DRAW NEAR: Week 3 - MONDAY

// Monday //

Read – Psalm 19:7-9, Jeremiah 15:16

SOAP – Psalm 19:7-9

"The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living. Reverence for the Lord is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the Lord are true; each one is fair."

In the NLT the words of Proverbs 19:7-9 are a little different, but still the same meaning... "The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living. Reverence for the Lord is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the Lord are true; each one is fair.

Of course I pulled out how God's Word was described, the nature of it and of God, & what it gave us or received from it.

Get into the Word • Know the Word • Obey the Word • Live the Word

1) Instructions - perfect - revives our soul

'Instructions' defined: a direction or order. Detailed info telling how something should be done, operated or assembled.

2) Decrees - trustworthy - wisdom to the simple

'Decree' defined: an official order issued by a legal authority

3) Commandments - - joy to our hearts

'Commandments' defined: a divine rule, especially one of the 10 commandments. A rule to be observed strictly.

4) Commands - clear - insight for living

'Commands' defined: an authoritative order

5) Reverance - pure - everlasting (the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Proverbs 1:7).

'Reverence' defined: deep respect for something or someone. Regard or treat with deep respect.

6) Laws - true - fair/just

'Laws' defined: the system of rules regulating which a particular country or community recognizes as regulating the actions of its members and which it may enforce by the imposition of penalties.

So many facets of His Word... but it all relates to each other. Our Bible... 'Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth'... how to get our earthly spiritual bodies ready for our heavenly spiritual home.

...and the verse in Jeremiah 15:16 "When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies."

Putting the two readings together, I pulled this out... His Words (whether they be Instructions, decrees, commandments, commands, laws or the pure reverent words) are our daily bread... we can "eat" His Word daily and digest and understand it and it can fill us with the spiritual nutrients we need. Just like breakfast is said to be the most important meal of the day... the morning Scripture is the most important spiritual meal. Clearly at this quarantine time, we enjoy snacking throughout the day, just like we can glean from the Word throughout the day. We think on what we read & God sends more Scriptures, revelations and thoughts our way. I love a late-night snack as I don't like to go to bed on an empty stomach, and so a Word from the Lord before bed helps me sleep as well.

When I hear the word "devour" -- I immediately jump to the verse in 1 Peter 5:8 describing our enemy who prowls around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour." He prowls LIKE a lion, as he wants to be like Jesus the Lion of Judah. If we DEVOUR the Scriptures, the enemy cannot DEVOUR us! As Jesus fought temptation from the enemy with the Word, we can do the same!

"Devour" (for our purpose I skipped the eating definition) is defined as: from Latin devorare "swallow down, accept eagerly," ... Read quickly & eagerly....To absorb or engrossed wholly... To enjoy avidly.

(Source: Different online dictionaries)

Eagerly and avidly read the Word. Absorb it... into our spirit man. Get engrossed wholly into it! WOW!

We can trust fully in the Word and the words of our God. His nature is spoken through His word - as it says "for out of the heart the mouth speaks" Luke 6:45. ♡

He is making us more like Him as we read and glean from His Word. We need to guard our gates for sure. We are Ambassadors for Him. We have to walk in reverence (holy fear) of Him, His Name and His Word. This is a BIG eye-opener to the importance of this in these times. Defintely makes me wanna kick my butt into gear. Obey and live the Word!

"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." Proverbs 4:23

Sidenote: Some people just think the Bible/the Word is a list of rules and regulations, of don's & don'ts... thinking that much of the Old Testament doesn't apply to us today. That we don't have to follow the laws because Jesus came. But it says Jesus came to FULFILL the Law. His Word is more than just rules and regulations. It does show us the way to live. But it is a CHOICE. There are way more Do's than Don'ts... and IF we do... He promises to 'do' as well. But we aren't just to 'do' like a rule or law... we are to 'be'. When we become who God made us to be and walk in truths of His Word and His nature (as concluded above) we will naturally just 'do' as Jesus did, & 'be' Jesus with skin on... and then eternally in Spirit.

Leads into the 'be'attitudes...

Wow! God is so good!!

Have a happy and blessed week ahead!

BE BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING!