O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.(Psalm 119:97-100)
Occupation of Studying: “O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day”.
“Meditating all the day”is a labor of love for the pupil of the Word. “The School of Scripture”prepares the student for life. He examines every corner of his world through the Scripture’s lens.
MEDITA’TION, n. Close or continued thought; the turning or revolving of a subject in the mind; serious contemplation. (Webster 1828)
“Holy Scripture is not a book for the slothful…This bread of life is to be eaten in the wholesome sweat of the brow.”– Richard French.
The Outcome of His Studies:
He defeats his enemies: “Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.”
By diligent meditation, a wealth of Scripture is laid up in the student’s mind as an arsenal of weaponry for the Holy Ghost to use against the enemies of his soul. The pupil acquires knowledge from the Bible and receives wisdom (“knowledge rightly applied”) by praying for it. (James 1:5)
The wisdom that God supplies,“wisdom from above”always conquers “wisdom from below.” (I Cor. 2:6-16).
The student’s enemies are “ever with him.” The devil never takes a day off, but neither does the Bible learner — he “meditates day and night.”
He understands more than his teachers:“I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.”
Understanding– seeing things the way they really are. Seeing the real state of things.
A Professor at a University might have a brilliant intellect, high IQ, and know many facts of life; but that does not necessarily mean that he possesses understanding. The Bible student sees life through God’s eyes and knows “the real state of things.” He views the world in the light of Biblical reality: he sees the reality of heaven, hell, and eternity. He has the right perspective. Because of Scripture, we have understanding! “I have more understanding than all my teachers.”
He has more experience than the experts:“I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.”
With age comes experiential knowledge. “The ancients” (wise men and women of renown) have built empires, conquered enemies, and made great discoveries. However, the Bible student “keeps thy precepts.” By obedience, he gains an understanding of God. The law-abiding child of God will have experiential knowledge of salvation, communion with God, and the fellowship of the saints. Unredeemed “ancients” do not possess understanding of these things. “I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts!”