School’s out—— why STUDY??
Psalm 111:2 Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them.
I think about that word “study”…. what does that mean exactly? According to the dictionary it is “critical inspection”…. that being, careful evaluation and judgement. In other words….I look at it, I think about it, I line it up to truth, and I make a judgement!
That causes me to ponder…. what kind of things will draw me, cause me, bring me to invest my time, energy, and effort to study….to “know and remember”? Back in the day (when I was being tested on what I had studied), the outcome of a grade would give rise to my efforts…….a specific, going-on-the-record-for-or-against-me grade!! That would certainly encourage, inspire, and/or bring enough fear that I would make the connection— thus I would invest the time and do the work to know the material ……to reap said score! And there was a direct correlation between my time/work/knowledge and how high would be said score!! But that was back in the day! I’m no longer being tested! So what will give rise now to my efforts, energy, and time being spent “to know”!
Psalm 111:2 says “delight” is a motivator! DELIGHT!! Think about what you delight in— “delight” itself is that essence of extreme pleasure or satisfaction, that source of happiness, or as stated in some dictionaries: that which holds you spellbound!
So as I’m doing the mental math, what’s my problem? What is the reason for my “lack of effort”….. it seems it’s linked to a lack of conviction that there’s anything “in this” for me! Hmmmm….
Isn’t that a scary ponderment, when one aligns that thinking to Psalm 111:2……..
Let’s dissect that out — could it be re-written this way: the Lord’s works are great, but I’m giving little to no thought about them because there’s nothing in it for me. Yikes!
But if I’ll take the time to “study” the entirety of this Psalm, there are some amazing discoveries!! Discoveries that will hold one spell-bound!
Let me take a pencil to it…..
v.3 His work is full of splendor and majesty and His righteousness endures FOREVER. (The older I get, the more acutely aware I am of the lack of earthly longevity within both life and life’s stuff!) So to read that there IS indeed something that is FOREVER… that’s an attention grabber to me!! And what is it that’s FOREVER…. it’s HIM, it’s His work and His righteousness that will endure!
Reading on, v.3 tells me that actually any “remembering” on my part of His wonderous works is, in reality, going to be a result of His causing that! What an encouragement that is!! I come bringing nothing but my “delight in Him” and He does the work. He is gracious and merciful that way!
Reading on:
v.5 He provides for those who fear Him; He remembers His covenant forever
v.6 He’s shown His power by His works; He’s given His inheritance
v.7-8 His works are faithful and just; His precepts are trustworthy, established forever and ever, performed with faithfulness and uprightness
v.9 He sent redemption to us; He has commanded His covenant forever! Holy and awesome is His name!
Wow! That’s a boatload of motivation! Truly holy and awesome is His name! Holy and awesome is He!!
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So…. where will all this begin… this thing of “studying Him”? How will all this jump-start into the pattern and routine of my day, of my life? Psalm 111:10 tells me: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!” Hmmmmm….. this gives rise to “what is fear”? I’ve heard that Biblical fear is to have awe and respect….. not fear as in anxiousness. And I get that. But it also seems to lean into “having regard for”….. paying particular notice, that long fixed look, and the subsequent sense of wonderment and amazement after having “looked long”!!
But perhaps better said….. it begins with Him…. He’s who has given me this Psalm to read and study! And He is who causes me to remember it and practice it and understand it! And so I pretty much just bring an “AMEN” to the table! I read who He’s told me He is and I believe Him! HE is the delight of life…. what joy it is to take a pencil to all that….. to write it, to think about it, to wonder and be amazed! That feels like the definition of “study”! And what’s in it for me….. HIM! Pure and simple—He is the source of my delight! I can totally see how He uses delight to draw me to want to know more and more and more! Let me grab a pencil—-
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