I was sitting in a prayer meeting this morning at 6:00. One of the persons in the room asked the group: “What is the longest chapter in the Bible?”
“Psalms 119.” I responded proudly; after all, shouldn’t I know such trivia, being a pastor, I thought to myself.
“What is the shortest chapter in the Bible?” he continued.
“I don’t know”, I responded; now not feeling quite so puffed up.
“Psalm 117”, he taught me.
“What is the middle chapter in the bible?” he continued.
“Psalm 118”, he said.
“What is the middle verse in the Bible?” he asked again.
“Well I suppose it would be a verse in chapter 118 of the book of Psalms”, I thought to myself, but hesitated to say, since it was obvious to me, and the rest of the group, that I wasn’t “Mr. Bible Trivia”—so I answered,
“I don’t know that either”.
He helped me learn more trivia when he said, "Psalm 118:8 which says, “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.”
Now that the prayer group has been gone from the church building for two hours, and I have taken some time to reflect on that verse, I am humored that something so trivial could be so symbolic.
God did not dictate the books of the Bible in the order we know them in the Canon today nor did God number either the chapters or the verses. Therefore, we should not make too much over where the verse is found in the Bible and lose sight of the verse itself. However, how ironic that God has allowed a thought so central to the entire teaching of the theme of the Bible to be found in the dead center of what we know today as the Bible: “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.”
If this verse were the center of our life, how different would our life look from the reality of what our life is today? What changes would we make? How would we take care of the time God has allowed us each week, when He gives us 168 hours? How would we take care of the relationships God has brought into our life? How would we take care of the abilities God has entrusted into our care?
What do you think about this verse in Psalm 118:8? Is it really better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man?. Is the answer to that question reflected in what you have planned to be and do for God today? I have confidence in you that it is. So enjoy living out the central verse of the Bible today in ALL you do, say and think! J
This is my Perspective for Today. I hope you will consider this truth from your perspective too, and live in a way pleasing to God.
Brent
Lead Pastor—Stonecrest Community Church
