Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep Your precepts. I have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I may keep Your word. I have not departed from Your judgments, for You Yourself have taught me. How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119: 97-105, NKJV.
O Holy God, Creator of heaven and earth; here we are seeking Your face as we study Your Word. Please come close and bless us we pray, in the wonderful name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Isn’t this a beautiful portion of Scripture? I found it absolutely fascinating! Notice how many terms the psalmist uses to describe the teachings of the Almighty: law, commandments, testimonies, precepts, word, judgments! The reason this is so significant, is because each of these terms add weight, worth, and wonder, to the teachings of the LORD. Let me hasten to explain by going to Psalm 19, to shed further light upon our study:
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting [reviving] the soul;
The testimony of the LORD is sure [trustworthy], making wise the simple;
8 The statutes [precepts] of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart [giving joy to the heart];
The commandment [commands] of the LORD is pure [are radiant],
enlightening [giving light] to the eyes;
9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments [ordinances] of the LORD are true [sure] and righteous altogether.
If we were to take them one by one, what an amazing wealth of knowledge we would gain about the benefits to be had through the study of, and obedience to, the Word of God! It is good for all things, and in all seasons! No wonder the apostle Paul exhorted the Christians of his day, (also good advice for the Christians of our day), that they should “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction” (2 Timothy 4: 2). God’s Word has been given to the world, to be a blessing! Unfortunately, some, weary of the way the Word was used when they were children – to correct, and rebuke, but with little attention to encourage, would rather have nothing to do with anything that sounds like law. So many have decided to remove it from their lives completely! This is rather unfortunate, since all that God wants to do, is to bless us!
However, as we chew on the words of Psalm 19, we find that His law is not a burden (1 John 5: 3), but a blessing – it returns life to the soul! We can trust all of the testimonies in His Word, and learn from them. You will be glad that you decided to live by His precepts, obedience to them does not produce regret but rejoicing. Regarding His commandments, the apostle said, “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet” (Romans 7: 7). They are indeed radiant, they are eye-openers to the will of God! We can be perfectly sure that everything that God has ordained, has been with the sole purpose of helping us! Therefore, I borrow the words of the psalmist in concluding that, God’s Word, in its entirety, is:
“More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward” (Psalm 19: 10, 11)!