SCRIPTURE
Ps 119:18 Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Thy law.
PRAYER
Father, it is not we who are constant and faithful, it is You! Your word stands forever as the touchstone of truth, character, history, and majesty. Teach us Lord, indeed, open MY EYES to behold wonderful things from Your word!
LESSON
I recently watched a movie about Martin Luther called “Luther.” I would highly recommend it. Here is a man who translated the Bible into vernacular German, which was forbidden by the Catholic church at that time. It was an act of war! He knew many people would die by this act; he was not putting only himself at danger, but the whole German nation. They captured the incredible value of this Bible when they showed him handing off the first copy of it to the patriarch of Wittenburg. He had NEVER READ IT! He asked Luther, you know this means war? Luther said, yes. He said, can I have my Bible now?! What excitement, anticipation, reverence, even fear. Here are mysteries he had never been permitted to gaze upon.
At that time in history there was a whole nation of people who were willing to die to have the Scriptures, because of one man’s vision – he saw wonderful things from God’s law that no one had allowed themselves to see before. he saw a God of grace, a God of mercy, a God of forgiveness. He saw a God who spoke clearly to ordinary people. I am such a big Martin Luther fan!!! God give us the vision and courage of such men!!!
that I may BEHOLD: This is the Hebrew word nabat, which means to regard, pay attention to, consider. This means, normally, you would read along with no regard, you would simply gloss over something as of no importance. But, as God answers this prayer, you see it! You PAY attention to it. You pay ATTENTION to it. It seemed insignificant, it seemed obvious and of no importance, but your mind is opened and you realize that YOU DON’T GET IT AT ALL! This is the beginning of wisdom, to question, to apprehend a tiny and delicious point of mystery. It is not at first to understand, but to regard. Like the German patriarch, you receive this word with such reverence, such anticipation; people may die for this truth but it is worth it! So you ponder and pray and study and ask, and as God opens your eyes, what seemed insignificant in His word takes on significance. You behold it.
Now isn’t that wonderful?!!