JUNE 16
Psalm 119:16, “I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.”
Pastor Max Snook has served faithfully as the pastor of St. Helens Community Bible Church since its beginning over 40 years ago. My wife Laura and I were there in those early days, when the church met in the local senior center. We would help set up chairs before service began—simple, humble beginnings.
I remember how Pastor Max was preaching through Psalm 119, taking one stanza each Sunday. Each week we explored another layer of the psalmist’s love for God’s Word, and in the process, we were witnessing Max’s love for it too. Like the psalmist, he delighted in the Word and held tightly to it. And he invited us to do the same, purposing to establish the church on that firm foundation.
Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible—22 stanzas corresponding to the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. What’s more, each verse within a stanza begins with the same Hebrew letter. While that structure is hidden in our English translations, it shows the care and intention behind every line. This is no ordinary poem; it’s a declaration of devotion: “I will not forget your word.” (Psalm 119:16)
Over the decades, Pastor Max has lived that verse. He has not forgotten God’s Word. Through trials, growth, and change, he has remained rooted in Scripture and has faithfully led others to do the same.
Psalm 119 challenges us to ask: How central is God’s Word in my life? Do I love it, delight in it, meditate on it, and live by it? Pastor Max’s lifetime love for the Word reminds us that this devotion isn’t cultivated in a moment—it’s built over a lifetime of choosing the Word again and again.
Wherever you are today—whether just beginning your walk with Christ or decades along the path—let the psalmist’s cry become your own: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (Psalm 119:105).” May we, like Pastor Max and the psalmist before him, treasure the Word deeply and pass that love on to others.
“A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t.” — Charles H. Spurgeon
APPLICATION QUESTIONS: What disciplines can you build today to deepen your love for and commitment to God’s Word over your lifetime? Who in your life can you encourage or mentor by sharing of your love for the Word and what you have learned (1 Timothy 2:2)?
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