Class Lesson February 7, 2021

 

Question 1:

How do you tune out distractions when you really

need to focus?

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE

Productivity expert Merlin Mann coined the phrase “inbox zero” to describe the concept of retaking control of your life from your computer. Mann’s theory is that if you can clear out your email inbox and keep it empty, you will experience higher productivity, a sense of stability, and lower stress levels. An overflowing inbox does more than curb productivity; it can cast a “sink full of dirty dishes” fog over your life.

Achieving “inbox zero” doesn’t mean you will have to constantly check your email; actually, the opposite is true. Proponents recommend disabling notifications and having your email app closed most of the day in order to focus your attention on your day’s priorities. You’ve achieved zero status when you reclaim attention and retake control of your life.1

While it’s not possible to achieve sinless perfection this side of heaven, it is possible to achieve “confession zero.” Sin buildup is far worse than any accumulation of emails, but through the disciplines of fasting and confession, we can maintain a strong relationship with God. 

THE POINT

Fasting and confession keep

us rightly focused on Christ.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Daniel 9:1-4

1 In the first year of Darius son of Xerxes (a Mede by descent), who was made ruler over the Babylonian kingdom—2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years. 3 So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes. 4 I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: “Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments.” 

The community of Old Testament believers observed days of fasting as a part of their religion to help them keep their minds focused on God (Jer. 36:6). They also fasted when individuals faced difficult circumstances. For instance, King David fasted when he mourned over the deaths of Saul and his son Jonathan (2 Sam. 1:12). 

Question 2:

What are some good reasons

for fasting?

Fasting is more than just abstaining from food. Simply abstaining from food is not necessarily a positive spiritual activity. For example, Jonathan fasted out of anger against his father (1 Sam. 20:34), and Ahab fasted and sulked as part of a pity party (1 Kings 21:4). However, most of the time the Old Testament writers cast fasting in a favorable light as a way to keep believers focused on greater things than their immediate physical needs.

Daniel fasted and prayed because of extreme circumstances. As he prayed and fasted, Daniel wore sackcloth and sat in ashes, as was customary during that time. For Daniel, this was not a routine observance of his faith. He was deeply burdened.

Daniel was no longer the teenage boy who had been brought to Babylon as a captive during Nebuchadnezzar’s reign (Dan. 1). King Nebuchadnezzar and King Belshazzar had died, and now Darius was king in Babylon. Likely Daniel was around eighty years old, which is significant because Jeremiah had prophesied that Israel’s exile and captivity would last around seventy years (Jer. 29:10). That captivity now was almost over.

Instead of celebrating the inevitability of freedom, however, Daniel put on sackcloth, sat in ashes, abstained from eating, and prayed. His burden for Jerusalem shifted his focus away from food and comfort to what was really important. The burden of his sin and the sin of God’s people drove him to pray a prayer of confession to the Lord. 

Daniel was deeply burdened, but that doesn’t mean he was depressed or pessimistic. Nor did his concern grow out of some stress induced anxiety. It had grown out of spending time in God’s Word. Daniel’s biblical literacy contributed to his time of prayer and fasting. Because Daniel had faithfully studied the Word, he knew Jeremiah had predicted the captivity would last seventy years. Daniel also knew God is faithful to keep His word and covenant. Since the exile would soon be over, Daniel turned to God in prayer. 

Even with the weight of sin burdening him, Daniel still was able to see the glory of God. His prayer began with praise and adoration of “the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments” (v. 4) and who loves and cares for his people. Fasting doesn’t appear to be as common today as it was in biblical times. However, the discipline of fasting is still an appropriate observation. 

Daniel 9:5-7

5 “We have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws. 6 We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our ancestors, and to all the people of the land. 7 “Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame—the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to you.” 

When Solomon dedicated the temple, he prayed and asked God to forgive the sins of His people, even if those sins resulted in exile and captivity (2 Chron. 6:36-39). God heard and answered Solomon’s prayer, saying that if “my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (7:14).

FOCUS THROUGH FASTING

Using the acrostic below, describe something you could do

with each item to help maintain a focus on Jesus.

Food _______________________________________

Activities ____________________________________

Spending money _____________________________

Time _______________________________________

Instead of eating a meal or snack this week, spend that time

in focused prayer as you commune with Christ.

“Fasting confirms our utter dependence upon God by

finding in Him a source of sustenance beyond food.”

DALLAS WILLARD

Now, more than 400 years later, Daniel and his fellow Jews were experiencing the very exile and captivity in Solomon’s prayer. Perhaps thinking of God’s promise in 2

Chronicles 7 and knowing God would hear him, Daniel prayed a prayer confessing both his personal sin and the sins of all Israel.

It’s often easier to see the sins of others rather than our own sin. When we forget about our own sinfulness, it’s human nature to gossip and talk about other people’s sins. However, when we remember our own sinfulness, we move away from gossip about the sins of others and go straight to confession.

Daniel didn’t question God’s love for them, in fact, he did the opposite; he affirmed the special love God had for His people (v. 4). Daniel also didn’t question why they were in captivity.

He confessed the sins of the Jewish community, even while they were in exile. He included himself in his confession of corporate sins. He was thorough in his confession.

No excuses. No mitigating circumstances. God’s people were absolutely, unequivocally wrong. As Daniel confessed their sins, he also declared God’s righteousness. Daniel was able to bear his soul and confess with outright transparency because he knew what God would do when he confessed his sin and the sins of the people. As God had promised: “I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chron. 7:14b). 

Question 3:

Why is confession an important

part of our spiritual lives?

Daniel 9:17-19

17 “Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. 18 Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. 19 Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.” 

As Daniel concluded his prayer, he included a phrase from a blessing given in the law: “The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you” (Num. 6:24-26). However, instead of asking for God’s face to shine on his people, Daniel prayed for God to “look with favor on your desolate sanctuary” (v. 17).

Daniel’s petition was not based on the worthiness of God’s people, but on God’s great compassion. He wanted God’s name to be lifted up by raising Jerusalem again. That’s not to say he prayed just for buildings and walls to be rebuilt. Yes, Jerusalem bears God’s name, the temple was built for His glory, and rebuilding the city and temple would glorify God, but the people also bore His name. Daniel pleaded with God to hear, to forgive, and to act, for the Lord’s sake. 

Question 4:

What obstacles might hinder us

from praying, confessing, and fasting in our lives?

Daniel’s attention wasn’t on getting something from God; his focus was on God himself. Burdened with a heavy heart, Daniel shifted his focus from food and comfort. We’ve already seen that his prayer included confessing his sins and the sins of the people without making excuses or allowances. Now with his attention focused exclusively on God, he prayed for God’s name to be lifted up as He restored His people from captivity.

Confession and repentance are always the right things to do; these humbling actions make it possible to restore our relationships. However, if we don’t confess our sins, we can’t see clearly; our minds remain on our sin. Because we carry guilt about our sins, we can’t pay attention to God. But when we confess our sins, God forgives, the fog lifts, and we are able to focus on Him. 

Question 5:

What are the benefits of praying,

confessing, and fasting as a community?

LIVE IT OUT

What will you do this week to keep your focus on Christ? Choose one of the following applications: 

• Confess. Spend time confessing any sin you haven’t previously brought to God. Confession is “agreeing with God” that your actions were sinful. Don’t make excuses. Confess—and thank Him for His forgiveness. 

• Fast from technology. Choose something that you do daily, such as watching television or connecting on social media, and commit to a fast from that activity for the next week. Use that time for uninterrupted prayer and to focus on Christ.

• Fast from food. If your health allows, spend next weekend in an extended fast. Join others who are doing this Bible study in praying for a spiritual awakening in our nation.

“Confession Zero” is our goal. We must leave no sin unaddressed in our hearts. Rather, we should diligently search our hearts for hidden sin, confess it to the Lord, receive forgiveness, and experience the stability and peace that comes from fellowship with God.

Teacher's Notes:

Maintaining Focus on God

Fasting and confession keep us rightly focused on Christ.

The Passage: Daniel 9:1-7,17-19

Click Here to Watch

What kinds of things pull your focus off of God?

 

The Setting: The Babylonians under King Nebuchadnezzar II (ruled 605–562 BC) invaded Judah in 605 BC, the first of three invasions (in 605, 598, 586 BC). It was during this first invasion that the Judean nobility, including Daniel, were taken as hostages to Babylon – Daniel was 15 years old. Despite being a hostage, Daniel would minister as a prophet of God for about seventy years.

605 Judah invaded Daniel taken at 15

538 First year of Darius’ reign

67   Years Israel had been exiled to Babylon – prophesy was 70

15   Daniels’ age when taken hostage

82   Daniels’ age at the time of this lesson

 

Daniel 9:1-4

1 In the first year of Darius son of Xerxes (a Mede by descent), who was made ruler over the Babylonian kingdom—2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years. 3 So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes. 4 I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: “Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments.”

Fasting: The community of Old Testament believers observed days of fasting as a part of their religion to help them keep their minds focused on God (Jer. 36:6). They also fasted when individuals faced difficult circumstances. For instance, King David fasted when he mourned over the deaths of Saul and his son Jonathan (2 Sam. 1:12).

What are some good reasons for fasting?

• Fasting helps us focus on greater things than just our physical needs.
• Fasting is an act of devotion by which a person demonstrates his need for God by refraining from eating. The normal fast involved total abstinence from food but not water.

 

What life events might cause us to seek the Lord through prayer and fasting?

• End times - Country in turmoil / Times of great distress and need for God / Sin

 

What prompted Daniel to pray and fast?

• The reading of God’s Word. God reveals Himself, His promises, and His will through His Word – we would do well to spend time studying and obeying it to.
• In times of despair, we need to seek the Lord through prayer, demonstrating our humility and rendering our praise to Him as the awesome God that He is.
• God is faithful to His promises to us; we ought to be faithful to our promises to Him.

 

 

Daniel 9:5-7

5 “We have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws. 6 We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our ancestors, and to all the people of the land. 7 “Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame—the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to you.”

What can we learn about genuine confession from Daniel’s prayer?

• Confession draws our focus to God – why – because He forgives
• Daniel’s confession of the greatness of God led to confession and repentance of sin. Any time we are in the presence of the righteous, holy Lord we become aware of our own unrighteousness and sinfulness.

 

Why is confession an important part of our spiritual lives?

• Sin – tartar build-up / getting your teeth clean
• Now it’s not possible to achieve a sinless perfection this side of heaven, it is possible to get your teeth clean. It’s called Confession. Sin build-up is far worse than tartar build-up on your teeth. Daniel tells us this morning that the discipline of fasting and confession will cleanse our relationship with God and help us maintain a strong relationship and focus of Him.

When Solomon dedicated the temple, he prayed and asked God to forgive the sins of His people, even if those sins resulted in exile and captivity (2 Chron. 6:36-39). God heard and answered Solomon’s prayer, saying that if “my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (7:14).

 

Daniel 9:17-19

17 “Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. 18 Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. 19 Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.”

How does confession of sin affect our relationship with Christ and with others?

• It gets God’s attention – prayer and fasting draw our focus to God – why – because He answers.
• Daniel’s petition was not based on the worthiness of God’s people, but on God’s great compassion. He wanted God’s name to be lifted up by raising Jerusalem again. Daniel pleaded with God to hear, to forgive, and to act, for the Lord’s sake.

 

What do you see as the greatest hinderance to praying, confessing, and fasting in our lives?

• Sin itself - If we don’t confess our sins, we can’t see clearly; our minds remain on our sin. Because we carry guilt about our sins, we can’t pay attention to God.

 

What are the benefits of praying, confessing, and fasting as a community?

• But when we confess our sins, God forgives, the fog lifts, and we are able to focus on Him.

The Point: Fasting and confession keep us rightly focused on Christ.

 

Close:

Prayer: How do you evaluate the consistency of your prayer life?

Fasting: Even if you do not fast in the sense of refraining from eating, how do you exemplify the concept in your own life by setting aside something to give attention to the Lord?

Humility: How do you maintain a spirit of humility before the Lord?

Marriage.com suggests that a lack of communication is the third leading cause to the breakdown in marriages. Communication is key to any relationship. Furthermore, communication is of utmost importance in our relationship with Christ. Our spiritual growth will be in direct proportion to our communication with God. Remember: when we pray, we are talking to God. And, when we read the Bible, God is talking to us. The more we talk to God and the more we allow God to talk to us, the more we become more like Jesus Christ.

Class Lesson January 31, 2021

 

Question 1:

What are some of the biggest ways electronic media

has affected your life?

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE

I have begun to wonder if we own our smartphones, or if they own us. We have come to depend on them for apps for purchases, maps to help us find our way, and endless games to play—not to mention making the occasional phone call. One of the most popular uses of smartphones is to access all the social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and text messaging. How big a part does social media play in our lives? On average, some 3.2 billion users spend two hours and twenty-two minutes per person on social media. Every day.1

It can be difficult to resist the urge to check social media. Research shows that when people give in to that compulsion, their anxiety level rises. Being connected to social networks or answering texts endlessly makes it hard for them to log off. They felt obligated to keep checking in—just in case.2

Social media may build bridges, but it also puts up walls. Too often we are consumed with our social media profiles and we end up missing the most important relationships we have. We miss the great joy of spending uninterrupted face-to-face time with friends and family, and we squander the opportunity to really know God. 

THE POINT

Prayer draws us closer to Jesus

as our hearts align with His.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

John 17:1-5

1 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.”

Knowing God requires spending time with Him—both time in His Word and time in heartfelt prayer. Heartfelt praying is deep praying. It is going beyond the surface of merely “saying our prayers” or crying out for help during a crisis or tragedy. To really know God—to have an intimate relationship with the Lord—we must move beyond the rote and our request lists and really connect with our heavenly Father. We need to go deep.

When we take the time and make the effort to do this, not only will we get to know Him better, but we also will feel the calming touch of His unseen hand throughout our day. In both the anxious and the routine moments of life, we are able to experience Him more clearly. When we go deep, we encounter His glory. Those who have eternal life can know God intimately. Eternal life not only ensures that we will behold His glory face-to-face throughout eternity, but it makes an intimate relationship with God possible now.

In John 17, Jesus’ “hour” had come. In the midst of the “hour,” He prayed that even as God was glorifying Him, He would glorify the Father. God’s shikinah [shuh KIGH nuh] glory that once resided in the temple, now rested in the incarnate Jesus who was dwelling among God’s people (1:14). Jesus prayed that those who had been given eternal life would see that glory.

Question 2:

What does it look like to glorify God

in our culture?

Following Jesus’ example, we also are to pray for people to see God’s revealed glory. It’s important to note that the first thing Jesus prayed was for God to be glorified. Our desire to see God’s glory is to surpass all other desires, and our first request is to be for His glory. The Model Prayer Jesus gave us to pray begins with the request: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name” (Matt. 6:9). We seek God’s glory over all else.

When we follow Jesus’ example, we pray for the things He prayed for—and in the way He prayed for them. We must break free from only approaching God when we need something from Him; we must learn to pray because we need Him. We are to seek Him and not just seek things from Him.

Even as we pray for His glory, we will encounter Him in His glory. As we deepen our prayer life, praying as Jesus prayed, we experience His glory—His holiness, His authority, and His reputation. Heartfelt prayer increases intimacy with God. As we come to know God intimately, He will reveal His glory. 

John 17:21-23

21 “That all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have  given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”

Jesus also prayed for unity. The believers needed unity then, and we desperately need it now. Is unity possible? Can people with different agendas, backgrounds, beliefs, and points of view really be unified? Division and discord are everywhere. We encounter it in politics, in families, or at work.

While everyone wants unity, few are willing to make the necessary sacrifices to become and remain unified. Unity doesn’t mean that others will agree with us, behave like we want them to act, adapt to our preferences, and give in to us. An insistence on conformity works against unity. 

Jesus prayed for unity, not conformity. What does that unity look like? It looks like the Triune God: the unity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus prayed, “That all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you” (v. 21). While the Father is not the Son or the Spirit, and the Son is not the Father or the Spirit, and the Spirit is not the Father or the Son, the Father, Son, and Spirit are God. God is three Persons, but one Essence. Jesus prayed that His followers would be unified in like manner. Our personalities are not to be absorbed and lost by our unity, but our self-interests will. They will have a unified purpose.

We can only achieve this unity when we are in God and He is in us. Jesus prayed, “May they also be in us.” When believers are connected to God—we are dwelling in Christ and He is dwelling in us—unity happens. We are in Him, and He is in us. We move beyond a surface relationship with God, into a deeper relationship in which we know Him intimately. There is no other path to unity. 

Question 3:

What does unity look like in the church?

The spiritual discipline of heartfelt prayer is not limited to a private quiet time. While Scripture certainly tells of many people praying in “prayer closets,” we also find numerous accounts describing believers who gathered together for prayer. With one mind, one heart, and one purpose, God’s people lifted their prayers up to God.

Jesus shares His glory with His people—“I have given them the glory that you gave me” (v. 22)—but this was not simply so that we would possess His glory. His glory is to lead to our unity: “That they may be one as we are one.” We are to join Him in praying for that unity. One of the key things that points others to God and brings Him glory is when we, His children, live together in unity. This is unity the world needs to see. 

John 17:24-26

24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see  my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. 25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

As we grow in our relationship with God, we will have an intimate relationship with Him. Our hearts will become one with His, and as we’ve seen, our prayers will focus on His glory and seek unity among believers. As we see in verses 24-26, when we pray like Jesus, those prayers will also include a desire to make His love known to others, so that they can experience it as well.

An eternal love exists between the Father and the Son, and Jesus’ prayer was that “the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” His love in us spills out! We will care about what He cares about. We will care for the people He cares for. When we grow in knowing Him, the force that drives us will be the desire to make Him known.

Question 4:

What’s the relationship between

our unity and our witness?

Knowing God and experiencing His love motivates us to pray for those who have not yet come to know Him. When God’s love runs through us, we will pray for people who need Him, but we will also tell them what He has done for us—we will let them see His glory. We will pray for the salvation of people who don’t know Jesus, but we will also make His name known to them. Because God loved the world, not just people in “our world,” we pray for the nations, but we will also go where we are called and help others who are called to go to the nations.

While Christians fail to agree on many things, we all can agree that people need the Lord. They need to know and experience the love of God in their lives. To carry out our role in “the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Cor. 5:18), we must be unified in our purpose. We can and should use every means possible to share the love of Christ. And when we do, we receive the joy, but God gets all the glory! 

Question 5:

How has our group helped you

experience the love of God?

FELLOWSHIP WITH JESUS

Circle the ways you will undertake this week to develop a more intimate communion with Jesus.

Then list some other ways you could fellowship with Him.

Bible Study        Prayer        Witness          Giving

Helping someone       Singing        Other: ____________

Spend some time right now in prayer, not asking for what God can do for you,

but just having a conversation with Him.

“Then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having

the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.”

PHILIPPIANS 2:2

LIVE IT OUT

How will you utilize the spiritual discipline of prayer to draw you closer to Jesus? Choose one of the following applications: 

• Pray for God’s glory. Replace at least five minutes of social media time [or TV watching] with additional time spent in prayer for God’s glory.                                                                                    
• Pray for unity. Gather with others to spend time in concentrated prayer for unity among believers in your church and around the world.                                                                                                             
• Pray for God’s love to be known. Set an alarm on your smartphone for 3:16 every afternoon and pray John 3:16 over at least three people who need to know the Lord. Pray for the spread of the gospel around the world. Pray for opportunities to share Christ through your social media outlets. 

Social media and other modern distractions can consume our attention if we’re not careful. But if we are prayerful and align our hearts with His, God can use even these as tools for reaching others for Christ.

Class Lesson January 24, 2021

 

Question 1:

When have bad directions or instructions

really led you astray?

THE POINT

Our hearts are satisfied

as we encounter God through His Word.

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE

Many of us have become quite dependent on GPS. And why not? GPS calls out directions as we need them, never requiring us to take our eyes off the road. This becomes all the more important when we’re in an unfamiliar area in hazardous conditions.

One Canadian woman would disagree. She was in an unfamiliar area of Ontario on a “dark and stormy night,” but when she drove down a boat launch into the Georgian Bay, she discovered her GPS may not have been as reliable as she thought. She did exactly as directed by her GPS, but the GPS was wrong. She came out of the frigid water just fine, but the same could not be said for her car.1

Thankfully, we can always rely on the direction the Bible gives without fail. It is always reliable and will never lead us astray. Psalm 119 is a comprehensive treatment of God’s instruction, and in this psalm we see how the Bible produces spiritual growth, equips us to face opposition, and gives us a reliable perspective to navigate life.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Psalm 119:17-18

17 Be good to your servant while I live, that I may obey your word. 18 Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.

Psalm 119 is an amazing piece of Hebrew poetry. The psalm has twenty-two sections—one section for each letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Each section has eight lines that begin with the same letter. The psalmist quilted these sections together so the worshiper could reflect on the wisdom of submitting to the Lord’s instruction.

Psalm 119:17-24 is the third section (called the Gimel section after the third letter of the Hebrew alphabet), and it radiates with passion for God’s Word. The composer pleaded for God’s favor so that he could “live” and “obey your word.” The psalmist lived in order to obey God’s Word. By repeating the concept with parallel words, the psalmist emphasized obedience. The goal was not merely to know or understand God’s instruction; it was to live it, keep it, and obey it.

The psalmist didn’t view his obedience as a difficult obligation. Nor was he punching a spiritual time clock while daydreaming about something more enjoyable. The psalmist didn’t view God’s Word as a means to merely make his life better. The Lord’s instruction was his reason for life.

Reading the Bible daily will do more to help you grow spiritually than any other choice you can make. It’s the foundational spiritual discipline that all the others build on. Beyond the immediate benefit of encountering God when you read the Bible, the understanding that develops over a lifetime provides a framework for all other spiritual disciplines. Your understanding of God’s will, as revealed in the Bible, helps you distinguish between God’s voice and other influences.

Question 2:

When has God revealed Himself

to you in a fresh way through His Word?

The psalmist pleaded for the Lord to open his eyes so that he could see the awesome teachings of the law. We might read a note of desperation in his words—he was desperate to encounter God through His Word. He didn’t want the cares of life to distract him from what was most important. Because he had an open heart, he cried out for open eyes so God would reveal His truth to him from the Word. While only a few have heard the audible voice of God, everyone has the opportunity to “hear” God speak through His written Word. Biblical interpretation is a science, and it can take work to interpret and expound on difficult passages, but that effort is not enough.

Understanding God’s Word is a spiritual work requiring the Holy Spirit to illuminate its meaning to the reader (1 Cor. 2:10-14). The psalmist longed to hear from God, but he prayerfully looked to God to open his eyes to what He revealed through His Word. 

Psalm 119:19-22

19 I am a stranger on earth; do not hide your commands from me. 20 My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times. 21 You rebuke the arrogant, who are accursed, those who stray from your commands. 22 Remove from me their scorn and contempt, for I keep your statutes. 

Hearing from God was important to the psalmist, especially since he knew that the world around him was not always a friendly place. After marinating his soul in the instruction of the Lord, the psalmist saw the sin-saturated world as foreign to him. He declared that he was “a stranger on earth,” a sojourner who felt like he did not belong; he was an outsider. 

Strangers and foreigners were especially vulnerable in the ancient Near East. Without the kindness of others, they would not have food, shelter, or water. Towns didn’t have a modern-day infrastructure for transportation, housing, or dining. If the decent, kind citizens did not offer their protection and the hospitality of their homes, the stranger would be at the mercy of the mob.

The psalmist desired to live in obedience to God’s Word; therefore, he felt like a stranger in a world that felt at home with sin. The sin infested people around him were insulting and contemptuous toward him. They even acted arrogantly; either proud of their sin or haughty in thinking they were beyond the need to follow God’s instruction. Yet, the psalmist experienced relief and comfort from God’s Word while living in this hostile environment. Living, keeping, and obeying God’s Word removed the sting that came from the disapproving people who scorned and cursed him. 

LIFE SUPPORT

Consider the following statement and place a mark on the scale below.

When faced with opposition to my faith, I boldly stand firm.

What encouragement from this session supports you when faced

with opposition or rejection?

“The Holy Scriptures are our letters from home.”

AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO

The psalmist welcomed God’s commands and longed for His judgment, which was valuable to him. Even as he felt the insults of the arrogant, he looked to God to rebuke them. As harsh as his treatment may have been from the sinful crowds, the psalmist sought to stay true to the commands and judgments of God. His only escape from being vulnerable in a wicked land was the guidance of God’s commandments and the security of God’s righteous judgment.

The psalmist had a quiet confidence that God would straighten everything out. Though others treated him with contempt and pummeled him with insults, he knew this was a temporary condition. He knew he was keeping God’s commands and decrees, and that was what really mattered. What mattered most was not what the cultural elite thought of him, but what God thought of him—God’s judgment. And he knew God was pleased with the life choices he was making—the choices to know and obey God’s commandments.

Living God’s way is not usually the easiest path, but it is always the best path. It requires that believers go against the grain of the sin filled culture that surrounds us, which often means we will endure insults. Other times it means we will face outright persecution, but we can withstand all these things as we trust God and live in obedience to His Word. 

Question 3:

How has knowing God through

His Word helped you face challenges in life?

Psalm 119:23-24

23 Though rulers sit together and slander me, your servant will meditate on your decrees. 24 Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors.

The psalmist didn’t merely face the insults or contempt of everyday people; he experienced a conspiracy of princes and governmental officials who collaborated to persecute him. As always, God’s Word, the delight of his life and constant counselor, gave him the proper perspective to face the persecution. 

Question 4:

When has your perspective on

something been changed because of God’s Word?

Instead of being afraid of those who actively plotted against him, the psalmist chose to “think about” the Word of God. He made an intentional choice to go beyond merely familiarizing himself with God’s Word by reading it; it was a choice to internalize it and meditate on it. Meditation—going over a matter in your mind—requires an investment of time to reflect and pray about God’s truths.

Because the world we live in is so corrupt, it’s tempting to concentrate on how bad things are and how unjust the treatment is that we receive. As our culture continues to jettison Christian values in favor of secularism or hedonism, some choose to focus on the contempt they receive and the insults others hurl at them. But when our focus is on how bad things are, we lose sight of how good God is. We would be wise to stop soaking in all the news and opinions from the 24-hour news channels; instead, we should give time to reading and reflecting on God’s Word until its teachings become a part of our fiber. God’s Word changes our perspective!

Meditating on God’s Word requires focused, deliberate attention over a prolonged period of time on biblical teachings. Bible reading gives breadth. Bible study gives depth. Meditating on the Word gives perspective. It’s an intentional choice we make to join God in His work of transforming us into the image of Christ. Spending quality time in God’s Word changes the way we think and respond to life.

When we meditate on God’s Word, it becomes the delight of our lives, the constant counselor that guides our decisions. The Bible is worthy of our time. It provides proper guidance for life and equips us to make wise choices under pressure and even persecution. 

Question 5:

What challenges do we face in

 

ringing God’s perspective to bear in our lives?

LIVE IT OUT

How will you practice the discipline of spending time with God’s Word? Choose one of the following applications: 

• Read the Bible. If you’re not spending time in God’s Word, start here and now. Spend at least fifteen minutes every day reading God’s Word.                                                                    
• Study the Bible. Choose a book of the Bible and spend time studying its message. Your pastor or group leader can recommend a commentary or study helps to assist you in your study.                                                                                                                         
• Meditate on God’s Word. Turn off the TV, computer, and smartphone and spend uninterrupted time meditating on God’s Word. Journal your thoughts and observations. 

Unlike the sometimes unreliable GPS, the Bible is always reliable. It will provide the direction, guidance, and perspective you need to navigate this sin-filled world.