Good for the Soul
The young man had a medical condition. He knew that he needed to go to the doctor, but he put off making any appointment. Finally, the day arrived when he was forced to go to the doctor, and his condition was worse because he did not get the medication that he needed. After going to the doctor, he realized that the medicine was good for his body.
God tells us that His Word is good for our souls just as medicine is good for our bodies. Psalm 19:7-11 gives us several benefits of obeying God’s Word.
• Conversion (v. 7a). The book of Romans tells us that faith comes by hearing, and hearing comes by the Word of God. A person experiences salvation through the perfect Word of God. His life is changed at the moment of salvation and continues a process of change until he goes to Heaven. God desires for His Word to make us like the Lord Jesus Christ.
• Wisdom (v. 7b). God gives us wisdom through following His principles that He has written down for us. Wise, successful living is seeing what God has recorded and then obeying Him.
• Joy (v. 8a). Joy is experienced as we read, study, meditate, and live the Bible. This joy abides in our hearts and is produced by God Himself because we are pleasing Him through obedience.
• Enlightenment (v. 8b). Understanding and direction is promised by the Lord to those who follow His commands. We see life from God’s perspective as we put into practice principles that reflect His character.
• Stability (v. 9a). God endures forever and will never go out of existence. He will never change. This eternal fact gives the Christian Someone to trust Who will never fail or forsake those who need Him. Those who build their lives on God and His Word have stability.
• Truth (v. 9b). God’s Word give us reality and truthfulness because God cannot lie or contradict Himself. Righteous living is the only kind of living that matters forever.
• Desire (v. 10). The preciousness and sweetness of His words give us a desire for more knowledge and for more righteous living.
• Warning (v. 11a). We are warned against making the wrong choices that will harm us in this life and in the life to come. When a person lives Biblically, he is living the best life.
• Reward (v. 11b). God will give us rewards for keeping His words. Joy, peace, success, victory, honor, and an eternal reward in Heaven are just a few of the benefits we receive as we are obedient to Him. The benefits far outweigh any sacrifice made for the Lord.
