“And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink.”  Exodus 17:1

As the Lord led Moses and potentially two million or so Hebrews through the desert, they came to a place called Rephidim. During a time of unmistakable navigation via a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, Our perfect Lord brought them to a place of need. There was no water. Like always, in time, the Lord had provided. F.B. Meyer writes in his book on Moses:

“If you essay to lead men, you will sooner or later come to a Rephidim. We are distinctly told that it was according to the commandment of the Lord that the children of Israel journey “by stages” from the wilderness of Sin, and pitched in Rephidim. The character of the worker is as dear to God as the work he is doing; and no pains must be spared by the Divine Artificer to complete the design to which He has set his hand. Do not be surprised then, Christian worker, if you find yourself landed in Rephidim. There are lessons to be learned there of incalculable worth.”

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible and deservedly so. It speaks of the beauty of God’s Word. The unknown vessel that penned the psalm had written it in an acrostic form. This gives us twenty-two sections with eight verses each. Each section begins with the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet. I believe the purpose for the Lord to use this format is for memorization.  I have always struggled with memorizing things for school and certainly have displayed a weakness in my own walk in regards to memorizing scripture. Back in the day, after this psalm was penned, the school children would memorize this psalm. This challenges me! After just completing our Vacation Bible School week, reminded of the power and potential victory over sin in regards to being able to recite scripture. We took one verse and recited it over and over through the week. Placing hand and body signs to it. I now have it in my head and I now own it in my heart. This verse has already been used much for the fight we have against our spiritual oppressor. So many benefits by God’s Word in my mind, in my heart, and on my lips.  I see the benefits via the very structure of the psalm and how it is written, The Lord’s heart toward us memorizing scripture. God has a  plan.

Psalm 119:18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.