Gratitude is both an attitude and a choice.
November 29, 2016
Read: Psalm 119:9–16 | Bible in a Year: Ezekiel 35–36; 2 Peter 1
I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. Psalm 119:14
Perhaps you’ve seen the TV ad in which a person answers the door
and finds someone who hands over a check for an enormous amount of
money. Then the amazed recipient begins shouting, dancing, jumping, and
hugging everyone in sight. “I won! I’m rich! I can’t believe it! My
problems are solved!” Striking it rich evokes a great emotional
response.
In Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible, we find this remarkable statement: “I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches” (v. 14). What a comparison! Obeying God’s instructions for living can be just as exhilarating as receiving a fortune! Verse 16 repeats this refrain as the psalmist expresses grateful gladness for the Lord’s commands. “I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.”
But what if we don’t feel that way? How can delighting in God’s
instructions for living be just as exhilarating as receiving a fortune?
It all begins with gratitude, which is both an attitude and a choice. We
pay attention to what we value, so we begin by expressing our gratitude
for those gifts of God that nourish our souls. We ask Him to open our
eyes to see the storehouse of wisdom, knowledge, and peace He has given
us in His Word.
As our love for Jesus grows each day, we indeed strike it rich!
In Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible, we find this remarkable statement: “I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches” (v. 14). What a comparison! Obeying God’s instructions for living can be just as exhilarating as receiving a fortune! Verse 16 repeats this refrain as the psalmist expresses grateful gladness for the Lord’s commands. “I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.”
As our love for Jesus grows each day, we indeed strike it rich!
Dear Father, open our eyes that we may see wonderful things in Your law. Thank You that Your instructions give wise advice.
Rich treasures of God’s truth are waiting to be discovered in His Word.
INSIGHT:
Psalm 119 is the longest psalm in the Bible. Although the author
is not named, most scholars say David composed it because the psalm
sounds Davidic in tone and expression and is consistent with David’s
experiences. The focus of its 176 verses is God and His Word. God is
mentioned in every verse, while the entire psalm celebrates the
Scriptures and speaks of their priority and sufficiency in the daily
life of the believer, using a wide variety of words to capture the
different dimensions of God’s Word in our lives. Scripture is described
as “law” (vv. 1, 7), “statutes” (vv. 2, 14), “ways” (vv. 3, 15),
“precepts” (vv. 4, 15), “decrees” (vv. 5, 8, 12, 16), “commandments”
(vv. 6, 10), and “word” (vv. 9, 11, 16).
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