GOD'S WRITTEN WORD
Psalm 119:89
Morning Meditation 7/3/2013
"...For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven."
I have often wondered why God in His providence allowed the original autographs to be destroyed, i.e., those original books written in the handwriting of the Scribes who wrote it down for us. I suppose among many reasons that could be suggested is the tendency toward Bibliolatry. I do not mean to take anything away for the sacredness of God's eternal Word. I do not want to imply that He did not preserve His word by means of the Scribes who copied it so that we can have it in our day in our translation from the Authorized or received text from which came our King James Bible.
Let's look at some of the things that is characteristic of the Word:
IT IS THE FINAL WORD
In our text it says, “For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.” This is an acknowledgment made by the human author of this Psalm. What God has said in His Word we are not to think that it will ever change. It will not. There is no appeal from the truth of His Word.
Revelation 22:18 says, "For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:"
The Words God has given us are as true and applicable for the believer as the day in which they were written. Woe be unto the man who takes it upon himself to change it.
IT IS THE GUIDING WORD
Psalms 119:105 says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."
John Gill says, “The same Solomon says of the law and commandment, the perceptive part of the word, and the Septuagint and Arabic versions render it "law" here. This shows a man what is his duty, both towards God and man; by it is the knowledge of sin: this informs us of what righteousness that it is that God requires of men; by the light of it a man sees his own deformity and infirmities, the imperfection of his obedience, and that he needs a better righteousness than his own to justify him in the sight of God; it is a rule of walk and conversation; it directs what to do, and how to walk. The Gospel part of the word is a great and glorious light; by which men come to have some knowledge of God in Christ, as a God gracious and merciful; of Christ, his person, offices, and grace; of righteousness, salvation, and eternal life by him; and it teaches men to live soberly, righteously, and godly. The whole Scripture is a light shining in a dark place; a lamp or torch to be carried in the hand of a believer, while he passes through this dark world; and is in the present state of imperfection, in which he sees things but darkly.”
IT PRODUCES OVERCOMERS
Psalms 119:98, "Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me."
The Psalmist had enemies on every side. The Word of God had been his constant companion and book of instructions so that he could truly say, “Thou through thy commandments has made me wiser than mine enemies.”
It would be hard to live on the razor's edge all the time. But this is what is suggested by this part of the verse. The psalmist knew he was imperfect but he was a believer. So he lived out of the BOOK. God's commandments had made him wiser then his enemies. So much so that they had fallen in battle before him
IT BRINGS DELIGHT INTO THE LIFE OF THE BELIEVER
Psalm 119:92 says, “Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.”
The word “Unless” means, “If not, except.” The Psalmist here gives complete credit for his survival to the God's law. There is nothing that promotes Christianity more than to see the joy flow from the lives of believers. Is the Bible a dull drab book to you? Or, is it the thing that brings the greatest fulfillment? This is a real identifying mark of the Spirit filled believer.
God's written Word should be held in reverence, read with absolute confidence that it is His Word, and practice it in the life.
May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.
In Christ
Bro. White
