2 Timothy 2 Pt. 7 A Command To Study God's Word And Prayers For His Help

A note about the archive index containing all lessons I have posted on this blog since its inception in 2019. 

An index for all lessons posted from 2019 through 2021, was published on September 7, 2022.

An index for all lessons posted in 2022, was published January 24, 2023.

Each index lists lesson titles and the dates each one was posted, so that you can study subjects that we have written about.

Remember all the things God wants us to remember. 

2 Timothy 2:14  Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. 

Paul patiently poured himself into ministering to young Timothy, since he represented the next generation of church leaders. 

Paul wanted to thoroughly prepare this young pastor for the great responsibilities of church ministry.

In the process of instructing Timothy, all Christians can learn valuable lessons that will also strengthen our walk with Christ.

The scriptures often exhort the redeemed people of God to remember God's Word, remember His instructions, and remember His mighty works. 

The verb "remember" is used 155 times in the Bible. 

Remembering the lovingkindness of Jehovah. 

Psalm 25:6  Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.

Often, the Psalmist refreshed his soul by praying the promises of God when he was feeling overwhelmed. 

He remembered the history of God's goodness to all people from Genesis until the present day. 

Remembering the faithfulness and goodness of God turned the Psalmist's heart toward heaven and relieved his burdens.

Remembering time spent in worship and praising Jehovah. 

Psalm 42:4  When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.

The Psalmist remembered past times of joyful worship as he accompanied other believers on their way to the temple of Jehovah.

He poured out his heart in joyous adoration and praise for another opportunity to gather with God's redeemed people to worship and be cleansed from sin.

Remembering the faithfulness of God when we are sleepless.

Psalm 63:5-6  My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: 6)  When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. 

Sometimes the Psalmist tossed and turned as sleep eluded him. Therefore, he remembered God his Rock, and he began thinking about the glory of God.

This helped the Psalmist's heart find full satisfaction in the bountiful provisions of Jehovah for his physical and spiritual needs. 

Thus, he turned from sleeplessness to worship and praise. 

Remembering the works of God from Creation to the present time. 

Psalm 77:11  I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.

Often, the Psalmist recalled the mighty works of God from the beginning. He thought about God creating all things by speaking a word. 

He thought about the vast variety of animal and plant life, and how God elevated man by giving us a soul.

He thought about the regulation of hours, days, months, years and seasons and reflected upon how beneficial these things are for all humanity.  

He thought of the centuries of Jehovah redeeming His people from Egypt, followed by the wilderness wanderings, and how Joshua led them into the promised land. 

Such thoughts of God's faithfulness and power served to give hope to the Psalmist.

Remembering Jehovah's covenant blessings and His mercy.   

Psalm 103:17-18  But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; 18)  To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.

Great blessings are in store for those who hear and heed the Word of God. When we obey the call of the gospel of Christ, and are regenerated by the Spirit of God, we enter into the joy of the Lord. 

We learn about His grace, mercy and lovingkindness for us. We learn how to fear the LORD by seeking to live for His glory. 

Therefore, study the word of God because it is of great benefit.  

2 Timothy 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 

I mentioned all these texts in connection with Paul's instruction to Timothy because of this clear command to study the scriptures. 

The word "study" literally means to make Bible study a high priority and to give this our best effort. 

The word carries a strong sense of urgency informing us that we need to study and ask God to transform and teach us as we do so. 

We study so that when we stand before Christ at His judgment seat, we will be approved of Him.

A pastor, elder, church leader or a parent show themselves approved unto God by diligent study.    

Studying the scriptures requires the effort a workman, much like the farmer putting in the labor while toiling to reap a good harvest.  

We will be blessed when we study God's Word and we will not be ashamed for our efforts to grow in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior.

What does it mean to "rightly divide" the word of truth? It means to cut it straight, not twisting it to make the scriptures say something that God did not say. 

It means walking on the straight and narrow way that God says is the right path to walk on, as it leads to eternal life. 

Therefore, by rightly dividing the word of truth, we  understand that Timothy (and all believers) can continue faithfully living according to the true doctrine. 

"Rightly dividing" means faithfully teaching God's truth so that all people can grasp it.  

It is giving each Christian their portion of meat in due season, milk to babes, strong meat for those with maturing faith, and comfort to the oppressed or afflicted. 

Cutting it straight is giving scriptural reproof to professing Christians who live loose lives.  

Rightly dividing the Word essentially finding out the needs of those who hear the Word preached by the pastor, elder, church leaders, or parents.  It is skillful use of the scriptures to meet those varied needs.

Let us think about the Psalm 119, which is the longest chapter in the Bible. 

In 176 verses, the Word of God or its statutes, precepts, testimonies, and commandments are mentioned 168 times! Thus, this Psalm is the most Word centric part of the Bible. God has much to say to us about studying His Word in this chapter.

A prayer for Jehovah to teach us His Word. 

Psalm 119:12  Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes. 

The Psalmist begins with blessing Jehovah, for He is worthy of all our praise and worship. He follows this by asking the LORD to teach him the statutes of God. 

He wants to be trained and taught in the truth of spiritual nature of God's holy statutes.

A prayer for the scales or hindrances to be taken from our eyes.

Psalm 119:18-19  Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. 19)  I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me. 

The Psalmist asks something of God that we should ask for. He prays for Jehovah to open his eyes, to remove anything that hinders or blinds him to understanding the truths of scripture. 

Opening the eyes refers to helping our minds to grasp eternal truth. The holy law of God is marvelous and unsurpassed in its moral beauty. 

As a follow up, the Psalmist asks that Jehovah's commands will not be hidden from him. He wants to read the truth of God openly, such that it is not concealed from him. 

A prayer for better understanding so that we might be good witnesses. 

Psalm 119:26-27  I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes. 27)  Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.  

The Psalmist asks for teaching and instruction from God so that he can begin to understand the scriptures and how it applies to his own life and conduct. 

He searched out his own ways, noted where he fell short, and he confessed his sin and received forgiveness from Jehovah. 

His goal is to become a better witness for Jehovah, speaking often of His wondrous works and faithfulness to all mankind. 

A prayer for understanding and instruction in the Word.

Psalm 119:33-34  Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end. 34)  Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. 

Here is a prayer to Jehovah to teach the Psalmist all about the ways of His statutes. 

He  wants to understand the spiritual impact of all the holy statutes, and this requires teaching which could only come from God. 

The Psalmist made his request because he knows the full blessing we receive when God sanctifies His people so that they may love and serve Him more. 

He wishes for heavenly teaching in order to enable him to discern his duty to God, that he might live accordingly. 

Thus, all Christians can seek the Spirit of God for His mighty help in studying the scriptures. It is a prayer for discernment and understanding with the intent to apply what God teaches him.

A prayer for discernment and ability to exercise good judgment. 

Psalm 119:66  Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments. 

As we learn and believe the scriptures, we see that the Psalmist asks to be taught good judgment, and this is a good prayer for all of us. 

We see so many examples of hateful words, illogical thinking, and words that pervert justice while promoting anarchy or civil unrest. Social media is full of fools speaking about things they are ignorant of. 

Thus, as Christians, we need discernment so that we can exercise discernment and good judgment when we think, speak or act.  

A prayer for Jehovah to teach us and help us make spiritual progress.

Psalm 119:133  Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me. 

We will close with this prayer from the Psalmist asking Jehovah to order his steps in the Word of God. 

The idea of ordering our steps, is asking God to show us the way or right path in studying the scriptures. 

It is asking God to set up and furnish our study so that we gain the most truth and learn to apply it to our lives. 

Thus, we learn we must commit time, energy and mental focus toward studying the scriptures.

We learn that this is a lifelong process and that we will always need to study His Word.

We learned several specific prayers that God will honor when we seek these petitions of Him.

May the entrance of God's Word shed copious light into our hearts so that His glory overwhelms us and we seek to honor Him with our actions.

Bob