Truth Is Not Determined by Numbers

September 27, 2016 by

The Psalm of the Word: A Study of Psalm 119

“Many are my persecutors and my adversaries, yet I do not turn aside from Your testimonies. I behold the treacherous and loathe them, because they do not keep Your word” (Psalm 119:157-158).

David’s adversaries were “many” (Psalm 119:157). He considered them, but he did not join them. Instead, he said he loathed them (Psalm 119:158).

We should take this as a reminder to not be tempted to join the majority. Jesus warned about this in the Sermon on the Mount: “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14). Popular opinion will change; but the truth of God’s word will not (Psalm 119:160). Therefore, we must not look at numbers to determine what is right; we must look to the Scriptures.

The above post is an excerpt from the book, The Psalm of the Word: A Study of Psalm 119. Follow the link to learn more about the book and purchase your copy today!

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The Sum of God’s Word Is Truth

September 22, 2016 by

The Psalm of the Word: A Study of Psalm 119

“The sum of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting” (Psalm 119:160).

This twentieth stanza brings together some themes we have seen throughout this psalm. We have already seen in this psalm that God’s word is truth (Psalm 119:43, 142, 151). This same thought is expressed elsewhere in the Bible. In particular, we should note the passages from the New Testament. In Jesus’ prayer to the Father, He said, “Your word is truth” (John 17:17). Paul identified “the gospel” as “the word of truth” (Colossians 1:5; cf. 2 Timothy 2:15).

The reason why the Bible is the truth is because it is from God. He “cannot lie” (Titus 1:2). Because of this, the promises contained in His word serve as an anchor for us. The Hebrew writer made this point in his letter: “So that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil” (Hebrews 6:17-18). We can have hope because God’s word is right and cannot be wrong.

In considering this point, it is important to note that the sum of God’s word is truth. All of it is true because it is all from God. Paul told Timothy, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Since all of the Bible is
from God, we can be confident that it is all true.

However, many will attack various parts of the Bible, claiming that they are not true, but instead are myths, lies, mistranslations, etc. This is commonly done with events like the Creation (Genesis 1), the crossing of the Red Sea (Exodus 14:15-31), and the resurrection of Jesus from the dead (Matthew 28:1-9; et al.). Yet if we reject parts of the Bible – as is often done with examples such as these – how can we believe any of it? The psalmist wrote, “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3). Faith comes from the word of God (Romans 10:17); but if our faith in the integrity and veracity of the Scriptures is compromised, where does that leave our faith? Regarding the resurrection of Christ, Paul wrote, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied” (1 Corinthians 15:17-19). If Jesus was not raised from the dead, our “faith is worthless.” In the same way, if we do not believe His resurrection really happened, our faith is just as worthless. We must always remember that the sum (entirety) of God’s word is truth.

The above post is an excerpt from the book, The Psalm of the Word: A Study of Psalm 119. Follow the link to learn more about the book and purchase your copy today!

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We Must Recognize the Need for God’s Grace

September 20, 2016 by

The Psalm of the Word: A Study of Psalm 119

“Turn to me and be gracious to me, after Your manner with those who love Your name” (Psalm 119:132).

“Make Your face shine upon Your servant, and teach me Your statutes” (Psalm 119:135).

David appealed to God to turn to him (Psalm 119:132). Of course, he needed to turn to God as well (more on this point later); but nothing he would do would matter if God did not turn to him. Paul reminded the Gentiles, “Remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:12-13). If the Gentiles had turned to God but God had not accepted them, they would still be “far off.” God, through His grace, must be willing to accept someone; otherwise, nothing he does will be of any consequence.

Fortunately for us, God has extended His grace to all. But sadly, not all will receive it. Paul said, “The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men” (Titus 2:11). However, we know that not all will be saved (Matthew 7:13-14). In order to receive His grace, we must be among those who “love [His] name” (Psalm 119:132). We must recognize the need for God’s grace because He does not owe us anything – except punishment for our sins (Romans 6:23) – and we must respond with gratitude and obedience. “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father” (Colossians 3:17). Love, gratitude, and obedience are essential; but they mean nothing without God’s grace first being offered to us.

The psalmist also said, “Make Your face shine upon Your servant” (Psalm 119:135). This is another appeal for grace. This phrase is used several places in the Old Testament to refer to God’s grace (cf. Numbers 6:25; Psalm 67:1; 80:3, 7, 19).

David then tied this back to the word of God: “Teach me Your statutes” (Psalm 119:135). God extends His grace through His word, not apart from His word. The gospel is “the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24) and is, therefore, “the power of God for salvation” (Romans 1:16). But if we “do not obey the gospel,” we will be lost (2 Thessalonians 1:8). We cannot be saved without grace, but we cannot respond to God’s grace without His word.

The above post is an excerpt from the book, The Psalm of the Word: A Study of Psalm 119. Follow the link to learn more about the book and purchase your copy today!

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We Must Hate Every False Way

September 15, 2016 by

The Psalm of the Word: A Study of Psalm 119

“From Your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way” (Psalm 119:104).

The world wants us to be tolerant toward sin and error to the point that we cannot even call anything sin and error. Yet David said that his understanding of God’s precepts led him to “hate every false way.”

The same should be true for us. We should “hate every false way” because God hates it. The psalmist wrote elsewhere, “For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness; no evil dwells with You. The boastful shall not stand before Your eyes; You hate all who do iniquity. You destroy those who speak falsehood; the Lord abhors the man of bloodshed and deceit” (Psalm 5:4-6).

Furthermore, we should also “hate every false way” because sin causes souls to be lost. Sin separates man from God (Isaiah 59:2) and “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). If we understand God’s word, we cannot help but hate what is false.

The above post is an excerpt from the book, The Psalm of the Word: A Study of Psalm 119. Follow the link to learn more about the book and purchase your copy today!

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Creation Proves the Power and Faithfulness of God

September 13, 2016 by

The Psalm of the Word: A Study of Psalm 119

“Your faithfulness continues throughout all generations; You established the earth, and it stands. They stand this day according to Your ordinances, for all things are Your servants” (Psalm 119:90-91).

The opening words of Scripture contain this fundamental fact: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). Jesus was instrumental in this. John wrote, “All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being” (John 1:3). This physical world continues “according to [His] ordinances” (Psalm 119:91). Paul said of Christ, “All things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:16-17).

Immediately after the flood, God promised that His providential care would continue perpetually: “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease” (Genesis 8:22). His care “throughout all generations” (Psalm 119:90) is a “witness” of Him to “all the nations” (Acts 14:16-17).

If the earth can stand as long as it has, we can trust God’s word to stand. The psalmist said that heaven and earth “stand this day according to [God’s] ordinances” (Psalm 119:91). This is important to remember because it also pertains to our spiritual well-being. Just as physical birth continues through God’s providence (Genesis 4:1; 1 Timothy 2:15), spiritual rebirth continues through His word. Peter wrote, “For you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God” (1 Peter 1:23). God continues to give us spiritual life if we will trust and obey Him. His ongoing care in matters of this life are enough to prove to us that we can safely trust in Him.

The above post is an excerpt from the book, The Psalm of the Word: A Study of Psalm 119. Follow the link to learn more about the book and purchase your copy today!

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