Listen

The Lord’s Instruction is perfect, reviving one’s very being. The Lord’s laws are faithful, making naive people wise. The Lord’s regulations are right, gladdening the heart. The Lord’s commands are pure, giving light to the eyes. Honoring the Lord is correct, lasting forever. The Lord’s judgments are true. All of these are righteous! They are more desirable than gold— than tons of pure gold! They are sweeter than honey— even dripping off the honeycomb!

No doubt about it: your servant is enlightened by them; there is great reward in keeping them. But can anyone know what they’ve accidentally done wrong? Clear me of any unknown sin and save your servant from willful sins. Don’t let them rule me. Then I’ll be completely blameless; I’ll be innocent of great wrongdoing.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to you, Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Psalm 19:7-14

Think

Can you think of something that is precious to you? Something that you love and value much?

Last year, a beloved mentor gave me a set of pearls. “I want you to have these,” she said, “as a reminder of the treasure that you are.”

I wear them every opportunity I get to remind myself of the message. The pearls are the gift that keeps on giving, for as I wear them, I feel so loved.

The Psalmist writes today with the same adoration of the Lord’s Instruction as I felt about my pearls. The words of the Lord are precious. They give us new life. They make our hearts glad. The words of the Lord are treasures in fact, treasures worth more than the finest gold or the sweetest honeycomb.

As we study and reflect on God’s word, the Psalmist tells us that our love of God grows. We know the paths to take in our lives. We know the ones to avoid. We learn how beloved our Creator thinks we are!

The more we mediate on God’s word, the Psalmist says, it doesn’t feel like a chore but an experience of adoring a treasure.

Elizabeth Evans Hagan

Pray

Lord, teach us to love you by loving your word. Open our eyes to how beautiful your words about us are! Amen.

Go

God’s grace and peace offers us many opportunities to learn and serve.

As you go, be open to the Spirit!