How Much Should We Treasure Scripture? What Should Our Response Be to It?

                           

                                                                 Psalm 119

Give thanks with uprightness of heart (v. 7), rise up at midnight to give thanks (v.62)

Treasure it in our heart (v.11,27,162)

Be teachable to is (v.12,18,26,27,33,34,64,66,68,71,73,102,108,124,135,144,169,171)

Rejoice in it (v.  14,162)

Meditate on it (v.15, 48,78,) day and night (97)

Delight in it (v.16,24,47,70,77,92,143,174)

Do not forget them (v.1783,93,153,176)

Soul crushed with longing after Word at all times (v. 20)

See as wonderful (v. 18,27)

See as good (v. 39)

Cling to the Word (v.31)

Run the Way of the Word (v. 32)

Walk in Its Path (v.1,32,35)

Observe the Word until death (v. 33,129,145,146)

Keep the Word with Whole Heart (v.34)

Hasten to Obey It (v.60)

Incline my Heart to them (v.36,112)

Long for them (v.40)

Trust in It (v.42)

Speak It because It’s True (v.43)

Wait for It (v.43,74,81,114,147)

Keep It Continually, forever and ever (v.44), Obey it (v.55,67,106,134,166,167,168), heart be blameless in obeying it and not ashamed (80)Swear to and Confirm, and promise to Keep it (v.  57,67,106), Adhere to It (v.51)

Fear it (v.12)

Believe in It (v.66)

Seek It (v.45,94)

Speak It (v.46)

Love It (v.47,48,97,113, 127 (above fine gold),140,159,163,165) exceedingly (167)

Hope in It (v.49)

Remember  It (v.52,61,140)

Look for Comfort in It (v.52,76)

Burning Indignation seizes me because the wicked forsake the Word (v. 53)

My Songs (v.54,172)

Turn Feet to Scripture (v.67)

A Companion of all who fear God and Keep His commandments (v. 63)

Have good discernment and knowledge because of It (v.66)

Better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces (v.72)

Eyes fail with longing for Word (v.82,123)

Did not forsake the Word (87)

Consider It (v.95)

Restrained feet from evil in order to Obey Word (v. 101)

Sweet to my mouth (v.103)

Joy of my heart (v.11)

Desire to have regard for It continually (v.117)

Esteem to be right concerning everything (v. 128)

Hate every false way (v.124,128)

They are Wonderful (129)

Open wide my mouth and panted longingly for Word (v.131)

Desire for God to establish my footsteps in Word (v.133)

Cried streams of tears for those who don’t keep Word (v.136)

My zeal consumes me because my adversaries forgot the Word (v.139)

Anticipate the night so that I may meditate on Word (v.148)

Loath the treacherous because they don’t keep the Word (v.158)

Heart stands in Awe of Your Word (v.161)

Praise God 7 times a day for the Word (v.164)

Have Chosen Your Word (v.173)

So in summary, here are things to to test your heart's response to Scripture.

Do you...

Give thanks for it and deliberately rise up at midnight to do so, treasure it in you  heart  even above fine gold (money,wages), are you teachable to it, rejoice in it, meditate on it day and night, delight in it, don’t forget them?

Is  your soul CRUSHED WITH LONGING after the Word at ALL TIMES?

Do you see it as WONDERFUL and as good ?

Do you cling to it, run in its way, walk in its path, observe it till death, keep it with your whole heart, hasten to obey it, incline your heart to it, long for it, trust in it, speak it, wait for it, keep it, hope in it, fear it, believe in it, seek it, love it, remember it, find comfort in it, is your songs, consider it, it’s the joy of your heart, sweet to your mouth, desire to continually have regard for it, pant longingly after it, loath and cry streams of tears for those who don’t keep it, heart stands in awe of it, praise God 7 times a day for it?

Or do you pick and choose what you like and discard the rest? 

Do you justify your disobedience to God and His Word by trying to attach it to a culture that no longer exists (feminists, are you listening?) or think certain verses don't apply to you or your favorite teacher, group, author? What holds more sway with you: a "famous" Christian or Scripture? Friends and family or the Word?

Do you rebel against the Lordship of the Lord?

Jas 1:18  In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures. 19  This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; 20  for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. 21  Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. 

As you can see, the true Christian is to exalt and magnify the Word above everything. It is to be the heart and soul of the believer's life because it is from the mouth and heart of the God we say we love and believe in.  We are to pursue it and love it and treasure it with all of our heart if we love Christ.

In short, Scripture is not a mere appendage we to add to psychology, science, or philosophy or anything else, nor is Scripture insufficient so we go to psychology to get some "real" answers. 

Ps. 138:2… You have exalted above all things Your name and Your word.

God holds His Word above all things and  esteems it higher than anything else....

Do You?