This week we see David’s love for God’s Word.
Psa. 119:41 Let Your mercies also come to me, O LORD — Your salvation according to Your Word.
Psa. 119:42 So shall I have an answer for him who reproaches me, For I trust in Your Word.
David makes a connection for us and shows us that the mercy of God and the salvation of God is revealed through God’s Word. Remember that David did not have the New Testament. We look back and understand the plan of salvation that God gave us through the shed blood of Jesus. David had to look forward and believe that the mercy of God included salvation for him. For David, the Word of God was enough. Remember how he says in other Psalms: The Lord is my Shephard, I shall not want. He restoreth my soul, and even if I go through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil – Psalm 23.
I am sure David was asked why does he still trust in the Lord. If we look at David’s life, we know that his owns son, Absalom rebelled against him and threw him out of his palace. Saul chased him his whole life while he was still king. His people rejected him, so why should he still believe and trust a God that allows that. Despite all the reproach, David still knows the answer is only found with God and His Word.
Psa. 119:43 And take not the Word of truth utterly out of my mouth,
For I have hoped in Your ordinances.
Psa. 119:44 So shall I keep Your law continually, Forever and ever.
The Word of God is truth – 2 Tim 2:15. His precepts and ordinances are justice and righteousness. Moses says that God is a God of truth – Deut 32:4. Isaiah the prophet confirms what Moses says: He who blesses himself shall bless himself in the God of Truth – Isaiah 65:16. Paul admonishes Titus with these words: In the hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie promised before time began.
Why would David want to keep God’s law forever? The Word of God is eternal. So Jesus said it in Matt 24:35 – Heaven and earth will pass away, but My Word will not pass away.
Did you know that God upholds all things with the Word of His power? His Word is what is making everything work and hold together – Heb 1:3.
Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God stands forever.
God’s Word is Truth. Therefore, truth is never intimidated by a lie. On the contrary, in the presence of truth, the lie loses all its power and influence.
Psa. 119:45 And I will walk at liberty, For I seek Your precepts.
Psa. 119:46 I will speak of Your testimonies also before kings,
And will not be ashamed.
How can you stay quiet? When you begin to understand the greatness of God, the majesty, and the glory of God, how can you not say something? So the heavens declare the glory of God – Psalm 19:1 – and one day declares to the next day and one night reveals knowledge to the next night – Psalm 19:2. If we don’t say something, the rocks will start to cry out – Luke 19:40. Creation speaks of the greatness of God. So why do we, as the people of God, keep silent. David says that he will not be ashamed of God or what He has done, even if it didn’t always look like his life was going well.
We struggle when God does not meet our expectations. He does not always show up the way we expect Him to show up. God is God and does not manifest Himself within our religious or denominational boxes. The question is never God’s faithfulness but can we stay faithful to Him when He acts like God. How do we talk about the times God did not show up? Most people relegate that to God’s sovereignty. It is an easy way to say I don’t understand, but I might still be mad about it. The most honest way would be to say: “I don’t know.”
Psa. 119:47 And I will delight myself in Your commandments,
Which I love.
Psa. 119:48 My hands also I will lift up to Your commandments,
Which I love,
And I will meditate on Your statutes.
Twice David that he loves the commandments of God. In Hebrew culture, to say something twice means you are establishing a truth. The number two represents a testimony or division. On the second day of creation, God separated or divided the land and the oceans. God also tells Moses that there must be two or three witnesses.
Duet 19:15 A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.
Jesu constantly said: “Verily, Verily, I say unto you.” He was establishing a truth. The words Jesus uses are: Amen, Amen. (So be it)
God’s Word reveals His mercy, His salvation, and His truth. David loves everything about God’s Word.
Do you have a love for His Word?
