Giving Thought to the Word

"Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord" (Prov. 16:20).

The Word of God is a lamp for our feet and a light on our path (see Ps. 119: 105). Here we are urged to give serious thought to the Word of God, for through it we discover good. The good discovered can have many facets.

First, it can show us what God deems good, that is, the moral law which reflects God's holy character. Cultural opinion is in a continual flux, shifting from right to left and left to right. Cultures often define good based on public perception. Some cultures view female circumcision as right and good, others think such a practice is barbaric. One culture may elevate liars to the highest positions of authority, another may seek to banish liars from places of power. Studying the Word enables a person to rise above their culture and see what the Creator calls good and what he calls evil.

Second, giving attention to the Word can reveal good to us in the sense of blessing. The Word teaches us how to come into a right relationship with God (through repentance of sin and faith in Jesus), and how to walk in humble obedience. Those who obey the Lord walk in his favor. To be favored by God is to be blessed. Those who give thought to the Word, that is, study it in order to live in accordance to it, find the good of God's favor. I should further state that those who desire to study the Word in order to obey it are already evidencing God's favor in their lives.

Finally, the Word is God's revelation of himself to his creation. To give thought to it is to give thought to the Creator. A person who studies the Word in order to obey God is really learning about God. As one reads through the Bible the learn about God's holiness, his righteousness, his goodness, his mercy, and his love. They come to know him as he has revealed himself through the Word. They find good in the Scriptures, because through them God is speaking.

The Word of God is worthy of thought--careful, meditative, trusting thought, because God has spoken and continues to speak through that Word. The Word is living and active (Heb. 4:12). It searches the heart of the one searching it. The Word commands us to believe; it compels us to trust. So are we giving it the right amount of thought?