Knowledge Teach Me Knowledge and Good Judgment

Knowledge

Teach Me Knowledge and Good Judgment

It was good for me to be afflicted

so that I might learn your decrees.

 The law from your mouth is more precious to me

than thousands of pieces of silver and gold. Psalms 119:17

Learning can be fun.

Like a new dance move that makes everyone laugh.

Learning can be hard.

Like the school of hard knocks.

There are a lot of fun things to learn in life.

Some productive and others not so productive.

There is learning that takes little discipline.

And learning that takes a lot of discipline.

The Psalmist in Psalms 119 says…

“Before I was afflicted I went astray.”

Affliction – none of us want it.

Yet, the Psalmist realized its importance in his life.

He says…

“Do good to your servant

according to your word, O Lord.”

Many of us pray only the first half of this prayer…

“Do good to your servant”

The Psalmist learned the importance of

God’s Word through the afflictions of life.

Learning knowledge and good judgment starts with…

Faith – “for I believe in your commands.”

 We need to be careful that we do not soften our confession

to accommodate an easier life if we are to learn

the knowledge and good judgment we need.

Confidence – “You are good, and what you do is good”

When the commands “precepts” of the Lord get

into our heart we avoid the lies of the arrogant.

Each one of us has to come to a place of

understanding how “precious” the words of God are…

It was good for me to be afflicted

so that I might learn your decrees.

 The law from your mouth is more precious to me

than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.

When God’s Word is seen more valuable

than earthly gain, we view His Word differently.

When we view God’s Word as

valuable, we take it seriously.

When words become valuable to us,

 they become commands.

The Psalmist realized through the

afflictions of life, he needed discipline.

 He not only welcomed the Word of God

he took it as a “command”.

This made him a man of conviction.

Whatever is “precious” to you will guide you.

What values have you discovered in affliction?

The Psalmist discovered…

“The law from your mouth is more precious to me

than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.”

  

Scripture Reading

Psalm 119:65-72 NIV

65 Do good to your servant

according to your word, O Lord.

66 Teach me knowledge and good judgment,

for I believe in your commands.

67 Before I was afflicted I went astray,

but now I obey your word.

68 You are good, and what you do is good;

teach me your decrees.

69 Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies,

I keep your precepts with all my heart.

70 Their hearts are callous and unfeeling,

but I delight in your law.

71 It was good for me to be afflicted

so that I might learn your decrees.

72 The law from your mouth is more precious to me

than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.