Teach me, Lord

Intro.: [AGS]: (Can I have your attention, please? - story of flight warning and instructions; loud room full of people, etc.) According to a 2019 survey of 2,500 Protestant church-goers, just over half of (59%) admitted to consistently reading the Bible at least a few times a week (32% read daily; 27% a few times a week). One in eight (12%) “admit they rarely or never read the Bible.” Further into the article reporting on the survey, 69% total agree that they think about biblical truths throughout the day. The numbers are congruent with the reading patterns. Of those who read daily, 51% reported thinking about biblical truths during the day; of those who read a few times weekly, 32% reported thinking about biblical truths during the day; of those who read once weekly or a few times monthly, 20% reported thinking about biblical truths during the day; of those who reported reading once a month or less, 9% reported thinking about biblical truths during the day. [1] The more one reads the Bible, the more one thinks about the Bible. Another article, reporting on a 2016 survey, reported more than half Americans admit to reading little or none of the Bible. [2] According to a third article, most (68%) Americans consider themselves Christians; yet, only about 33% are considered evangelical, and an even smaller amount (13%) have a biblical worldview. [3] The surveys simply prove one reality: Americans, specifically Christians, practice something different than what they profess. They profess to believe the Bible to be the Word of God- claiming it as the inspired, inerrant, infallible, authoritative Word of God; yet, few read it consistently resulting in few living it faithfully. [TS]: The Psalmist in today’s text is requesting that the Lord teach him and provide understanding of his instruction so that he might live a God-honoring life. He realized the he needed God’s help. [RS]: If you and I are going to live a God-honoring life, it is pertinent that we familiarize ourselves with God’s Word. Additionally, we must realize that we need God’s help to understand His Word so that we can then live it faithfully. Thinking about the statistics mentioned above, if there are 200 people in attendance today, that means that about 118 of you read the Bible at least a few times weekly. However, that also means that about 24 of you either rarely or never read the Bible. The other 56 or more fit somewhere in between these two. Perhaps there are different reasons for each of you and where you land in these statistics. For some, maybe yours is an interest issue- you are either not interested in reading and studying the Bible, or maybe you are, but your interest has not been explored and utilized to promote growth. For others, maybe its a time or priority issue- perhaps there are other things in life that compete for and consume your time and you just don’t have any time or energy left to invest in reading the Bible; Still, there are other reasons that you may struggle to read the Bible. At minimum, the statistics in recent studies demonstrate that many Christians do not read the Bible often. As we think about moving into a new year, 2024, lets consider the most important needs as we examine the text together.

TS: Let us examine the understood needs in this text.

We need the Lord’s help. [vv. 33-39]

We need the Lord’s help to give us understanding of Scripture that we might live Scripture. [vv. 33-34]

We need the Lord’s help to remain focused on the Lord’s Word and will. [vv. 35-39]

Notice the contrastive statements found in this section:

Help me stay on the path of your commands [35]; turn my heart to your decrees [36]; confirm what you said to your servant

In contrast with: not dishonest profit [36b]; from looking at what is worthless [37b]

Generally, requesting that the Lord help us focus on His word and His will implies that we also request the Lord to help us turn from focusing on our own will and ways.

We need a longing for the Word of God. [v. 40]

The Psalmist longed for the instructions (the Word) of the Lord. (v. 40a)

Each of us has an inner longing for the Lord. As a result of the fall, many do not realize that their longing is for God, and often they seek other things to satisfy the longing.

2 Corinthians 4:1-6 “1 Therefore, since we have this ministry because we were shown mercy, we do not give up. 2 Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful things, not acting deceitfully or distorting the word of God, but commending ourselves before God to everyone’s conscience by an open display of the truth. 3 But if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case, the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For we are not proclaiming ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’s sake. 6 For God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ.”

Yet, as the Psalmist cried out- let us cry out, acknowledging our longing for God’s instructions and righteousness, for in them there is life. (v. 40b)

Reflective Questions:

[1] What hinders you from acknowledging your needs before God and asking for His help?

[2] Moving forward, what hinders you from reading and studying God’s Word, asking for His help in understanding that you might also be obedient in living His will for your life?

[3] Will you join us together in reading through the Bible collectively, fully in 2024?

Consulted Resources:

[1] Aaron Earls, “Few Protestant Churchgoers Read the Bible Daily” on LifeWay Research. July 2, 2019. Accessed December 30, 2023 (Nashville, TN: LifeWay Christian Resources, 2019), https://research.lifeway.com/2019/07/02/few-protestant-churchgoers-read-the-bible-daily/

[2] Bob Smietana. “Americans Are Fond of the Bible, Don’t Actually Read it” from Lifeway Research. Published April 25, 2017. (Nashville: Lifeway Research, 2017), https://research.lifeway.com/2017/04/25/lifeway-research-americans-are-fond-of-the-bible-dont-actually-read-it/

[3] Tracy F. Munsil. “Biblical Worldview Among U.S. Drops 33% Since Start of COVID-19 Pandemic” in Arizona Christian University. Published February 28, 2023.

Derek Kidner, Psalms 73–150: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 16, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1975).

Kevin R. Warstler, “Psalms,” in CSB Study Bible: Notes, ed. Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017).

Tremper Longman III, Psalms: An Introduction and Commentary, ed. David G. Firth, vol. 15–16, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (Nottingham, England: Inter-Varsity Press, 2014).

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