Where Do You Find Your Joy?

I rejoice in following Your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. (Psalm 119:14)

Do you sometimes find reading the Bible time-consuming and uninteresting? There are many people who feel that way. The context in which the Bible was written is worlds apart from our situation today. And the languages it was written in have changed too. The historical references are always difficult to understand unless you have a broad knowledge of the history of the Middle East.

"A knowledge of the Bible is essential to a rich and meaningful life." Jerome

But reading the Bible can be a pure joy. The people who wrote this long psalm found great joy in the Word. Psalm 119 is in fact a series of twenty-two short poems. The psalm rejoices in the insight the psalmist gains from reading and meditating on the Bible and from obeying the commands he found in it. He rejoiced in the wisdom that he got out of it and flourished in the lifestyle that it established for him. But this kind of joy only comes when the Word is meditated on all day long. He allowed himself to become lost in the Word and the more of it he absorbed, the more he understood.

The more you read and understand, the more you will grow in spiritual stature. Not only will you experience greater understanding of daily life through regularly reading the Bible, but you will also learn to know your Lord and Master better because He is the subject of the Word. Do not throw in the towel because there are some sections you do not understand. Enjoy the sections you do understand and meditate on the ones you don't understand. Rejoice in the Lord whom you meet in the pages of the Bible. Allow Him to fill your heart and your thoughts with spiritual treasures you find in it.

His delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night (Psalm1:2)

Different people find joy in different things. Some people find joy in deafening pop music; others find joy in mountain climbing and in nature, in the growing of roses or just from watching TV.

The writer of the first psalm did not read the Word of God, he rejoiced in it! To him the Word was more than just commandments because it incorporated the history of Creation, of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses and the exodus from Egypt. It told him of the things God had done and is still busy doing. It reminded him of how God appeared to various people and therefore that He will appear again. It told him the God gave Law to provide a structure for society and for communities to live together. It answered his deepest and most urgent questions and spoke to him of life and salvation.

"I believe the Bible is the best gift God has given to mankind." Abraham Lincoln

Jesus Christ rejoiced in the Bible that He knew - which was the Old Testament. If you rejoice in the Bible, you too will discover joy and hope. It is just as alive today as it was at any time in the past.

God will speak to you through the Bible every day. That is why you should make it your spiritual food and drink and feast on the rich menu of guidance, insight and teaching it provides. Do not just nibble on it, meditate on it, glory in it, discover it, absorb it and you will find it strengthening you in your weaknesses, guiding you in your confusion, and supporting you in your adversity.