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| Volume 20 Number 3 March 2018 |
Page 8 |
The Immeasurable
Treasure of Psalm 119
Marilyn LaStrape
When I became a writer for Gospel Gazette in 2003, I had occasion to reference Psalm 119 in some depth for the ladies’ class I was teaching. During that time, I was and continue to stand in awe of the divine riches revealed in that Psalm. Every letter and syllable disclose the endless value, scope and focus of the Word of God.
“The scriptures are shallow enough for a babe to come and drink without fear of drowning and deep enough for theologians to swim without ever reaching the bottom.” This is a quote from Jerome of Stridonium in All Christians Are Leaders! by Charles B. Hodge, Jr. (page 15).
There are eleven words used in Psalm 119 to describe the infallible Word of God that we need to understand as we strive to gain spiritual knowledge, wisdom, understanding and discernment. Ten of these eleven comprehensive words employed to describe God’s Word are in Studies in Psalms by Robert R. Taylor, Jr. (pages 72-74). These terms are:
- Testimonies—God’s truth that is solemnly declared to the world. “Concerning Your testimonies, I have known of old that You have founded them forever” (vs. 152).
- Commandments—God’s orders that provide the comprehensive boundaries of obedience and submission. “It is time for You to act, O LORD, for they have regarded Your law as void. Therefore, I love Your commandments more than gold, yes, than fine gold” (vs. 126-127).
- Precepts—God’s rules which have been prescribed to us. “Therefore, all Your precepts concerning all things I consider to be right; I hate every false way” (vs. 128).
- Judgments—God’s regulations that enable us to determine right over wrong and to act accordingly. “I remembered Your judgments of old, O LORD, and have comforted myself” (vs. 52).
- Statutes—God’s instructions that are marked, traced out and fixed. “Hold me up, and I shall be safe, and I shall observe Your statutes continually” (vs. 117).
- Law—God’s directions to guide, teach and show us what is right and what is wrong. “Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness; and Your law is truth” (vs. 151).
- Way—God’s prescribed manner of life for walking in obedience. “I have chosen the way of truth; Your judgments I have laid before me” (vs. 30).
- Truth—God’s settling to make steady and constant. “You are near, O LORD, and all Your commandments are truth” (vs. 151).
- Word—God’s entire body of divine and inspired revelation. “The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever” (vs. 160).
- Righteousness—God’s holiness, justice and goodness. “My tongue shall speak of Your word, for all Your commandments are righteousness” (vs. 172).
- Ordinances is one other term that is used to describe God’s Word, which involves His governing and ruling. “Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven, Your faithfulness endures to all generations, You established the earth and it stands. They continue this day according to Your ordinances, for all are Your servants” (vs. 89-91).
We live in a cursed and fallen world that is drunk on sin! It is of the greatest comfort to have the blessed assurance that God’s Word is true, unswerving, unchangeable and forever. It was a fact before we got here, it’s a fact now, and it will be a fact when we are dead and gone. It will be a fact when this world will be on fire! Why is that? God’s Word solemnly declares that fact in just two of the numerous passages asserting His ultimate control over all.
“Behold, to the LORD your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it” (Deuteronomy 10:14). “I know all the birds of the mountains, and the wild beasts of the field are Mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you; for the world is Mine, and all its fullness” (Psalm 50:12-13). We don’t tell God; He tells us through His Word, the Bible.
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