Text: Psa 119:97-103
A. Because the Bible gives wisdom (119:98).
Wisdom: The ability to apply knowledge.
The commandments of God provide authoritative instructions on what we must do to give us wisdom (Deu 5:32).
God’s commandments give us greater wisdom than our enemies (Jas 3:14-16). a. The world teaches us to return evil for evil (Mat 5:38) but God’s commandments teach us to overcome evil with good (Rom 12:21) .b. David behaved wisely in all his ways, such that his enemy Saul was afraid of him while others loved him (1Sa 18:14-16).
To receive wisdom, we must have God’s commandments with us (Psa 119:11)
B. Because the Bible gives understanding (119:99).
Understanding: The capacity for logical reasoning.
The testimonies of God provide evidences for our faith to give us understanding (Heb 11:1).
God’s testimonies give us greater understanding than our teachers (Ecc 1:18). a. The world teaches us false science (1Ti 6:20) but God’s testimonies are truth (Joh 17:17). b. Paul was an outstanding Jewish scholar under the tutelage of the esteemed Gamaliel, yet he counted all these as loss when compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ (Php 3:7-8).
To receive understanding, we must meditate upon God’s testimonies (1Ti 4:15).
C. Because the Bible gives discernment (119:100).
Discernment: The trait of making wise and objective judgments.
The precepts of God provide guidelines to govern personal conduct to give us discernment (1Ti 3:15).
God’s precepts give us greater discernment than the aged (Job 32:7-9). a. The world teaches us human philosophies (Col 2:8) but God’s precepts teach us to walk in wisdom (Col 4:5). b. The man of God chose to believe the lies of the old prophet over the precepts of God, resulting in his death as punishment (1Ki 13:17-18).
To receive discernment, we must keep God’s precepts (Heb 5:14).
D. Because the Bible gives direction (119:101-102).
Direction: The course taken to reach a destination.
The judgments of God provide caution against evil to give us direction (1Th 5:21-22).
God’s judgements deter us from every evil way (1Jo 2:1). a. The world teaches evil for good and good for evil (Isa 5:20) but God’s judgments reveal sin and its consequences (Isa 3:11). b. Joseph refused to lie with his master’s wife, recognizing it as great wickedness and sin against God (Gen 39:9).
To follow the right direction, we must not depart from God’s judgements (Heb 3:12-13).
E. Because the Bible gives delight (119:103).
Delight: The feeling of extreme pleasure or satisfaction.
The words of God provide revelation from God to give us delight (2Ti 3:16).
God’s words are sweeter than honey and more desirable than gold (Psa 19:1011). a. The world sees the preaching of the cross as foolishness (1Co 1:18) but God’s words have the power to save (Rom 1:16). b. David took delight in the word of God in his affliction, without which he would have perished (Psa 119:92-93).
To receive delight, we must love the word of God (Psa 119:97).