”Oh, how I love your instructions! I think about them all day long. Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are my constant guide. Yes, I have more insight than my teachers, for I am always thinking of your laws. I am even wiser than my elders, for I have kept your commandments. I have refused to walk on any evil path, so that I may remain obedient to your word. I haven’t turned away from your regulations, for you have taught me well. How sweet your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey. Your commandments give me understanding; no wonder I hate every false way of life.” - Psalm 119: 97-104 (NLT)

Have you ever seen Spongebob Squarepants? I’m part of the generation that grew up with the lovable yellow-squared character.

There is an episode early in the show where Spongebob meets Sandy, the squirrel from Texas. He visits her dome that has no water in it, just air. Spongebob knows he needs water because he starts shriveling up. When a jar of water is placed in front of him to drink he just thinks,

“I don’t need it… I don’t need it… I don’t need it… I NEEEEEED IIIIIIITTTT”

And he drenches himself with water so he doesn’t shrivel up further.

This scene came to mind when reading this stanza. Mostly because the psalmist is saying he needs God’s Word. But how often are we like Spongebob and say “I don’t need it” when we know that we do?

We Need God’s Word for Every Situation

Verse 97: Oh, how I love your instructions! I think about them all day long.

You don’t think about something all day if you don’t need it (or feel like you need it). We’ve all had days where we wake up and immediately think of that meeting, deadline, class, or event coming up. We think about it because it’s important.

The psalmist does that for Scripture. Instead of waking up thinking about the stress of the world, they think about God. We should strive to be the same.

How God’s Word Benefits Us

Verse 98-100: Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are my constant guide. Yes, I have more insight than my teachers, for I am always thinking of your laws. I am even wiser than my elders, for I have kept your commandments.

We need God’s Word. One of the reasons we do is because it has 3 wonderful benefits:

• Makes us wiser than our enemies
• Makes us more insightful than our teachers and mentors
• Makes us wiser than elders

Don’t confuse this with pride. It’s not prideful because the psalmist isn’t taking credit for the knowledge he has. He gives it all to God.

Journal Questions

1. What do you think about the most? Does it bring you closer to or further away from God?
2. How can you surrender your thoughts to God today?