How blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord. How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, who seek Him with all their heart. They also do no unrighteousness; they walk in His ways. You have ordained Your precepts, that we should keep them diligently. Oh that my ways may be established to keep Your statutes! Then I shall not be ashamed when I look upon all Your commandments. I shall give thanks to You with uprightness of heart, when I learn Your righteous judgments. Psalm 119:1-7 (NASB)
We continue today with an introductory emphasis to our new series on "Wisdom" from the book of Proverbs. The Psalmist's words capture well the "right overall approach" we need for gaining the most from our "Wisdom" series as we let God speak to us from the Book Proverbs. The Psalm speaks of the law of the Lord, his testimonies, his ways, his precepts, his statutes, his commandments, and his righteous judgments. Proverbs is a collection of all of these kinds of things. Truly Proverbs is a book of wisdom. The Psalmist says the person who observes what God has communicated is blessed. However, this blessing also requires that they "seek Him with all their heart." Having the "right overall approach" always keeps the focus on God and that which he communicates to us about his intentions for our lives.
Let's join the Psalmist and embrace the expectations he had for the future. The Psalmist said of the future, "I shall give thanks to You with uprightness of heart, when I learn Your righteous judgments." In anticipation of all that God will bring to us of himself and his intentions for us through the book of Proverbs, may we, too, say of the future, "I shall give thanks to You with uprightness of heart, when I learn Your righteous judgments."
Lord, with as much of my heart, soul, and mind as I know how, I express these words to you now, "I shall give thanks to You with uprightness of heart, when I learn Your righteous judgments." I look forward to saying these words to you over and over again in the coming weeks in response to all that you bring to me of yourself and your intentions for my life. I really do want to become established in your ways. Amen!
