John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.: May 2012

How to read the Bible:

According to Psalm 119

A study prepared by Kyle Sheridan

1. Come to the Bible with a pure heart and a clean life

v. 1 Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.

v. 7 I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.

v. 9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

v. 101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.

2. Obey those things in God’s word that have already been revealed to you

v. 1 Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.

v. 3 They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.

v. 5 O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!

v. 8 I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.

v. 9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

v. 15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.

v. 22 Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies.

v. 44 So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever.

v. 51 The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet have I not declined from thy law.

v. 55 I have remembered thy name, O LORD, in the night, and have kept thy law.

v. 56 This I had, because I kept thy precepts.

v. 57 Thou art my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words.

v. 67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.

v. 69 The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.

v. 87 They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts.

v. 88 Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.

v. 100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.

v. 102 I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.

v. 110 The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts.

v. 129 Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them.

v. 157 Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; yet do I not decline from thy testimonies.

v. 166 LORD, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments.

v. 167 My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly.

v. 168 I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my ways are before thee.

3. Give it your whole heart

v. 2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.

v. 10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.

v. 34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.

v. 58 I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word.

v. 69 The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.

v. 112 I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end.

v. 145 I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O LORD: I will keep thy statutes.

4. Before, during, and after you read, pray for:

(a) God’s help to obey His word

v. 5 O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!

v. 10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.

v. 29 Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.

v. 35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.

v. 36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.

v. 32 I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.

v. 37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.

v. 133 Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.

(b) God’s help to understand His word

v. 12 Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.

v. 18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.

v. 26 I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes.

v. 27 Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.

v. 33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.

v. 34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.

v. 64 The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes.

v. 66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.

v. 68 Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.

v. 73 Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.

v. 80 Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed.

v. 98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.

v. 108 Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgments.

v. 124 Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes.

v. 125 I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies.

v. 135 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes.

v. 169 Let my cry come near before thee, O LORD: give me understanding according to thy word.

5. Value all of the Bible

v. 6 Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.

v. 13 With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.

v. 86 All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me.

v. 128 Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.

v. 151 Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth.

6. Come to the Scriptures with a heart of praise

v. 7 I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.

v. 48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.

v. 62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.

v. 108 Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgments.

v. 164 Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments.

v. 171 My lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes.

v. 175 Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy judgments help me.

7. Memorize the word of God

v. 11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

v. 98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.

8. Tell others what you read

v. 13 With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.

v. 27 Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.

v. 46 I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.

v. 172 My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.

9. Meditate in the Scriptures

v. 15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.

v. 23 Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.

v. 48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.

v. 78 Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts.

v. 95 The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies.

v. 97 O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.

v. 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation

v. 148 Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word.

10. Take pleasure in the Bible

v. 16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

v. 24 Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors.

v. 35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.

v. 47 And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.

v. 70 Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law.

v. 72 The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.

v. 77 Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight.

v. 92 Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.

v. 97 O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.

v. 111 Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.

v. 113 I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love.

v. 119 Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross: therefore I love thy testimonies.

v. 127 Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold.

v. 140 Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.

v. 143 Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delights.

v. 159 Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O LORD, according to thy lovingkindness.

v. 162 I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.

v. 163 I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love.

v. 167 My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly.

v. 174 I have longed for thy salvation, O LORD; and thy law is my delight.

11. Remember what you read

v. 16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

v. 52 I remembered thy judgments of old, O LORD; and have comforted myself.

v. 61 The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law.

v. 83 For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes.

v. 93 I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.

v. 109 My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law.

v. 141 I am small and despised: yet do not I forget thy precepts.

v. 153 Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law.

v. 176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.

12. Hunger and thirst for the words of life

v. 20 My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times.

v. 25 My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.

v. 28 My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.

v. 40 Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.

v. 45 And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.

v. 82 Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me?

v. 94 I am thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts.

v. 103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

v. 123 Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the word of thy righteousness.

v. 131 I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments.

13. Have resolve and diligence

v. 30 I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.

v. 31 I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O LORD, put me not to shame.

v. 33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.

v. 60 I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.

v. 75 I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.

v. 106 I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.

v. 112 I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end.

v. 115 Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God.

v. 139 My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy words.

v. 173 Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts.

14. Believe, hope, and trust in His word

v. 42 So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word.

v. 43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.

v. 49 Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.

v. 66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.

v. 74 They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.

v. 81 My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.

v. 114 Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.

v. 147 I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word.

15. Go to the Bible when you are in distress

v. 50 This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.

v. 71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.

v. 92 Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.

v. 107 I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD, according unto thy word.

v. 143 Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delights.

v. 147 I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word.

16. Examine yourself in light of the Scriptures and repent of any unholy thing

v. 59 I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.

v. 176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.

17. Go to the Bible for guidance

v. 24 Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors.

v. 105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

v. 130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

18. Approach the Bible seriously

v. 120 My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments.

v. 161 Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.

19. Accept every word as absolute truth forever

v. 43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.

v. 89 For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.

v. 142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.

v. 151 Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth.

v. 152 Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever.

v. 160 Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

20. When you go to the Bible, cry to God for help in your life