Our daily reflections follow the M'Cheyne Bible reading plan, designed for those who want to read the whole Bible in one year. Each reflection focuses on one of the chapters from that day's readings. Darllenwch rhain yn Gymraeg.
Lord, prepare me to receive your word. Clear my mind and warm my heart. Assure me of your loving purposes for me, and speak into my life today.
In his book Reflections on the Psalms, CS Lewis said: 'I take this to be the greatest poem in the Psalter and one of the greatest lyrics in the world.' There are, he points out, six verses about nature, five about the law and four of personal prayer. The created world joyfully reveals God's glory, and so does his 'law' – his words, commands and judgements. It is like sunshine, more desirable than gold and sweeter than honey (verse 10). In the face of such perfection, the psalmist is struck by his own unworthiness and prays to be delivered from 'hidden faults' and 'wilful sins' (verses 10,11).
CS Lewis wasn't wrong; this is a most beautiful psalm. And it's a reminder to us that the word of God in Scripture is a precious gift. We sometimes make heavy weather of the Bible. Perhaps we're a bit intimidated by its size, or by the thought that we need to have a row of commentaries on our bookshelf before we can really understand it. But as the sixth-century Pope Gregory the Great said, Scripture is like a river that's 'broad and deep, shallow enough here for the lamb to go wading, but deep enough there for the elephant to swim'. All believers find in it what we need, because God has given it for all his people.
God, thank you for your word of life – for the beauty and truth, and the way it lights up my life. Help me to read it with an open heart and a thankful spirit.
This reflection was written by Mark Woods, Bible Society's Editor
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