ת ז ד ים א ר ור ים ה ש ג ים מ מ צ ו ת י ך ג ל מ ע ל י ח ר פ ה ו ב וז כ י ע ד ת י ך נ צ ר ת י ג ם י ש ב ו ש ר ים ב י נ ד ב ר ו ע ב ד ך י ש יח ב ח ק י ך ג ם ע ד ת י ך ש ע ש ע י א נ ש י ע צ ת י ג Deal bountifully with Your servant, That I may live and keep Your word. Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from Your law. I am a stranger in the earth; Do not hide Your commandments from me. My soul breaks with longing For Your judgments at all times. You rebuke the proud the cursed, Who stray from Your commandments. Remove from me reproach and contempt, For I have kept Your testimonies. Princes also sit and speak against me, But Your servant meditates on Your statutes. Your testimonies also are my delight And my counselors. A word from God made the world, His word now sustains the world, and His word will one day end the world. God s words are the very source of life and sustenance for our existence. This is a fact that God has to remind us of from time to time, just as He did the Israelites as He brought them out of Egypt: So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord. Duet. 8:3 God s word is not only our spiritual food, but the author tells us that keeping God s word is the very reason we exist, That I may live and keep Your word (v. 17). We are meant to exist in a perfect relationship with God just as Adam and Eve did in the garden. In that state obeying God s word is natural and joyful. However, now we often treat our dealings with Scripture as something completely alien to our natures, drudgery, and a nuisance. Much of our reluctance with treating Scripture as our treasure and source of life has to do with our fallen condition. Many times we come to God s word thinking 35

36 36 that it is complicated and hidden. This is not because of some defect in Scripture, but a defect in us. Notice that the author does not ask God to make a plainer/easier law for him to understand, but for God to open his eyes. God s plan is hidden from us in our natural state and it takes His renewal to make them visible again (v. 19). There are a number of reasons why our vision is clouded. 1) Our veil of ignorance, Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand; and seeing you will see, and not perceive (Acts 28:26). When Adam fell, he lost spiritual knowledge for all his descendants. This is why people can know all there is to know about God and still be as lost as someone who has never even heard the name of Jesus. It takes renewal from God for this knowledge and perception to be restored before we can ever begin to understand all the truths that are found within the word. 2) Our veil of carnal knowledge and wisdom, We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know (1 Cor. 8:1,2). We live in a time when man understands more about the inner workings of the universe than past generations would have ever considered possible. What once seemed like magic can be explained using a little complex math and physics. However, with that understanding has come an arrogance in human ability. When we believe that we can solve our own problems, what room do we leave for God in our lives? It is extremely dangerous to come to Scripture and think that we can unravel its deep truths with human knowledge and wisdom alone, nature can only take us as far as nature. God s mysteries and truths go beyond this physical world, and therefore, it takes God s revelation for us to understand them. 3) Our veil of prejudice and corrupt affections, Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him (Luke 16:14). Our minds, affections, fears, and desires draw us toward the world. We are constantly trying to increase our happiness and pleasure here and now. Because of this we often make exceptions and allowances to favor these things over the word of God. 4) Our veil of carnal sense, For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. (2. Pet. 1:9). Not only is our knowledge of the spiritual veiled, so are our senses. We have no way of encountering the spiritual nature of the world through our natural senses. Adam was able to

37 experience God through his natural senses as he literally walked with God in the garden. Since the fall, our natural senses have been cut off from God except through the occasional miracle. Because of these veils, people have come to believe that God and His word are no longer necessary. They are disconnected from the very source of life. God s word is meant as our conduit to His mind and will. If we neglect this path back to our Creator, we too will one day perish along with the rest of the world. Like the author, our hearts should break for longing for God s word as our source of life. As Christians, we now have an advantage over the author of Psalm 119, we have the Spirit of God living inside of us thanks to Christ: Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Cor. 3:12-18 PRAYER/CHALLENGE: Ask God to remove the veils that you have allowed to blind you to the mysteries God s word holds. ONE LAST THOUGHT: The veils have been lifted from our eyes so that we can see. But, since we are not yet fully sanctified with our new bodies, we can still let these veils come back down from time to time. Only staying rooted in the word of God daily can prevent the effects of the veils. 37