George Wishart, who served as the Bishop of Edinburgh in the 17th century. He was condemned to death for preaching the gospel. It was a custom to ask for the last wish, and also what music or song (psalm) would be played when he was hanged. He chose the longest Psalm. (Psalm 119) It was being sung, as two-thirds were over, his letter of pardon arrived, and his life was spared.
Fall asleep: Some people fall asleep reading the psalm, or get bored as it has 22 sections with 8 verses each. This is poetry describing, celebrating, and teaching the significance of God’s Word. It emphasizes the Bible’s role in:
Purity of Life: Guiding young people towards holiness, revealing God’s standard of purity, warning against temptation, and offering cleansing from impurity. The light to walk in the overwhelming spiritual darkness in the world.
Navigating Trials: As long as we are alive, we have to face trials, tribulations, and temptations. The Bible provides insight, removing spiritual blindness, and offering comfort and strength in affliction.
Spiritual Growth: Leading to an “enlarged heart” characterized by wisdom, steadfastness, confidence, and purity. It makes a person broad-minded to embrace the whole Body of Christ, the church in all cultures and nations.
Guidance and Life: Instructing in righteousness, delivering from covetousness, and offering true and eternal worth. Providing meaning and purpose for earthly life. Wise decisions are possible from the wisdom of the Scripture.
Liberty: Found in loving and obeying God’s Word, enabling believers to testify without fear. The truth sets sinners free. (John 8:32) Free from sins, traditions, rituals, preconceptions, negative thoughts, pessimism, and fatalism.
Comfort and Strength: Providing solace in affliction and generating trust and hope. Holding up and sustaining believers by comfort, consolation, and counsel. It is more valuable than gold, and sweeter than honey.
Transformation: Leading to repentance, obedience, reconciliation, righteousness, and a deeper relationship with God.
Understanding: Granting insight and wisdom, even to the simple. God includes those with simple, average IQ or below-average IQ to trust God and receive wisdom.
Do I love, learn, and live the Word?