Burdened by God’s Word
I saw something in today’s Bible reading* that I’ve never seen before. Not only does the psalmist love God’s Word. He is also burdened with the fact that people don’t follow it.
He has just said, “How sweet your word is to my taste— sweeter than honey in my mouth.” Psalm 119:103 (CSB) Then in Psalm 119:136 he laments, “My eyes pour out streams of tears because people do not follow your instruction.” Psalm 119:136 (CSB)
We don’t know if he was referring to fellow Israelites or those outside the community of faith. Regardless, he saw people who didn’t live according to God’s Word.
Paul tells us in Romans 2:15 that God has written His Law in everyone’s hearts. Because of this fact, Paul tells us that no one has an excuse for their beliefs and behavior.
God has revealed Himself in creation, Paul tells us, but everyone has chosen to worship created things instead of our Creator. So God has given us up to our own devices.
A person who won’t read has no advantage over one who can’t read.
~ Mark Twain
Application
Do you long to spend time in God’s Word? Do you value it and consider reading and studying your Bible as sweet and pleasant as honey? (Psalm 19:10)
How burdened are you for people to hear and love God’s Word? Can you say with the psalmist, “My eyes pour out streams of tears because people do not follow your instruction.” Psalm 119:136 (CSB) Do you lament over the fact that many people don’t have access to God’s Word?
Most of us in the Twenty-First Century Western Culture don’t know what it’s like to not have access to God’s Word. If you can read this devotional, you have access to a number of Bible Translations in your heart language right on your phone, tablet, or computer. Websites like YouVersion, (the makers of Bible App which is available on a number of platforms), Logos, and Bible Gateway are available for free. They not only offer the Bible for free, but they also offer free access to Bible study tools to help you grow in your faith.
The IllumiNations Project says that one billion people live in Bible poverty. Their goal in partnering with seven Bible Translation Ministries is to provide at least some portion of the Bible to every people group, in their heart language, by the year 2033. Let me encourage you to prayerfully consider supporting to their efforts.
* Chapters covered in today’s reading:
Psalms 119:89-176