When was the last time someone said to you, “I know what you are thinking”? Were they right? 

The reality is that no one can really know what we are thinking. Others can only guess our thoughts. 

But Paul today (1 Corinthians 1:26-2:16) says that we can know what God is thinking! We know because the Holy Spirit knows what God is thinking.

Paul makes this courageous claim – the Spirit has revealed God’s thoughts to him. And as we read Paul’s words, Paul says that we can know God’s thoughts. “We have the mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:16). 

No wonder Paul makes the point that he did not come to Corinth as a great orator to convince people of the truth. The Holy Spirit worked powerfully through him so that people saw that God was at work in him. As Paul later testifies: “The signs of an apostle—signs and wonders and miracles—were performed among you with all perseverance” (2 Corinthians 12:12 EHV). 

Spirit! Spirit! Spirit! Near the end of 1 Corinthians 2:13, there are three words which all have at their root “Spirit!” This is what we celebrate today. If the Spirit is speaking through the inspired authors, then we can say with confidence: I know what God is thinking! “This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words” (1 Corinthians 2:13).

This is what the author of Psalm 119 (today Read Psalm 199:1-88) is celebrating as well. In every verse of Psalm 119, there is a reference to God’s Word, using terms like…

• Law - The Hebrew “Torah” means “teaching.” It would include both Law in the sense of the 10 commandments and Gospel like the promises of the Savior.
• Statutes – The Hebrew “Testimonies” – A witness of God’s will, again could be both Law and Gospel.
• Ways
• Precepts
• Decrees
• Commands
• Judgments
• Decrees

All of these terms can include both what we consider “Law” as in the 10 commandments and “Gospel” as in the promises of God.

Over and over, the psalmist celebrates how blessed we are to have God’s Word so that we can look at the power and wisdom of God in creation and know exactly what this powerful Creator thinks of us.

A Reading Suggestion

When reading the psalms, especially one like Psalm 119, I find myself reading but not thinking. Hebrew writing style, especially in the poetry of the psalms, sounds repetitious to our ears and we stop listening. 

What helps me is to have someone else read outloud, while I follow along. Open up Psalm 119 in your Bible, and then click here to listen to someone else read it to you.  As you listen, highlight the verse or phrase that you think best summarizes each 8 verse section. 

God bless your use of His Word today. 

"Open my eyes that I may see
    wonderful things in your law" (Psalm 119:18). Amen.