How to See the World the Way God See It (Ps 119:73-80)

A worldview is a filter by which we interpret the world around us.

For Christians, our worldview uses the Word of God and the will of God. We strive to view the world as God wants us to view it. We want to think God’s thoughts, say what God says, and reflect God in our actions.

Psalm 119:73-80 is a passage of Scripture that shows us how to have a God-centered world view. Let me make some observations from the text that are aimed to show us how we ought to understand what we see around us.

First, it begins by acknowledging that God is Creator and that everything that is good comes from Him (vs. 73). We can trust His counsel and His teaching. When making decisions, we can seek the wisest in the universe. No one understands the world better than the One who created it.

Second, we must keep in mind that suffering fits in God’s world (vs. 75). God does not waste pain. He uses our trials for good (Jas 1:2-4).

Third, seeing the world the way God sees it begins by asking Him to show it to us (vs. 80). When we lack wisdom, we ask for it (Jas 1:5). Having a God-centered world views is about judging things according to God. In some ways, this stanza is a microcosm of the entire chapter. Psalm 119 illustrates for us what our affection, emotion, behavior and speech ought to be like.  

With that in mind, let me close with some comments on this very subject from John MacArthur in his book on having a biblical worldview: “A truly Christian worldview, simply put, is one in which the Word of God, rightly understood, is firmly established as both the foundation and the final authority for everything we hold true. When we begin with a right view of Scripture, the Bible itself ought to shape what we believe from start to finish. It should govern how we behave. It should frame our entire perspective on life. In other words, if we simply start by affirming what the Bible says about itself, the rest of our worldview should fall into place, with the Bible as the source and touchstone of all we believe.” (Think Biblically, pg. 21)