Day 1 – September 4, 2023: Psalm 119
September 4, 2023Welcome to read through the Bible Challenge. I can’t tell you how thrilled I am that you have decided to take this spiritual discipline on of reading through the Bible. I promised you that if you took on the “S” of “PSA” (Prayer, Scripture, and Action) that your life would be changed. I truly believe it. Scripture is able to transform and direct our lives in a way that nothing else can aside from Prayer and Action. So, let’s get started with our first Scripture.
Psalm 119 is the perfect chapter in the Bible to begin a read through the Bible series. Look at vs. 105 which underscores the purpose for which this Psalm was written: “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Christians in my generation can’t read this Scripture without thinking of this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gs-aiQ9NZ1g
Some important notes about this Psalm that you should know. This Psalm is called an acrostic which means that it follows a very specific pattern where each section of this Psalm begins with a new letter of the alphabet and it goes in order. In this Psalm every 8 verses begins with the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Vs.1-8 begins with the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, aleph, vs.9-16 all begin with the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet, bet, and so on until all 22 letters are used up in its 176 verses. So why this format? To show how wonderful and beautiful the Word of God and how we must read it and follow it all the days of our life. I know, that sounds kinda mushy, but it really, really is.
This Psalm provides us the inspiration and the impetus to begin this journey together. I really do hope that you get a lot out of this time with God’s Word and if you are joining us on this journey on this blog as well, I look forward to seeing you every day.
Also, if you wanted to start a public dialogue on this Psalm or on any of the Scriptures that we address you can see a comment section at the end of every day’s blog. You have to click on the post itself before you can see the comment box. I pray that God will speak to you mightily through this time.
My second time thru and I have enjoyed as much this first day. I still have much to learn.
I am so excited about this journey through the Bible. I know it will help me strengthen my personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
(From my journal) I’m around Verse 80, and increasingly, I see why this is a great starting point. We are using this scripture as a prayer of invocation that we are saying together, aloud or silent, separated in our homes but united as a church. OG David keeps saying, “Teach me your statutes.” By reading this psalm first, we are praying for God to teach us his statutes in the very same way, so that we may be happy as described in the very first verse of the psalm.
So great to have everyone on board. Ride the wave of the Holy Spirit and see where it takes you!