And how does Logos (whatever version) help you accomplish your goal?
I study to know who God is, what Christ did for me and what I can do to show my faith and gratitude. I study to be a better person - mother, daughter, sister, friend, employee. I do it because it makes me stronger in the face of this stressful and increasingly evil world when just about anything can be rationalized as "good". It always brings my faults into sharp contrast with faithful people whose stories are told there but gives me hope and courage to try again when I fall. It lets me know I am greatly loved even at times when I don't love myself.
Logos helps me because I'm a computer person, a researcher, a scholar wanna be. I used to read a paper Bible, years ago, but I found it much harder to jump through other resources to dig into the Word in depth. Logos has given me tons of resources instead of one study Bible and gives me original language tools, as well as a place to keep my notes. I was never that comfortable with writing in my paper Bible and eventually I just quit reading, too. Not that I think it is a bad thing to write notes there but my handwriting is not the best and so it would get too messy. Now I have color coded post-its scattered all over Logos but they are typed and I can turn them off if they interrupt my thoughts.
I'll ask you the same questions...
K
I study scripture because it is the only verifyable words communicated to us through our God. I study because eternity is to long to place my eternity is anyone elses hands. And what I do on earth is to important to God to just blindly follow anyone, thinking they are right just because they claim to be from God. Plus, Paul commands us to study to show ourself approved, to be ready to give an answer, and to know who is teaching from God, and who is not.
Logos is great because it places alot of information just a click away to allow us to be able to do all the things I mentioned above.. Imagine having to place a hundred books on a table to study a passage of scripture.. Alot easier to do it on a computer..
Fair enough question and I will try and give you an answer that hasn't really formed itself fully in my own mind. I believe that the bible is the standard by which all knowledge and actions are to ultimately be judged, but that isn't the reason that I study it. I study it (generically) because it increases my understanding of God and what I can expect from Him and what He expects from me. I study it today, because one of the teens that I was teaching told me that my my lessons were all starting to sound alike. One of the first concepts I grasped before becoming a Pastor (I left the ministry in 1998) was that your teaching/preaching should be an out flow/over flow of what God is doing in your own life. Well, it turns out that I had been living off of the spiritual fat that I had stored up over the years. So, I resigned my position as a Sunday School teacher (as well as a couple of others), started a precept bible study class in Isaiah at a different Church. Upgraded Logos to L4 and I am trying to learn how to feed myself again. Once there is overflow, I will start teaching again (Which will make the teacher of my SS class very happy).
RIght now Logos is as much of a hinderance as a help. The bells and whistle's will as often derail my study, as enhance it. But that is not Logos' fault, that is the fault of my lack of discipline. So, L4 is providing a frame work for me to develop a disciplined habit of bible study, much as the precept study is. So, the two habits that I am working on currently: 1. No forum until I have finished the daily scripture reading in my precept courses (1 OT, 1 NT). 2. No rabbit trails while I am actually doing bible study. I use the Notes column to make a list of questions and insights, then once I have finished the studying the passage. I go back to those and research them individually. My reading layout consists of highlighters/notes, English bible, information tab which allows me to keep my focus and follow the flow of scripture.
Interesting and honest response. Thanks.
I agree with both - the need to feast on the Word as an ongoing thing to replenish what we have to offer and the distraction the "aids" like Logos can be if we focus on the new toy or get frustrated by any difficulties in the interface.
My own push right now is to do the Bible in a Year reading first thing in the morning without fail, then my precept study on Daniel several days a week. If I don't, I get caught up in the "fun" reading instead. I have LOTS of interesting books now...
Let me know how the study goes!
I'll throw in my 02 cents here...
I study God's word because it's the only thing worth studying that won't "rust, or decay" and eventually be gone; it's value is real...is there ANYTHING more exciting than studying the word of God?...??
I also study to answer questions for mysef; I'll read something that promps a question in my mind...then I HAVE to have it answered.
Sometimes I have to answer a question because of my involvement in witnessing to people..questions get asked...or discussions happen...there is nothing that I'd rather do than study the word.
I guess that's about it....
Originally I studied the Bible because I was determined to know the truth about who Jesus is. I had to know. Over time I became convinced in the absolute deity of Christ and surrendered to him with repentance.
I then added studying so I could learn to obey Him. Then I felt the call to the pastorate.
Then I added studying the scriptures because it was required to finish my assignments (tongue slightly in my cheek there.)
Now as a pastor I still do all of the above, but I study in order to present myself a workman who need not be ashamed.
Seriously. I still read and study the Bible for me and my relationship to God. I additionally do the same because a small flock of people are eager to hear what God's word says and means.
As you note Terry keeping myself fed first is paramount before I attempt to feed others. Pardon me, I'm hungry...
I study the Bible as part of an ongoing conversation with God, especially that part where I listen. Logos does not particularly help me in this. Logos helps me in developing materials to help others learn to listen as part of their ongoing conversation with God - and their conversations often help me in mine.
I study the Bible to grow in Christ and because it never gets old. I can never exhaust its depth and riches.
I study the Bible because to me its my refuge/strength and touchstone, If I didnt have God and his word, life for me would be meaningless and pointless.
Infact several years ago when I was in a depressed state, the only thing that stopped me from ending it all was the fact, I could not take away was Gods love for me that he would send His own Son to die for me, everythin else in my life was irrellevant, was able to be discoiunted except that.
I gave up preaching/teaching for 9 years because I believed I was not educated/equipped enough
Gods calling however cannot be silenced, The passion to equip and encourage the saints never died, and He blessedly has restored this ministry to me in the last couple of years, I cant agree more than with all of you, having preached a sermon in the early days on an empty tank, I vowed never again.
I study to know him better, and his unchangable word better, BUT you can't teach what you dont know, if it hasnt impacted your life then its alien to you and maybe you should not be teaching it. (At least thats my experience).
I guess I also study because I want to be all I can be for God-His Obedient child-A Pure Vessel he can use-A Light in Dark places-An Voice of Hope/Encouragement
[edited by: DominicM at 3:40 AM (GMT -8) on Wed, Dec 16 2009]
I doubt that I can add much to what has already been said by others, but I will briefly add my thoughts (maybe just a thought).
I study the Bible because it is God's self revelation of Himself to humanity. Long ago, I heard a speaker call the Bible "a bound volume of God's love letters to man." I have since learned that it is all that and more. Scripture—and Scripture alone—is a reliable guide to eternal life (eternal fellowship with God). I study the Bible so that I can know God, and so that I can attempt to communicate that knowledge to others.
I use Logos in Bible Study because it is a reliable tool.
I study the Bible because it's fun! I didn't always feel this way. I use to party a lot, play a lot of sports, play a lot of music, hung out in bars...Reading the Bible was the last thing on my mind...It was a chore and a drag...Boring!!! Then I was approached by my Church's Board to get involved with our college kids to keep them from leaving the flock and going to another Church or leaving the Body of Christ entirely. I asked them, "What will be my role and title?" They said with all seriousness, "You'll be 'The Guy with All the Answers to All Their Questions'". I sarcastically said, "Sure. That's sounds easy! No prob...I'll do it." But I knew I wasn't any where near being equipped for the task...I couldn't answer one question without being heretical let alone having one proper answer to one of their questions...I'm a party guy!...I'm a wise-guy! So I purchased Zondervan/Pradis Scholar's Library, NIVAC-NT, and EBC which I quickly out grew. Researching the internet brought me to Logos. THOUSANDS of dollars later, I've given up partying, playing sports, playing music even, AND hanging out in bars because I find studying the Bible using Logos much more fun! Really! I never thought I would actually say that one day in all seriousness. I wake up extra early every morning eager to turn on Logos and see what the LORD has to say to me through Logos. As a result of my teaching, I've gotten the young men in our Church to publicly vow to give up internet porn and drinking alcohol! It wasn't a planned event on my part. I didn't know they were going to do this. I was shocked! And they in turn have gotten the guys in their respective college fellowship groups to do the same! Simply because they also have found studying the Bible fun! Now the last part is what I really find fun...When other people find it fun too...
JonelyMoy,
That's a great story!
Scott
Thanks to all of you who shared. This forum is populated with such a diverse group of people, with differing bible study techniques that I just wanted to see everyone's motivation.
Motive: 2 Timothy 2:15 (ESV) Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
Merry Christmas! -JoeK
Hey JoeK !!! Great to see you back again.
I study my Bible because God is speaking and I am terrified of Him (awesome reverential respect, but true terror nevertheless).
He is the Creator and He owns everything, including me! It is my duty as His to respond rightly to Him. The Sovereign Almighty God drew me to Him and placed the Bible before me. It made audacious claims and I believed them. I obeyed Him, part of which was to sit at His feet and learn of Him. Fear never gave way, but Love grew in beside it.
Since then my love for Him and His ways deepens daily, I spend more and more time with my Beloved, and I realize more and more the awesome privilege it is to be able to respond rightly to Him through His Spirit.
To put it another way, just as I eat physical food because I live, so it is with the True Bread - To live is Christ. Christ is The Word. I must live by every Word of God. I study the Bible because I live.
I do not use Logos as much for my actual study as I use it for organization, preparation, etc. in order to teach students and others how to study Him in His Word. That is not to say I don't use it at all for my personal study - quick cross-referencing, lightning speed word studies, a multitude of commentaries for safety checks, and a host of other ways. It is just that there is no more profitable way for me to hear Him than just sitting at His feet listening, reading, studying, praying, repenting, praising, thanking.
He has magnified His Word together with His Name!
Sharon
Sharon,
You mentioned in another post somewhere, that you learned about Logos when in Ft. Collins with CCC; you aren't Campus Crusade staff, are you? If so, we have something in common.
Hi Joan,
We were staff for 10 years - many years ago.
Thanks for the hello in the newbie thread.
I love to study God's Word because that's when I feel Him the closest, (is that a word), the most close. I feel absolute peace when I am studying His Word. It's like I'm not really studying but I am visiting Him at His house and we are sitting down with tea and just talking to each other and He's explaining the words there.
Logos helps because it has the interlinear with the text and it's like the Word is cracked open and I see so much stuff that I want Him to explain. I love being able to find all the verses for one greek or hebrew word. Reading them all at once is amazing. Before I had Logos it would take forever to find all the places some of the words were. Sometimes it was just impossible. Man, but now I can honestly do it in minutes! I love being able to read all the different versions of the Bible for one verse or one passage of scripture. And I absolutely love seeing the gospels side by side, I forget the word for it. There is just so much I can do now in my Bible study that I couldn't do before. And what is the best is my LORD is right beside me haviing just as much fun as me. It just seems like there are more "ah ha" moments with Him than before. I am disabled, my back keeps me in bed a lot. ( 4 failed back surgeries). I say that only to say I have a lot of time on my hands and when I am really hurting a lot, He takes my mind off the pain, time seems to pass quicker.
I love God and His Word, and I love Logos!
Martha,
I'll just say "me, too", because you've said it more eloquently than I could.
Bill
I love to study God's Word because that's when I feel Him the closest, (is that a word), the most close. I feel absolute peace when I am studying His Word. It's like I'm not really studying but I am visiting Him at His house and we are sitting down with tea and just talking to each other and He's explaining the words there. Logos helps because it has the interlinear with the text and it's like the Word is cracked open and I see so much stuff that I want Him to explain. I love being able to find all the verses for one greek or hebrew word. Reading them all at once is amazing. Before I had Logos it would take forever to find all the places some of the words were. Sometimes it was just impossible. Man, but now I can honestly do it in minutes! I love being able to read all the different versions of the Bible for one verse or one passage of scripture. And I absolutely love seeing the gospels side by side, I forget the word for it. There is just so much I can do now in my Bible study that I couldn't do before. And what is the best is my LORD is right beside me haviing just as much fun as me. It just seems like there are more "ah ha" moments with Him than before. I am disabled, my back keeps me in bed a lot. ( 4 failed back surgeries). I say that only to say I have a lot of time on my hands and when I am really hurting a lot, He takes my mind off the pain, time seems to pass quicker. I love God and His Word, and I love Logos!
You have a beautiful heart for the Lord and His Word which shines through your testimony. Thanks for sharing!!! God bless
I would have to say that I study to come into fellowship. Fellowship with other Christians and through them with God, as well as directly with God. As I age, it seems as if my brain doesn't work as well as it used to, (I don't remember how well it worked, but then that is part of the problem). I can remember the contents of the verse but just not where it occurs. I am a scientist by training and a computer jock by whatever makes one such. It was natural to turn to a computer to search references and then I discovered a whole world of exegetical studies under the words. I used e-sword (and got a bit of a reputation using it in a Bible class where everyone else split between the KJV and the NIV. The computer allows me to store and organize my notes (and back them up so I don't misplace them), and it gives me a very enhanced memory (as if I have memorized all of the volumes in LOGOS). Thus when there is something to comment on I have the reference right at hand. My regular classes are used to the computer but few if any of them will follow. When a scripture topic presents itself in a class I can quickly write a note or two about it and then either bring it up in class or process it later off-line. Doing a passage guide before the lesson gets me up to speed for a class quickly and easily.
The only problem is that now am reading more and have less time for TV.
Thank you for sharing your beautiful testimony. I'm glad I "heard" it and I'm sure there are others, like you and like me, who need to hear it.
If you don't currently have a personal blog page, I'd encourage you to look into it. Putting your experiences with the Lord on a blog would allow others to be encouraged by your words. (Esp. those in a similar circumstance such as your who may not be experiencing the Love and Peace of God as He would like them to)
God bless, and thank you!
And that's a problem because... ??? :-)
As most people have said, I study the Bible to become close to God.
How Logos helps, is that it has A LOT of books that I can read. One major advantage of a electronic software program, like Logos, over print books, is that you can open a book to any page you want, and it will stay open, first page, last page, it doesn’t matter. Try that with any print book without spiral binding. Also the word search feature is AWESOME. It would be practically impossible to do any sort of word search in any print book. I really like the text comparison tab. It makes it so easy to read several different Bible versions at once. I’ve seen Bibles with one version on one side of the page, and some other version on the other side, like the King James Version and the New International Version, but with Logos you have at least 5 Bibles to compare, not only that, but you can even click on a tab to show the differences of the versions. I can highlight, make notes, and take them away, without ruining the books. I do feel like I am doing simple math problems with a scientific calculator, since I know Logos is SO powerful that I just don’t know how to tap Logos full potential. I know that I will use Logos for years in my quest in studying God‘s Word.
Thanks everyone. I was blessed by the posts in this thread. And I identify with you.
i enjoy God comforting words and when an Idea jits home or especially when the Holy Spirit reveals scripture to me and it hits like a ton of bricks, and the tears come at knowing that God is right there with me.
I study the word of God because it keeps me close to Him. When my study falters my feet start to wander from the narrow path. I seek to know Him and to love him and therefore obey him. I grew up in a charismatic very legalistic church background and was in constant fear of losing my salvation because I could not live up to all that was demanded. I to thought of suicide and that through life after death books led me into the New Age (Satan's trap) for about five years. But by the grace of God he led me back to Himself and that is when I first started studying the Bible for myself. I have been up and down still with wondering if my heart was sincere in repentance and salvation because of many falls and struggles. I also study for answers to my questions and to examine myself to see whether I be in the faith. I drive a truck over the road and that is where Logos, especially L4 is a true blessing to me. Can you imagine trying to cart a small theological library around with me in my truck [:)] I don't get to attend church services very often out here on the road and when I do get to a truck stop chapel the staff there are usually volenteers who's main goal is to spread the Gospel to the drivers. (Praise God) But they are usually only lay Pastors themselves, so I use Logos and the commentaries and greek tools etc... to find answers that my heart needs right now. I use L4 a whole lot more than I used L3 because of the speed of searches with the passage guide and it is just a joy to dive into God's word. My problem is since I have upgraded to L4 and just a few days ago especially Platinum it is keeping me up too late at night and I am not very easy to get up in the morning.
Back to business I study because Jesus said that the path is narrow and few there be who find it. I figure if I stay close to Jesus and hold his hand and talk to him he will lead me home.
I drive a truck over the road and that is where Logos, especially L4 is a true blessing to me. Can you imagine trying to cart a small theological library around with me in my truck
Glenn, it's great that you are back in the grip of His Grace! And as an OTR driver, too! Many blessings to you!
The key that has unlocked the door for me is seeing the importance of context. Paul wrote letters to real people with real problems. So did Peter, Luke, John, and more. I stopped seeing the Bible as a collection of religious words and more of the story of God and his people--and his world. I love seeing the promise theme threading from Genesis to Revelation. I take delight in how John weaves themes in and out of his book, each setting the stage for what more is to come. It excites me (and moves me to repentance) to see the slow build of Jesus' calling his disciples to pay attention to his words and not to the leaders of the day--how he blesses Peter when he confesses what he knows from God (you are a Rock!), to his rebuke when Peter imposes his own thinking (you are a Stumbling Block!), to how it all comes together on the Mount when the Lord booms: "Listen to Him!", and they look up and see "only Jesus." Discoveries like this help me live the Bible in real time. To put myself in their shoes, experiencing what I can and seeing how it lives out in my own life. A favorite professor helped unlock this notion during my first "Bible Class" (1 Peter). Logos has helped my carry on and go into greater depth.
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I recently returned to studying the scriptures. I am interested in biblical history,apologetics, and how the text of the Bible was preserved, translated, and interpretedfrom different viewpoints. In addition, I think it is important to know notonly what we believe, but why. Besides,it is fruitful to study God’s message. Ilove how the Psalms starts:
“Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of thewicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delightin the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night. They are like treesplanted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves neverwither, and they prosper in all they do.” (Psalm 1:1–3, NLT)
Studying the Bible isn’t just for the clergy, but for everyChristian. More so than ever, Man’sefforts to better himself without God – through science, technology, variousphilosophies (e.g. relativism, eastern mysticism, and so on), and theologies ofother faiths – have been and continue to be integrated into our society. Despite increasing persecutions for ourfaith, we are urged to “worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope,always be ready to explain it.” (1 Peter 3:15, NLT)
Logos has renewed my interests in Bible study by providing theresearch tools and numerous resources to compare Bible passages and viewrecent, scholarly works. I also like to compare commentaries and points ofviews. I don’t have the shelf space for all these resources, but I do have lotsof disk space for the electronic versions. Logos software meets those needs.
I first heard of Logos software back in 1997 or 98, and eversince had been thinking about buying a version for personal use. About tenyears ago, I bought a copy for my father, but didn’t for myself. It all starteda few weeks ago, when I was reading and commenting on Amazon about the movie,The Book of Eli. It’s interesting (andsometimes quite shocking) to read other people’s opinions and views aboutChristianity and religion in general (the movie had Christian themes, but wasnot about Christianity). In my correspondence, I felt I needed a digital Bibleand basic resources to use. Maybe I needed an excuse or perhaps I was tired ofthinking about getting Logos. Anyways, Iam glad I did.
David
I belived in Christ 40 years ago as a 15 year old, that was raised in a home where I was loved, but I never heard the gospel. I latter became a youth pastor and then a pastor or as we call them, an elder! I am currently working on a Doctors in Biblical Studies. I study the bible for a very simple reason!
Jesus loves me this I know for the bible tells me so, little ones to Him belong they are weak, but He is strong!!! Over the last 40 years through all ups and downs, He has been faithful to me and has put a desire in me to experience His love for me, and I have been compelled to study the scriptures and He has always revealed more of His grace and love to me through the scriptures. I know of nowhere else to find this message of His great love for me! No other book shows me my sinfulness and then shows me a Savior that died for my sins to set me free to live a life forever bound up with Him in His new resurrected life and His love!
In Christ,
Jim VanSchoonhoven
I first heard of Logos software back in 1997 or 98, and ever since had been thinking about buying a version for personal use. About ten years ago, I bought a copy for my father, but didn’t for myself. It all started a few weeks ago, when I was reading and commenting on Amazon about the movie, The Book of Eli. It’s interesting (and sometimes quite shocking) to read other people’s opinions and views about Christianity and religion in general (the movie had Christian themes, but was not about Christianity). In my correspondence, I felt I needed a digital Bible and basic resources to use. Maybe I needed an excuse or perhaps I was tired of thinking about getting Logos. Anyways, I am glad I did.
Glad you made that decision, too, and that you're back to studying the Bible. Also glad to have you on the Logos forum. Welcome!
I study the Bible to better understand Western man's greatest attempts to understand God. Studying the Bible allows lowly me to draw slightly closer to God.
We were/are given the intellect to speak, to listen, to write, to read, and to create art and technology. We were/are given the opportunity - the blessed chance - to apply our intellect for noble purposes. Surely trying to understand God through technology is a reverent act.
I use Logos to better understand the details within Scripture. Logos allows for greater and swifter understanding - by leaps and bounds and in orders of magnitude - of our Bible.
Bible study is like what some other posts have stated, is the only kind of study that matters, with that in mind, Logos, not only gives you a lot of books in its library, but also the ability to search those books too. Just imagine trying to find the word of love, or the number of times Jesus is mentioned in a book, now try hundreds, or even thousands of books. It can’t be done, in fact it would take longer for all the users of Logos to search for all the times a word is in one book, then Logos to search hundreds of word searches, in thousands of books. I have over 30 different English versions of the Bible, I can easily see the difference of the Bibles, with text comparison. I can jot down notes, and highlight, in ANY book, without destroying the book. I can easily read the references of the Bible, and other books that are in Logos, by hovering my mouse, or clicking the reference, to read the actual reference. It’s easer to read the footnotes, especially when the footnotes that are all put at the end of the chapter, or worse yet, put at the end of the book. If there are errors in the print book, or in the e-book, Logos can change those errors without charge to you.
I study the Bible because it's the main way God speaks to me, sometimes through immersing myself in a story, sometimes through learning the text by heart (less now I've turned to storying), sometimes just a word or a phrase is God's word for me at that time. Recently in a psalm I read: God, you are my joy, I search for you early in the morning, and that stuck with me. I don't always do it, but I am aware that's what God's calling me to and offering me, and that I gain more from the study of his word if it's my very first priority, first thing in the morning. As well as reading the Bible for myself, I also read it for others, for the women and children I try to help study God's word, and for my neighbours who won't read it for themselves but sometimes listen to it as a story.
I've always had problems with the KJV, bad associations with school, where I was desperately unhappy and church and evening prayers were an unwelcome obligation, and it was all so far removed from life. So I started reading at least parts of the NT in Greek, as I took more in that way. And later Hebrew. Logos is a great help here.
A few years back I discovered Bible storying, and use that in my personal Bible study. And discover I neither know nor understand the most elementary stories I thought I knew nearly by heart! UBS translators handbook is my mainstay here. I need not only to be able to tell the story for myself, but also to be able to tell it in simple Albanian for uneducated women and children to understand and learn for themselves. To do that I need to understand the story much better than I did! Here Logos helps. I always start with paper Bible, sort of sacramental to me, unless I'm travelling, in which case I tend to leave my big Hebrew-Engllish parallel text Bible at home and rely on Logos. Having read the story in the original, I try to read it again, translating it into Albanian as I go. When I can't, the problem is usually inadequate understanding of the story, which is where I need to turn to Logos.
And I must finish this post and get back (at 6.40 PM!) to my interrupted morning Bible study! I got up early this morning to clear space for the carpenters who came to fill a whole wall with bookshelves - what a joy to have them! And what is the passage I am studying today? Martha and Mary!!! I thought I knew it by heart, and I nearly did, yet I found so much I still don't understand, and need to pick the brains of the dictionaries and the commentaries. Although the main point of that story for me today is that Mary dropped everything to sit at the feet of Jesus, while Martha was running round like a headless chicken and getting ratty with Mary and Jesus and probably everyone else who made the mistake of coming too close - and all these complications came out of a desire to serve Jesus, that somehow got hijacked somewhere along the way. I find myself in the Bible, as do those I help to study it for themselves!
I too study the Bible in order to know God better, to learn histhoughts and desires, to hear his voice speaking through these ancient texts tomy situation. I believe through the study of the scripture I can become abetter person - better husband, father, grandfather, friend, and pastor.
I also study the Bible in order to be able to teach mycongregation God's truth. I study to prepare Bible studies and sermons.
Logos helps me by providing me a world of great Biblicalscholarship at the click of a button. It especially helps me with thewonderful language tools. It saves me hours of time in looking up thingsin lexicons, etc. That time can be spent listening to God and meditatingupon His truth rather than pulling books off shelves and turning pages. It is an invaluable tool for me.
For me, I find the words of The Expositer's Commentary on Psalm ! to be very meaningful with respect to Biblicl study. Just one sentence sets the tone.
Psalm 1 holds forth the blessedness of godliness, encouraging the godly to pursue the way of God over against the way of the world. The psalm encourages wisdom as the way of life by emphasizing the blessedness of the righteous, the adversity of the wicked, and the contrastive ways between the righteous and the wicked.
If you have The EBC, I encourage you to check it out.
In His Love