Psalm 19:7–14
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; 8 the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; 9 the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. 11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. 12 Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. 13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. 14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
If you have ever read all 176 verses of Psalm 119, you will know that the word, the law, the statutes or the precepts of the Lord are mentioned in every verse. The second half of Psalm 19 has been called Psalm 119 in miniature, as there are many parallels found in these two psalms.
In verses 7, 8 and 9, we have seven statements about Scripture. “The law of the LORD is perfect. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy. The testimony of the LORD is sure. The precepts of the LORD are right. The commandment of the LORD is pure. The fear of the LORD is clean. The rules of the LORD are true and righteous.” Seven different, yet parallel statements, and each of them says, “Of the LORD, of the LORD, of the LORD.” Seven times, and in our English translations, the upper-case LORD – the name of Yahweh, God the Creator is used.
This is because Scripture comes from God. It is the Word of God. As Paul says in 2 Timothy 3, “All Scripture is God-breathed.” The LORD is the source so unmistakably that it’s repeated seven times, so you can’t miss it. This is what we believe about the Bible. It is not a human book. It is a divine book, given by God to human writers, but God Himself is the author of Scripture.
We are a privileged people in our culture, as we have free access to the Bible, the Word of God. He has given us His Word. The Bible is a gift from God, and He speaks to us and our brothers and sisters in Christ through the pages of the Bible.
People in the world today often ask questions about the Bible. Among the most common are, is the Bible reliable? Is it relevant today? Is it really the Word of God?
The answers to all of these questions, is of course, a resounding yes.
The Bible is reliable, it is true, it is relevant to us today, and as we read it, we are reading the very words of God.
You would think that having this treasure at our fingertips would spur us on to spend as much time as we can reading the Bible, but for the vast majority of Christians, the exact opposite is true. We need to do more with our Bibles than leave them to gather dust on a shelf somewhere at home. We need to read it, study it, and believe it.
When we read the Bible, we need to listen to God’s word, as we allow His Truth to penetrate our hearts and minds and allow Him to change and transform us.
There is so much we can learn from the Word of God, but it certainly needs to be more than about just learning head knowledge.
As disciples of Jesus Christ, the principles and precepts of God revealed in the Bible need to be learned, applied and obeyed in our daily lives.
There needs to be an obedience to the word and commands of God. One of the keys to living this life is obedience to Him. And if we’re going to obey Him, we need to know what He requires of us.
The world tells us to make up our own minds when it comes to deciding what is right or wrong. Truth has become something which is relative, rather than absolute, but if you think about it, the term “relative truth” is an oxymoron. Something is either absolutely true, or it is an absolute lie. It cannot be relative.
Not understanding this basic, yet vital principle has caused much confusion in the church. Our opinions may be contrary to what God has said – but God is the one who is perfect. We are imperfect and just because we don’t agree with God on something, does not make us right and God wrong.
Changing God’s Truth by shaping His Word to suit our own agendas is wrong. The last chapter of Revelation couldn’t be any clearer: “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.” (Revelation 22:18-19)
If we really want to be guided by God, we must be obedient to His word and calling on our lives.
Through the pages of Scripture, God teaches us, guides us and admonishes us. He requires us to listen, learn, live by faith and in love to serve Him and each other.
When we ignore God’s Word, we are not being obedient to His guidance and direction for us.
We know the lesson Jesus teaches us in Luke 6 very well. Most of us first heard it as children, and we all learned the cute little song that goes along with it, but we must not ignore the severe warning in Jesus’ words. In fact, what He says should send shivers down our spines: “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.” (Luke 6:46-49)
If we ignore the Word of God, we are just building sand castles that are swept away by the incoming tide. We will have nothing to build our lives and values upon, and the consequences of that are eternal.
The Word of God, Scriptural Truth, on the other hand, is the solid foundation for our lives, and will help us stand firm in faith.
Do we know the Bible well enough to find the guidance we need in life and to test what we hear or read? Having a vague idea of what the Bible might say, is not the same as knowing the Word of God.
A classic, often quoted example is “God helps those who help themselves.” There is nothing of the sort found in the pages of the Bible, but we’ve heard that heresy so often, that many Christians assume that it is Biblical, when it most certainly is not.
We need to know the Word because it is God’s Word given as a gift to us. It teaches us how to live. It guides us on our way through life. It reveals God’s will and purpose for us.
And so we need to read it for ourselves, rather than rely on others telling us what it says.
Many Christians say they don’t read the Bible because they’re too busy, or they just don’t like reading. Others say it is boring or hard to understand. The only people who say the Bible is boring are people who haven’t read it enough to understand it.
There are some amazing stories which have come out of parts of the world where the Bible was banned, and the sheer joy and enthusiasm of people who are finally given a Bible in their own language should shame us.
The essence of Christianity is living a changed life. We are works in progress as the Spirit moves us from what we were, into Christlikeness.
Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” There are two images used here to describe God’s Word: A light and a lamp.
In case you haven’t noticed, we are living in an ever-darkening world, a world in which the light of God does two things: It shows us the way, and it exposes the darkness.
The Word of God guides us to walk the right path, the path of Truth, as it helps us not to stumble, or shuffle along in the darkness of sin. His Word is given to illuminate the way we should travel.
Too many people choose to stumble around in the darkness rather than let the Light of God’s Word lead their way.
We can all neglect reading God’s Word as often as we should, as other things crowd into our lives. And before we realise it, we find spending time in the Word slips further and further down our list of priorities, but the old saying is true: If something is important and precious enough to us, we’ll make the time.
We need to re-evaluate our priorities on a regular basis. How much time are we actually devoting to God on a daily basis?
Are we thinking about and meditating upon His Word, as we consider how it applies to our daily lives?
When everyday problems – large and small – and things happen which catch us unawares, are we seeking counsel and guidance from the Word of God?
We need to cultivate a methodical, verse by verse study of God’s Word, instead of just grabbing the odd verse here and there.
We have been called and commanded to share the truth of God with others, to be salt and light in the world, but if we don’t know what that means, how will we ever be effective in sharing the love of God with others? How will they ever understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ, if those who profess it have a sketchy understanding of the Gospel at best?
We can’t be a light to this world if we spend the majority of our time stumbling around in the dark, because we don’t understand the light.
The Bible is the Word of God, it is truth, it is the lamp to our feet, the light to our path.
It is our spiritual food, our spiritual drink, and it provides sustenance for our spiritual lives.
God has not created us to wander directionless through this life.
He has given us the Bible to direct us in and through this life to eternity.
The Bible tells us where we came from and why we were created. It gives our life purpose and meaning. It teaches us how to live a life of victory over sin. It teaches us the reality of Heaven and Hell. It tells us of a God who loves us and has a plan for us. It teaches us that Satan is already a defeated foe. It prepares us for eternity. The Bible is reliable, and the Bible is Truth. God’s Word is a lamp for your feet and a light for your path, because the words in the Scriptures are the inspired Word of God.
What we have in the Bible are not the words of man, but the Word of God.
Jesus proclaimed in Matthew 24:35 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”
And finally, Proverbs 3:5-6. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.”
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; 8 the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; 9 the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. 11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. 12 Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. 13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. 14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
If you have ever read all 176 verses of Psalm 119, you will know that the word, the law, the statutes or the precepts of the Lord are mentioned in every verse. The second half of Psalm 19 has been called Psalm 119 in miniature, as there are many parallels found in these two psalms.
In verses 7, 8 and 9, we have seven statements about Scripture. “The law of the LORD is perfect. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy. The testimony of the LORD is sure. The precepts of the LORD are right. The commandment of the LORD is pure. The fear of the LORD is clean. The rules of the LORD are true and righteous.” Seven different, yet parallel statements, and each of them says, “Of the LORD, of the LORD, of the LORD.” Seven times, and in our English translations, the upper-case LORD – the name of Yahweh, God the Creator is used.
This is because Scripture comes from God. It is the Word of God. As Paul says in 2 Timothy 3, “All Scripture is God-breathed.” The LORD is the source so unmistakably that it’s repeated seven times, so you can’t miss it. This is what we believe about the Bible. It is not a human book. It is a divine book, given by God to human writers, but God Himself is the author of Scripture.
We are a privileged people in our culture, as we have free access to the Bible, the Word of God. He has given us His Word. The Bible is a gift from God, and He speaks to us and our brothers and sisters in Christ through the pages of the Bible.
People in the world today often ask questions about the Bible. Among the most common are, is the Bible reliable? Is it relevant today? Is it really the Word of God?
The answers to all of these questions, is of course, a resounding yes.
The Bible is reliable, it is true, it is relevant to us today, and as we read it, we are reading the very words of God.
You would think that having this treasure at our fingertips would spur us on to spend as much time as we can reading the Bible, but for the vast majority of Christians, the exact opposite is true. We need to do more with our Bibles than leave them to gather dust on a shelf somewhere at home. We need to read it, study it, and believe it.
When we read the Bible, we need to listen to God’s word, as we allow His Truth to penetrate our hearts and minds and allow Him to change and transform us.
There is so much we can learn from the Word of God, but it certainly needs to be more than about just learning head knowledge.
As disciples of Jesus Christ, the principles and precepts of God revealed in the Bible need to be learned, applied and obeyed in our daily lives.
There needs to be an obedience to the word and commands of God. One of the keys to living this life is obedience to Him. And if we’re going to obey Him, we need to know what He requires of us.
The world tells us to make up our own minds when it comes to deciding what is right or wrong. Truth has become something which is relative, rather than absolute, but if you think about it, the term “relative truth” is an oxymoron. Something is either absolutely true, or it is an absolute lie. It cannot be relative.
Not understanding this basic, yet vital principle has caused much confusion in the church. Our opinions may be contrary to what God has said – but God is the one who is perfect. We are imperfect and just because we don’t agree with God on something, does not make us right and God wrong.
Changing God’s Truth by shaping His Word to suit our own agendas is wrong. The last chapter of Revelation couldn’t be any clearer: “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.” (Revelation 22:18-19)
If we really want to be guided by God, we must be obedient to His word and calling on our lives.
Through the pages of Scripture, God teaches us, guides us and admonishes us. He requires us to listen, learn, live by faith and in love to serve Him and each other.
When we ignore God’s Word, we are not being obedient to His guidance and direction for us.
We know the lesson Jesus teaches us in Luke 6 very well. Most of us first heard it as children, and we all learned the cute little song that goes along with it, but we must not ignore the severe warning in Jesus’ words. In fact, what He says should send shivers down our spines: “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.” (Luke 6:46-49)
If we ignore the Word of God, we are just building sand castles that are swept away by the incoming tide. We will have nothing to build our lives and values upon, and the consequences of that are eternal.
The Word of God, Scriptural Truth, on the other hand, is the solid foundation for our lives, and will help us stand firm in faith.
Do we know the Bible well enough to find the guidance we need in life and to test what we hear or read? Having a vague idea of what the Bible might say, is not the same as knowing the Word of God.
A classic, often quoted example is “God helps those who help themselves.” There is nothing of the sort found in the pages of the Bible, but we’ve heard that heresy so often, that many Christians assume that it is Biblical, when it most certainly is not.
We need to know the Word because it is God’s Word given as a gift to us. It teaches us how to live. It guides us on our way through life. It reveals God’s will and purpose for us.
And so we need to read it for ourselves, rather than rely on others telling us what it says.
Many Christians say they don’t read the Bible because they’re too busy, or they just don’t like reading. Others say it is boring or hard to understand. The only people who say the Bible is boring are people who haven’t read it enough to understand it.
There are some amazing stories which have come out of parts of the world where the Bible was banned, and the sheer joy and enthusiasm of people who are finally given a Bible in their own language should shame us.
The essence of Christianity is living a changed life. We are works in progress as the Spirit moves us from what we were, into Christlikeness.
Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” There are two images used here to describe God’s Word: A light and a lamp.
In case you haven’t noticed, we are living in an ever-darkening world, a world in which the light of God does two things: It shows us the way, and it exposes the darkness.
The Word of God guides us to walk the right path, the path of Truth, as it helps us not to stumble, or shuffle along in the darkness of sin. His Word is given to illuminate the way we should travel.
Too many people choose to stumble around in the darkness rather than let the Light of God’s Word lead their way.
We can all neglect reading God’s Word as often as we should, as other things crowd into our lives. And before we realise it, we find spending time in the Word slips further and further down our list of priorities, but the old saying is true: If something is important and precious enough to us, we’ll make the time.
We need to re-evaluate our priorities on a regular basis. How much time are we actually devoting to God on a daily basis?
Are we thinking about and meditating upon His Word, as we consider how it applies to our daily lives?
When everyday problems – large and small – and things happen which catch us unawares, are we seeking counsel and guidance from the Word of God?
We need to cultivate a methodical, verse by verse study of God’s Word, instead of just grabbing the odd verse here and there.
We have been called and commanded to share the truth of God with others, to be salt and light in the world, but if we don’t know what that means, how will we ever be effective in sharing the love of God with others? How will they ever understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ, if those who profess it have a sketchy understanding of the Gospel at best?
We can’t be a light to this world if we spend the majority of our time stumbling around in the dark, because we don’t understand the light.
The Bible is the Word of God, it is truth, it is the lamp to our feet, the light to our path.
It is our spiritual food, our spiritual drink, and it provides sustenance for our spiritual lives.
God has not created us to wander directionless through this life.
He has given us the Bible to direct us in and through this life to eternity.
The Bible tells us where we came from and why we were created. It gives our life purpose and meaning. It teaches us how to live a life of victory over sin. It teaches us the reality of Heaven and Hell. It tells us of a God who loves us and has a plan for us. It teaches us that Satan is already a defeated foe. It prepares us for eternity. The Bible is reliable, and the Bible is Truth. God’s Word is a lamp for your feet and a light for your path, because the words in the Scriptures are the inspired Word of God.
What we have in the Bible are not the words of man, but the Word of God.
Jesus proclaimed in Matthew 24:35 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”
And finally, Proverbs 3:5-6. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.”