God’s Word Provides What You Need

By Dave Butts

    "The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes" (Psalm 19:7-8).

    It is a given fact of human nature that we look out for our own needs. Even those who have learned to serve and put others first, will take care of their own needs. Whether or not the needs are the basic ones of food, drink, shelter, sleep or those that are more perceived than actual, we all look for that which will satisfy.

    Sometimes seeking to fulfill our own needs can become very selfish. We can become so self-centered that nothing else seems to matter. In its proper place, however, taking care of our own needs is a normal and natural thing. We gravitate toward situations or people that will meet our needs. Because we are all needy people in so many ways, even Christians are often overlooking the knowledge that God’s Word is the first and only source for meeting us at the place of our need. He is the one who will supply, if we will depend upon Him. "And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19).

    During my evening devotions recently, I was struck by what the Psalmist said in Psalm 19 concerning the Word of God, and how it meets our needs. Psalm 19 is almost an introduction to what is more fully developed 100 chapters later in Psalm 119 about God’s Word.

    David uses different words like law, statutes, precepts and commands, but they all refer to the Word of God. The terms he uses to describe God’s Word are meant to build our trust and faith in the power and effectiveness of what God has said. David relates to us that the Scriptures are perfect, trustworthy, right and radiant (vv. 7-8). That’s the kind of revelation that I want to stake my life on.

    What excites me about this passage is the realization that the Word of God is intended by the Lord to meet my deepest needs. In the first instance we are told that because the law (Word) is perfect, it is able to revive my soul (v.7). My soul is in need of revival. How about yours? The daily grind of life has a tendency to wear us down, not only physically, but spiritually as well. There are times when we feel so weak that we are not sure we can pray or do the things God asks of us. It is in God’s perfect Word that we find revival power. Daily time reading the Bible is not just a good thing to do. It is essential if our souls are to be revived and filled with life and joy. Daily Bible reading allows the Holy Spirit to bring life from the dead as the Word of God is breathed into us.

    David, the Psalmist, also shows us that because the statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, they can bring wisdom to the simple (v. 7). I don’t know about you, but it seems that for me every day brings some issue that is beyond my ability to understand or know how to handle. I find myself desperately in need of wisdom. I’ve heard wisdom defined as God’s perspective on a matter. Isn’t that what we all really need…God’s perspective? It is within the pages of the Word of God that we find wisdom available to be taken and applied by the Holy Spirit to each and every situation we face.

    The precepts of the Lord are right, and because of that we are able to have a joyful heart (v. 8). God intended for us to be a people characterized by joy. Jesus is described by Luke as, "…full of joy through the Holy Spirit" (Luke 10:21). The earliest disciples responded to the ascension of Jesus this way: "Then they worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy" (Luke 24:52). The Lord’s intent for us is made clear in John 15:11, "I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete."

    Unfortunately, it is an obvious fact that joy can be stolen from us. If the joy of the Lord is our strength (Neh. 8:10), then Satan will do all he can to take away our joy. Paul wrote to the Galatians concerning a circumstance they were facing and asked, "What has happened to all your joy" (Gal. 4:15)? The rightness of God’s Word can restore our joy. Spending time with God in the pages of His Word realigns our life with His Righteousness (rightness) and brings us joy.

    One additional way that we see the Bible meeting our needs in this text is in the area of providing direction. "The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes" (v. 8). The dictionary defines radiant as "reflecting beams of light, vividly bright and shining: glowing." Our eyes need light in order to see. God’s radiant Word provides that light. With light, we can see the path before us with greater clarity. In Psalm 119:105, David says, "Your Word is a light to my path." Ultimately, we are talking about the Bible providing direction and vision for our life.

    One of the greatest needs that anyone has is to understand direction. It is so difficult to move unless you know where you are going. It is not always about knowing our ultimate direction, but about what the next step is or should be. Abraham left Ur of the Chaldees, not knowing where he was going, but knowing that God had called him to move. It was just enough light for Abraham to move in. God’s Word will give you the light you need in order to move in the right direction.

    What do you need today? Revival, wisdom, joy, and direction are all available to those who will spend time in God’s Word. The Lord desires to meet your deepest needs and has provided all you need for a life of godliness. "I run in the path of Your commands, for You have set my heart free" (Psalm 119:32).