{"id":11464,"date":"2015-07-01T21:32:12","date_gmt":"2015-07-02T02:32:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.flandersfamily.info\/web\/?p=11464"},"modified":"2023-03-16T20:18:29","modified_gmt":"2023-03-17T01:18:29","slug":"in-the-word-on-wednesday-psalm-11997","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.flandersfamily.info\/web\/2015\/07\/01\/in-the-word-on-wednesday-psalm-11997\/","title":{"rendered":"Word on Wednesday: Psalm 119:97"},"content":{"rendered":"

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As I mentioned yesterday, I’ve been reading a lot of great books<\/a> this summer.<\/p>\n

Our family goes to the pool several times a week, and my husband and I spend most of our time there reading poolside while the children swim. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, Doug loves the sun, and I love the shade<\/strong> (primarily because he tans and I burn), so we are usually sitting on opposite sides of the pool while we read.<\/p>\n

He soaks up the rays while I hide from them.<\/p>\n

We both love to read and to discuss what we are reading<\/strong>, so we’ll sometimes venture to the other side of the pool if we come across a particularly compelling passage that begs to be shared immediately.<\/p>\n

But if we can get that<\/em> excited about the words of mere men, how much more delight we should be taking in the Word of God! <\/strong><\/p>\n

This seems to be the reaction of the psalmist in today’s Bible verse:<\/p>\n

“O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever mine.” (Psalm 119:97-98<\/a>, NASB)<\/p>\n

Can’t you just see him with the Word of God in his lap, soaking it all in like my husband soaks in the sun’s rays? Reading a few pages every chance he gets? Carrying it with him wherever he goes? Thinking on it? Pondering it? <\/strong>Perhaps even taking notes (like I am wont to do in the margins of every book I get my hands on, including the Bible)? Eagerly discussing it with whomever will listen?<\/p>\n

Honestly, I can’t help but feel convicted by this week’s memory verse.<\/p>\n

I do read my Bible regularly, but I sometimes act as if it is more of a chore than a delight<\/strong> — especially when it comes to reading the books of the law (think Deuteronomy or Leviticus).<\/p>\n

Yet elsewhere in God’s Word, He assures us that “All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.”<\/em> (2 Timothy 3:16<\/a>)<\/p>\n

The Psalmist instinctively understood this and studied God’s Word thoroughly enough to become wiser than all his enemies.<\/p>\n

And if we want to grow in wisdom, we would do well to follow that example, hiding God’s Word in our heart and letting it soak into our innermost being.<\/strong><\/p>\n

This week’s verse can be found in the fourth set<\/a> of our Scripture Memory Flashcards:<\/p>\n

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[click on image to print]<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/a><\/p>\n

And for extra practice on Psalm 119:97 (and other passages), I’ve made more handwriting printables<\/a>, as well:<\/p>\n

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[click on image to print]<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/a><\/p>\n

Plus, in case you missed them, here are links to the first three sets of flashcards and practice sheets, too:<\/p>\n