Benefits of Obeying God’s Word
Psalm 119:2 promises blessings for obeying God’s Word (or “testimonies”) and seeking the Lord with one’s whole heart. The psalm goes on to mention or allude to a number of these benefits:
- Avoiding sin and pursuing godliness (Ps. 119:3, 11, 36, 102, 133).
- A motivation and basis for praising God (Ps. 119:7, 171).
- A pure lifestyle (Ps. 119:9).
- Readjustments in our priorities (Ps. 119:14, 92) and values (Ps. 119:16, 20, 37, 48, 72, 103, 111, 127).\
- Insight into our purpose on earth (Ps. 119:19, 32, 125).
- Avoiding and learning from God’s rebuke (Ps. 119:21–22, 67, 71, 75, 118).
- A basis for evaluating criticism and opposition (Ps. 119:23, 41–42, 51, 61, 69, 84–88, 98, 161).
- A source of wisdom and guidance for day-to-day life (119:24, 66, 105, 130, 176).
- Encouragement, hope, and comfort (Ps. 119:25, 28, 41, 49–50, 52, 55, 61, 81–83, 114, 166).
- Something valuable with which to occupy our minds (Ps. 119:27, 55, 62, 97, 147–148) and conversation (119:46, 164, 172).
- A basis for truth, honesty, and integrity (Ps. 119:29–30, 99–100, 104, 163).
- A sense of freedom (Ps. 119:45).
- A source of new songs (Ps. 119:54).
- An accurate basis for self-examination (Ps. 119:59).
- Fellowship with like-minded believers (Ps. 119:63, 79).
- A solid foundation for our faith (Ps. 119:66, 89–90).
- Protection and peace (Ps. 119:114, 165).
- The ability to discern right from wrong (Ps. 119:136, 138–139, 158).
- A motivation and basis for prayer (Ps. 119:169–170).
- The Lord’s help (Ps. 119:173–174).
Pastor Noel
Article from: Thomas Nelson Publishers. (2001). What does the Bible say about... The ultimate A to Z resource fully illustrated. Nelson's A to Z series (280–281). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.