The Priority of God's Word

All of us order our days by priorities -- things that are of most importance. But do we include God's Word in those priorities. The average church goer spends little to no time in God's Word on a daily basis. What a task we parents have in raising the next generation. If they are going to be "doers of the Word" (Jas.1:22), then we must do it as well.

In Psalm 119:9-16 the psalmist gives us seven principles to help us keep God's Word our first priority.

We Are to Give Heed to It (vv.9-10)

In vv.2-8, 17, and 21 he says to "keep" the Word. In order for us to place God's Word at the top of our priority list we must set a determined course to "keep" or obey it.

We Are to Treasure It in Our Hearts( v.11)

We all have quoted this verse but are we doing what it says? When you truly treasure it in your hearts you will give heed to it. Colossians 3:16 says, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." Proverbs 2:1 adds, "My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you" (emphasis added). Allowing God's Word to dwell in you and treasuring His commands are necessary to keeping His Word at the top of your priority list. A third principle is found in verses 12-13:

We Are to Declare It (vv.12-13)

It has been actually reported when we declare what we have read or learned we retain it better. Try that the next time to read a passage of Scripture. See if you retain it better by declaring it. Giving heed and treasuring God's Word will cause you to declare it . But once you do this you will want to rejoice in it.

We Are to Rejoice in It (v.14)

There are so many things we have joy in but do we rejoice in God's Word? The psalmist says in verse162, "I rejoice at Your word as one who finds great treasure." Do you do that? What about mediation? That's what he mentions in verse 15.

We Are to Meditate on It (v.15)

This too is an activity we're not familiar with. Psalm 1:2 says that this is the activity of a righteous man. "But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he mediates day and night."

We Are to Delight in It (v.16)

This would be the inward element of verse 14. While rejoicing may be seen by others God sees where our delight is. He wants us to delight in Him and find all our sufficiency in His Word. When we have given heed to His Word, treasured it in our hearts, declared it, rejoiced in it, mediated on it and delighted in it, then we will not forget it.

We Are Not to Forget It (v.16)

This is the reason why we don't treat God's Word as the first of our priorities. We forget it! The psalmist says that there is an active role in not forgetting God's Word. It's obeying it, treasuring it, declaring it, rejoicing in it, meditating on it and delighting in it. I mentioned that again so we would not forget it.

If you want to let God's Word have first place in your life you must consider what Psalm 119:9-16 says and put it into action. Ask God to help you to put His Word at the top of your priorities. Begin today. Don't put off to tomorrow what you can do today or as Chuck Swindoll says, "It's never too late to start doing what is right!" Go do that today!