Psalm 119

This summer, we are celebrating God’s revelation in his word through a teaching series on Psalm 119.  

We invite your thoughts on these two questions:

What does God’s word mean to you?

How has it impacted your life?
 

13 Responses to “Psalm 119”

  1. Elsie Nickorick says:

    I am Elsie Nickorick – born again 71 years ago!

    I was not raised in a Christian home – we had a Bible – but not in the English language – so I did not read it. I was completely ignorant about God’s word – not even knowing there was an Old Testament & New Testament. It was a real milestone in my life to own a Bible, to read about Jesus and his ministry – his purpose. That was the beginning of the many years of reading, studying and teaching God’s word. It has been and is “a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”

    What does God’s word mean to me? I would say with the Psalmist “more precious than gold and sweeter than honey”.

    How has it impacted my life? Looking back all these years – since that eventful day of salvation 71 years ago – it has taught me who God is – love, grace, mercy, forgiveness and to love, forgive, abide in Him and His word. It has taught me that God has a plan for our lives. It has taught me that God’s way is the best way. It has taught me that God is sovereign, in charge, — unchanging in a changing world — and the way to live, to experience the abundant life He has promised and gives is to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him. And He will make your paths straight.” God’s word — precious, the compass and map for living and life. Thank you!

  2. Ernie Atkinson says:

    If I was interested in getting to know someone, I would want to know more about that person, and would learn about that person in at least possibly two ways:

    1. What that person says about themselves or what other people have said about them.
    2. My increasing relationship and experiences in getting to know that person

    And in my relationship with God, I have read what He has said about Himself in the Bible, and what others in Scripture have said about Him, as well as those since that time who are His followers. But when it comes down to it, I really cannot separate what has been said about God from the impact believing His Words has actually had on my own life.

    I can share one significant example from the past where I had been asked to serve in our previous church. At the time I was really feeling quite low, spiritually and emotionally. I wrestled with being willing to serve, and finally said to God that I was willing, but that He would have to convince me beyond any shadow of a doubt, knowing how I was feeling at the time. That same day as a family we read a devotional which had the key verse of Psalm 100:2 — Serve the LORD with gladness

    That was Saturday. The next morning, as part of the worship service, we were referred to a section in our hymnbooks, which we only did from time to time, which included, as you might guess, a reading from Psalm 100, and therefore, verse 2: Serve the LORD with gladness

    I knew I had to serve, and regardless of my emotional baggage at that time, these words were a foundation to trust the LORD’s leading in my life.

    And as I am totally dependent on what He has said about Himself, I am finding from experience a peace through openness with God and reliance upon what He has said—His Word and its impact on my life experience.

  3. Xulin Guo says:

    Jesus saved me in 2006. After that I heard people say that I need to know more about of God. I was wondering what is it and how to do it. One evening, when I was reading Bible with my boys, it was chapter 2 of the Proverbs. It starts with “My son.” Immediately I knew that God is calling me and wants to tell me something.
    “1My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, 2turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding— 3indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, 4and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, 5then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God” (Proverbs 2:1-4).

    This is my first experience that the Lord talked to me through Bible directly. After that, the Lord guided my life in different aspects and in many ways. Another example is for the marriage. When my husband and I got into argument, sometimes he would say to divorce. As we both thought that Christian cannot divorce until one day when I was reading 1 Corinthians chapter 7. It says, “And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so” (13, 15). I was so excited to hear this. I told my husband then I will never say divorce again, but if he wants to go because of my faith, he should just go. From that time on, we never mentioned about divorce anymore.

    I truly experienced that “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path” (Psalm 119:105).

  4. Lucy Fadeyi says:

    Hello Emmanuel, my name is Lucy Fadeyi. And I’ll be responding to 2 questions: What does God’s word mean to me and how has it impacted my life?

    To me, God’s word means peace, healing and comfort. He is also my waymaker, miracle worker, promise keeper and a light in the darkness.
    My life has been impacted by God’s word because whenever I am with God, I always feel safe, comforted and have the peace of mind everywhere I go.
    God’s word has also impacted me with my daily walk with him especially during the lowest points in my life, when he was all I could lean on.

    One of my favourite bible verses that has kept me grounded and at peace is
    Psalm 23:4, which reads as follows; “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil for you are with me, your rod and your staff they comfort me”
    Even as I continue my journey with Cancer, I know that his word will continue to lift up my spirit.

    One thing I know for sure is that our God is a faithful God.

    Thank you.

  5. Ed Peters says:

    It’s my foundation. It’s my anchor in stormy seas. As a boy growing up, I watched my dad study the word of God and work to live by what he studied. My mom also lived by what she heard and read.

    The word has impacted every area of my life. I need it. I read it and I study it to know who God is. I compare what I read in the word of God with what the teaching of man and the church is. If I hear some teaching that doesn’t seem right, I go to the word and see if it’s true.

    It causes me to strive to live with integrity in all areas of my life. When I’m tempted to sin, it nudges my conscience, and when I sin, it confronts me.

    I have a passion to love and to serve my family because of its influence in my life. I work and I share in the life of the church because I want others to know the truth of the word. My passion and love for the Spanish community is because of my desire to live out what I’ve read in the word.

    God’s word points out our sin and our need for a saviour. Psalm 119:11, “You word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against you.” In verse 105, “Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path.” John 1, verse 1 and following: “In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God. All things came to be through him and without him, nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life and this life was the light of the human race. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.”

  6. Cameo Rempel says:

    Good morning, church family! As others have so eloquently shared, God’s word is a guide and source of inspiration as I seek to live a life that glorifies Him. It helps me battle obsessive thoughts that come with an anxiety disorder and gives me strength when I am confused, heartbroken, or lonely. It gently convicts and brings me closer to the God who forgives. Through it, my Creator whispers words of love and desire time and time again. I need scripture, especially the passages I’ve clung to from childhood, to keep my mind and spirit in good working order.

    Something that I hadn’t experienced as much until recently, is the fun and entertainment that can also be found in God’s word. For example, Proverbs, while full of wisdom, is also hilarious at times. Take Proverbs 26:27: “Interfering in someone else’s argument is as foolish as yanking a dog’s ear.” Is that not one of the funniest comparisons you’ve ever heard? And what married person hasn’t chuckled a bit at Proverbs 25:24? “It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a contentious wife.” While these proverbs are true, and their points are well taken, they are delivered with a healthy dose of humour, which I absolutely love!

    At other times, the people and stories I encounter keep me on the edge of my seat as much as any gripping movie or novel. Ruth, for example, chose to leave her home, her family, her people, her religion, for her mother-in-law. She then follows the older woman’s advice to show up, uninvited, to a man’s bed in the middle of the night. That’s actually in the Bible! Have we read it too many times to be shocked by it? An entire sea parted to allow the Israelites to leave Egypt—that’s mind-blowing! Have we read it too many times to be surprised?

    While I still appreciate and seek the deep, important lessons to be learned, I’m noticing God’s sense of humour and passion for storytelling more often these days. It’s delightful! I love to laugh and hear interesting stories. My closest friends are the people that make me laugh the hardest and know just which anecdotes I’ll most appreciate. God knows this about me and invites my laughter with inside jokes, hilarious memories, and surprising twists and turns as He shares His stories with me. It’s incredible that He wants to be my friend. So, at this stage in my faith journey, I’m leaning into the enjoyment of God’s word and experiencing the joy and fun I find there. It’s a wonderful new way to encounter my first love.

  7. LaDawn Lecnick says:

    Hello. The first time I remember God’s word speaking to me personally was when I was a child and I was struggling with fear. God encouraged me through 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, of love and of self-discipline.” This is a verse that I have returned to again and again. The fact that God speaks to me through his word shows me his love.

    At the beginning of this year I started a bible reading plan from the Bible Project. They provide videos to accompany each book of the bible as well as a weekly blog post and podcast which highlight the major themes of the readings. It has been a very helpful resource for me because it has helped me to see more clearly how the entire bible is a unified story. When I read the Old Testament before I often got bogged down in all the details that I didn’t necessarily understand but it has been so meaningful to see how each book and each smaller storyline is pointing towards Jesus as our Saviour. It has renewed my excitement and enthusiasm for the grand story of the Bible and the way it reveals the unchanging character of God.

    I have a new appreciation for the fact that the Bible is a literary masterpiece. It is truly amazing that it was written over a period of 1600 years, by dozens of different authors, in three different languages… and yet it is a unified story. Only God could have orchestrated that. God has gone to great lengths to reveal himself to us through his word and through Jesus which demonstrates his deep and unfailing love.

  8. Sharon Smith says:

    Good morning Emmanuel. Thank you for this opportunity and for Brendon’s encouragement to give my response to the two questions: “What does God’s word mean to me?” and “How has it impacted my life?”

    As a child and teen, I regularly attended Sunday School and church. I also participated in Pioneer Girls earning badges that built up my life skills and memorizing scripture. There were three verses, at this time, that were key foundational ones for me. They were: John 3:16 and God’s assurance of my salvation; Psalm 119:105,”Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”; and also Psalm 119:11, “Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee.”

    When I was 18 or 19 years old, I attended a Spiritual Life Conference where the guest speaker highlighted several verses in Philippians, two of which I’d like to mention now. They are Philippians 1:6, “Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ.” and “My God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”, Philippians 4:19.

    In my early 20’s, I read J. I. Packer’s book, Knowing God, which helped to nurture my desire to study theology and subsequently, counselling.

    As a young Biology/Chemistry teacher, I taught grade ten Science fourteen times in three years and I found that I was thoroughly bored and thought I can’t do this the rest of my life. I better go back to school and get some more training. So at the age of 27, I attended Regent College which further aided my study and understanding of scripture as well as developing a deeper desire for a stronger spiritual life through prayer and meditation.

    It is while I was at Regent that Philippians 4:4-9 had a major impact on my life. Interestingly enough, two women at the beginning of chapter 4 are arguing and Paul exhorts all involved to “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the God of peace which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and mind in Christ Jesus.” As easy as it sounds to do, I find it very difficult even now as a mature adult. I love what Paul states in verses 8 and 9. “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things … And the God of peace will be with you.”

    All these foundational verses give me the reason for my salvation, the hope of my faith, and the promise that God never gives up on me. They also show how to handle life’s frustrations and difficulties. As a result, I firmly believe that for me, and also you, scripture is the soothing balm that calms our mind and heals our soul.

  9. Candy Xia says:

    Good morning brothers and sisters. My name is Candy.

    I was baptized in 2011 and I have been attending Emmanuel since 2016. Since becoming a Christian, God’s word has been a great source of encouragement and direction for me. It has taught me to trust God and to depend on him in all circumstances. Psalm 37:5 says, “Commit your way to the Lord and trust in him.” I would like to share one story about how I experienced the truth of that verse.

    Over the Christmas holiday in 2019 I planned to fly back from Thailand to Saskatoon with my daughter. My daughter and I went to the airport three hours early to check in. However, when it was our turn, the staff told us our tickets had been blocked. They tried to contact the airline, but could not. This was around midnight. I tried to reach the Chinese airline in China and after I made several phone calls I got in touch with them. They told me that my information could be opened on their computer and that there was no problem anymore. But the check in staff tried many times and were unsuccessful. Time was slipping by and I was very worried. I knew that if this flight was delayed, I would miss the other two connecting flights.

    As I waited, the check-in staff informed me that they would have to close the check in soon and they didn’t think we could catch this flight because the plane was scheduled to leave in 30 minutes. So I sat down with my daughter and we prayed. In prayer, I asked The Lord to take care of this issue for me and told him I would leave it with Him. I felt helpless but I believed he could help me and I would accept whatever happened. I believed that whatever the Lord gave us must be the best for us. I felt peace and relief at the end of the prayer but nothing happened and the staff were already locking the counter. As I stood up, my phone rang and I got a call from the airline saying they had fixed my problem and asked me to check with the check in counter. As soon as we got to our seats and the plane took off, then my tears began to flow. How wonderful is the Lord! He never abandons us when we depend on him.

    This experience made me realize that The Lord had asked me to rely on Him, to entrust all my worries to him, and that he will be there to help me.

  10. Lisa Brumwell says:

    Hello. For those of you that don’t know me, my name is Lisa Brumwell.

    What God’s Word means to me is that no matter the struggles I face in life, he will ALWAYS be with me, to help guide me towards a lighted path.

    God creates beauty out of the ashes. With the struggles I face in life, especially as of recent, I am learning and growing in understanding that I must embrace in those struggles knowing that God is my strength and he will take the heavy burden when my strength is gone.

    This has impacted my life because I am learning more and more that my struggles build perseverance, character and hope to carry on and not face them alone.

    John 1:5 says, The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. The Lord is my light and I must trust him to lead me through the darkness.

    One of my favorite versus is from Philippians 4:13 — I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. There isn’t anything I can do without Christ in my life. If it was not for him, I would not be able to do anything, as his strength is perfect when mine is gone.

    There will be times where I may be put through more than I think I can handle. And this is where I really must press into the Lord and his word. He helps me grow stronger in my faith in Him and he is perfect and loves me unconditionally.

    It’s such a blessing and an amazing feeling that God loves me with such a perfect unconditional love that nothing can compare to it. To give me the Grace I do not deserve. There is no other love like it and never will be… THANK YOU LORD!!!

  11. Gord Wiwchar says:

    Strength. Encouragement. Direction. Peace. Humbling. And much more.

    Countless times, God’s word has been the right words at the right time. And, His word has been delivered though many methods, circumstances and people. I have experienced these right words listening to the Bible on disk while driving. Even after reading and hearing these same passages many times before, at the moment, my need is filled by His word. His word has spoken to me by messages from pastoral teachings and song. Often, I have been sitting in church and felt like the message was directed to me. There have been times when I have heard a verse or verses, or read them only to have them repeated in the next day or two from our Sunday teaching. Another way God has said, you did not hear it fully the first time, so here it is again.

    One example of God delivering His word to me. Many years ago, I had a job where I was constantly travelling and spending long hours to keep on top of the operations of 8 distribution centers. At one point, I had an injury to my foot as I was on my way to the airport. I should have attended to the injury, however, I did not. I boarded the plane and travelled to another city. Later that day, the leg on this foot started to swell. The swelling grew worse through the day and was to a point where the pressure made walking difficult. A young man at one of these distribution centers approached me. He commented on my limping and after I told him of the mishap earlier that day, he closed our brief conversation with “Maybe God is telling to slow down for a bit.” In the next few days as the swelling did not improve, I visited the hospital and found out that I had a blood clot. I had never seen that young man before or after. But, I got the message, SLOW DOWN.

    All the time His word is providing strength, encouragement, direction, peace or whatever my need is.

    Proverbs 16:9 – “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”

  12. Betty Elmgren says:

    What does God’s word mean to me and how has it impacted my life?

    Thinking about what God’s word means to me, and the impact brings a variety of thoughts to my mind so I will try to express some of those today.

    Scripture is like taking a walk through history and it speaks to me throughout my days, moving into my mind as I go through each day. Sometimes it is like a warm blanket on a cold frosty day, or like a bright break through ray of sunshine after days of gloom. Other times scripture is like a refreshing cup of steaming java to wake me up, or a firm hand of support and encouragement on a slippery slope.

    What does God’s word mean to me?

    It is so very precious to me. I like to open my good old faithful Bible first thing in the morning with my hot cup of coffee. God drew me to scripture many years ago as a mom who needed something to ground me and strengthen me. I had a longing to get to know God and scripture was one of the ways to do that. Over the years of reading, contemplating, and praying, different passages have become embedded in my mind. New thoughts and meanings have helped me on this journey of life. Sometimes I have worked at memorizing certain favourite passages, but often this is a slow process. Very often I find that familiar portions come to the forefront of my mind when I need them most. I feel that I have come closer to God over the years and scripture feels alive to me. Different patterns develop as my life takes it’s turns and challenges come my way. Some portions of the Bible can seem to come across as brutal, upsetting, outdated and difficult. However we need to keep in mind the historical factor and the culture of the time in which it was written. Over time, as I work through my walk with God by studying and praying, I have seen a consistent thread throughout the Bible. It shows up as a moving, living, winding thread of love. Throughout the history of pain, brokenness, redemption and restoration it reveals God’s faithful love. It is always there… a beautiful peaceful thread of love, grace and forgiveness. It weaves it’s way throughout the chapters into our hearts.

    I encourage you to explore the scriptures with God. No pressure to perform. Just let the story draw you you through the ups and downs – the hills and valleys into the character of the Almighty who loves you.

  13. Hui Wang says:

    Today we had last Sunday to learn Psalm 119. I would appreciate Brendon for this arrangement as well as for all the preachers for their inspiring messages in their teachings. When I read Psalm 119, I felt that I was chatting with God or vice versa. When I read or listened to different versions in this study, I noticed that words such as commands, commandments, decrees instructions, laws, precepts, statutes, word, etc are interchangeable in the versions. Of course, they sound meaningful in the places. I just wonder if there is situation in which one way is better than the other in reflecting the intensions by the Hebrew itself.

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