THE EXCELLENCE OF THE LAW
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The Short Version
The Short Version
Here it is enough to say that what is being commended to us at the start of Psalm 119 is getting to know and live by the whole of God’s revelation, which is what we call the Bible.
James Montgomery Boice
LESSON AIM:
LESSON AIM:
Studying this Psalm should result in ourdoing and not just ourknowing.
To fear the Lord means to reverence Him and seek to please Him by obeying His Word.
Warren W. Wiersbe
The writer, usually considered to be David, registers his delight in the Word of God in an unusual way. The psalm consists of twenty-two sections each of eight verses. Each of these twenty-two sections features a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. For instance, each of the eight verses in the first section begins with the Hebrew letter ‘Aleph’. Each of the verses in the next section begins with the Hebrew letter ‘Beth’. And so it goes through the entire Hebrew alphabet.
While this psalm deals with many aspects of the Word of God, two major themes emerge more forcefully than any others: why we should value the Word of God and how we show that we value the Word of God.
WHY WE SHOULD VALUE THE WORD OF GOD
WHY WE SHOULD VALUE THE WORD OF GOD
The psalm gives two major answers to this inquiry. It first tells us we are to value God’s Word …
Because of what it is
VARIOUS NAMES This psalm employs ten names for the Word of God: word, law, saying, statutes, way, commandments, path, testimonies, precepts, and judgements. A mere glance at these words is sufficient to realize that God’s Word is more precious than words can convey. It is God himself speaking. It is God’s law for our lives. It is God testifying of himself. It is God providing guidance for our walk in this world. All of these things and more are conveyed by these ten names.
VARIOUS PICTURES But the importance of the Word of God is also conveyed by several graphic pictures. The psalmist likens the Word of God to water (v. 9), a treasure, (vv. 14, 72, 127, 162), a companion and counsellor (v. 24), a song (v. 54), honey (v. 103), light (vv. 105, 130), and a heritage (v. 111).
How valuable are these things? What would life be like without them? They are only faint glimmers of the value of the Word of God!
The psalmist also tells us that we should value the Word of God …
Because of what it does
IT BRINGS HAPPINESS (vv. 1–2). The word ‘blessed’ means ‘happy’. The psalmist is, therefore, asserting something of strategic importance—our happiness is tied to valuing the Word of God! Tragically, the devil has succeeded in convincing most that the opposite is true. They see God’s commands as being detrimental to their happiness, but just the opposite is the case. The key to happiness is to live in God’s Word and to let his Word live in us.
IT PRODUCES CLEANSING (vv. 9, 11). The Word of God is the agent the Spirit of God used to regenerate the hearts of all of us who are saved (Eph. 5:25–27), and he continues to use that same cleansing power in our lives. By that Word, the Holy Spirit shows us what pleases God and what doesn’t and, in so doing, calls us away from sin and into purity of life.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.
It is noteworthy that the psalmist specifically relates the cleansing power of the Word of God to young men (v. 9). He knew the tendency of young men to fall into unclean living, and he wanted them to understand that devotion to the Word of God could preserve them from such living.
IT GIVES LIBERTY (v. 45). Sin always promises to bring freedom, but it only creates bondage (2 Peter 2:19). It is the truth of God that brings true and lasting freedom (John 8:32).
19 promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what anyone is overcome, by this he is enslaved.
32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
IT PROVIDES DIRECTION (v. 105). We live in a dark, perplexing world that offers us many paths. If we are careless about the paths we choose, we invite misery and ruin. The Word of God provides the direction we need. It is like a light shining in a dark place (2 Peter 1:19).
19 And so we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.
IT PRODUCES UNDERSTANDING (v. 130). Our walking and understanding are inseparably linked. In addition to shedding light on our path, the Word of God enlightens our minds so we can discern what we ought to do.
HOW WE SHOW WE VALUE THE WORD OF GOD
HOW WE SHOW WE VALUE THE WORD OF GOD
A second major emphasis in this psalm is this: how we show that we value the Word of God.
Studying it
Firstly, we will study it diligently. God’s purpose in giving his Word was to point us to himself. We are, therefore, to seek him through his Word (v. 2), and this seeking is to be done wholeheartedly (vv. 2-10). We are to ‘look’ into his Word (v. 6) and to learn its judgements (v. 7).
Obeying it
Secondly, we will obey its commands. The duty of obedience is set forth in these verses in several ways: walking in the law of the Lord and in his ways (vv. 1, 3), keeping his testimonies (vv. 2, 129), and taking heed to our ways to make sure they correspond to the teachings of God’s Word (v. 9).
Storing it
Thirdly, we will hide it in our hearts. This means we are to store it in our minds and treasure it in our affections with the confidence that it will fortify us against sin (v. 11). G. Campbell Morgan summarizes this verse in this way: ‘The best book, in the best place, for the best purpose.’2
Declaring it
Fourthly, we will declare it to others (v. 13). Studying the Word of God will cause our hearts to burn within us (Luke 24:32) in such a way that we won’t be able to keep it to ourselves. We’ll be anxious to share its message of salvation with those who don’t know Christ and to discuss its teachings with fellow Christians.
32 They said to one another, “Were our hearts not burning within us when He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?”
Rejoicing over it
Finally, we will constantly rejoice over the Word of God and delight in it (vv. 14–16). We must not miss the connection the psalmist makes in these verses. The rejoicing of verse 14 and the delighting of verse 16 are connected by the meditating of verse 15. As we reflect on what the Word of God is and what it does, we will find the rejoicing and delighting to be inescapable.
FOR FURTHER STUDY
FOR FURTHER STUDY
1. Read Matthew 7:13–14. What did Jesus teach about the differences between the righteous and the wicked?
2. Read Jeremiah 23:29, Hebrews 4:12 and James 1:21–25. What pictures are used in these verses for the Word of God?
TO THINK ABOUT AND DISCUSS
1. In what ways can you show esteem and appreciation for the house of God and the Word of God?
2. What is the proper way for Christians to respond to those who have no regard for God?