Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

Just going through the psalm verse-by-verse suggests the following benefits to me:

preservation or lengthening of life (verses 25, 37, 40, 50, 92, 93, 107, 149, 154, 156, 159, 175)
spiritual strength (28)
spiritual direction, recovery, or guidance (35, 176)
removal of disgrace/preservation from shame (39, 46, 80)
salvation (41, 155, 166, 174)
hope (49, 116)
comfort (50, 52)
grace (58)
good (65)
enemies disgraced or put to shame (78)
wisdom (98)
insight (99)
understanding (100, 104)
avoidance of snares or traps set by the ungodly (110)
sustainment/support (116, 117, 175)
rejection or thwarting of the ungodly or wicked by God (118, 119)
not being left at the mercy of oppressors (121)
ensurance of well-being (122)
deliverance or redemption from oppression or suffering (122, 134, 153, 154, 170)
mercy (132)
defense (154)
compassion (156)
peace (165)
preservation from stumbling (165)

May 22 2020 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht ABC/DTS graduate, guitar music ministry Baptist church

It leads to joy.
"Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart." (Ps 119:2) 

The NLT, the BBE, and the NRSV translate the word blessed as joyful. The word can also be translated happy. Knowing and seeking God through His Word is a joy-filling activity, and who among us doesn’t need some joy?

"I rejoice in following your statutes
as one rejoices in great riches".
Psalm 119:14 (NIV)

It guards against the trap of self-seeking.

"Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain"! (Ps 119:36) 
Why is this so important? Because self-seeking is a trap. It does not lead to the fulfillment it promises, but to a pervasive emptiness. Yet to pursue God above our own interests is to find the gratification we’re really looking for. 

"Turn my heart toward your statutes
and not toward selfish gain."
Psalm 119:36 | NIV | law greed heart

It grants us freedom.
"And I shall walk in a wide place, for I have sought your precepts." (Ps 119:45) 
True freedom isn't found in living however I want. True freedom is found through living in right relation to God. God’s commandments provide the boundaries for doing so. 

"I will walk about in freedom,
for I have sought out your precepts."
Psalm 119:45 | NIV | This freedom in regard o the law is all about seeking.

NET ©
"I will be secure, 1 for I seek your precepts."

NET © Notes	1 tn Heb “and I will walk about in a wide place.” An option is to take it as expressing the psalmist’s request. In this case one could translate, “and please give me security.”

And as Tim said about comfort (Ps 119:50, 52), being in God's Word brings comfort (and I’ll add, it brings comfort in affliction.)
"This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life." (Ps 119:50) 
No matter the circumstances the Word of God offers relief when nothing else can. His promises are true and stand firm through every situation. 

NET ©
"I remember your ancient regulations, 1 O Lord, and console myself." 2 

NET © Notes	1 tn Heb “I remember your regulations from of old.” The prepositional phrase “from of old” apparently modifies “your regulations,” alluding to the fact that God revealed them to Israel in the distant past. Another option is to understand the prepositional phrase as modifying the verb, in which case one might translate, “I have long remembered your regulations.”
2 tn Or “find comfort.”

It is life-giving.
"I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life." (Ps. 119:93)
I once was lost, but now I’m found. I once was dead, but now I’m alive. How? The Word of God and the Spirit of God working powerfully in me. 

"I will never forget your precepts,
for by them you have preserved my life."
Psalm 119:93 

As Tim said being in God's Word gives 
wisdom (Ps 119:98)
insight (Ps 119:99)
understanding (Ps 119:100, 104)

It gives wisdom and understanding.

"I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation." (Ps 119:99) 
There is no wisdom apart from God. In Christ “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col. 2:3). To know the Word is to know Christ, and to know Christ is to know God, and to know God is to know wisdom. 

It lights the path we should take.

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Ps 119:105)
Unsure about which way to go? The Word is a light to the right path. This path will always lead to God and not away; it will lead toward righteousness and not toward sin. 

"Your word is a lamp for my feet,
a light on my path". 
Psalm 119:105 | NIV | 

It keeps us from falling into the enemy’s traps.

"The wicked have laid a snare for me, but I do not stray from your precepts." (Ps 119:110)
Navigating difficult people can be well, difficult. But God’s Word lends us the proper course to keep us upright.

As Tim said, 1 of the benefits of being in God's Word is "avoidance of snares or traps set by the ungodly" (Ps 119:110)

May 24 2020 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report