God's Word and Truth
Psalm 119
Psalm 119 serves as one of the most passionate scriptures that is written. If your spirit is dull or if you just need God to speak to you, turn to the words of Psalm 119. The 176 verses almost without exception mentions God's Word in some form. The twenty–two 8 verse sections provide us with the best place to meditate on the connection between God's Word and the Truth. Each section's verses start with a given Hebrew alphabet letter (i.e. acrostic).
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We should note that the Psalmist cleverly uses different synonyms for the scriptures. The NASB uses 'law ,' 'testimonies,' 'precepts,' statutes,' 'commandments,' 'judgments,' 'word,' and 'ordinances.' What the words actually are is irrelevant to our study. More important to us is the few times the word 'truth' is used.
And do not take the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, For I wait for Thine ordinances. (Ps 119:43)
Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And Thy law is truth. (Ps 119:142)
Thou art near, O LORD, And all Thy commandments are truth. (Ps 119:151)
The sum of Thy word is truth, And every one of Thy righteous ordinances is everlasting. (Ps 119:160)
Refuting the adjusters of truth
The Psalmist first of all announces that God's word is truth. There is no doubt to what he was referring. We acknowledge not all the Old Testament texts were written by this time. However, Jesus later put His authoritative stamp on the Law and Prophets which effectively recognized certain unique texts originating out of the divine and Hebrew cultures.
How many pastors today do not believe in the truth of God's Word? How many would deny the infallibility of these ancient and yet treasured texts? Too many. Their churches are dying. They have already died. The world is dying next to them and they will all be buried in the same grave. If the word infallible is too vague, can they at least humble themselves to recognize what it says of itself - "Thy word is truth". Truth means reliable and unfailing. This word comes close to describing the words infallible or inerrant. (1)
Summary
Those who deny the truth of God's Word have lifted their opinion higher than that of Jesus. They have somehow gained an expert knowledge that surpasses that of God's Word itself. If this is so, then they should be able to save people. They should then be able to do greater things than Christ. But their works do nothing of a kind to back up their claims. We would do much better trusting Jesus as He authoritatively spoke in Matthew 5:17-19,.
"Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the Law, until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and so teaches others, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."
Humbling ourselves before the truth
We might be surprised that the Psalmist does not use truth to stand for one of the many synonyms for the Word of God. He, of course, firmly believes God's Word is truth. Just note how he says it again and again "Thy law is truth."
Truth is not different than the scriptures teach us, but it is greater than them. |
I believe he meant that although the Law is truth, the truth is not the Law. All of God's Word is truth. It is faithful and enduring. God's Word revives the soul. God's Word can always be trusted to reveal the perfect mind of God.
However, the truth cannot be totally captured by the scriptures. Truth is not different than the scriptures teach us, but it is greater than them. The scriptures themselves teach us that they are sufficient to perfectly train and instruct us in our every situation. 2 Timothy 3:16,17 says,
"All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work."
But God is greater than we. There are many things God has not yet revealed to us. Just think how many questions we have on earth. They for the most part could be resolved by a deep study of God's Word. God's Word is sufficient for our needs. However, life goes beyond this earth. We don't understand light, electricity or sleep, let alone the marvels of the gigantic universe. We should be willing to humble ourselves and openly acknowledge that we know so little. We fully concur with the apostle when he says in 1 Corinthians 13:9-12,
"For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. When I was a child, I used to speak as a child, think as a child, reason as a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I shall know fully just as I also have been fully known."
How foolish so many reject the truth God has revealed and deny the little truth they are acquainted with!
May we like this Psalmist be passionate about God's Word. May our heart be inflamed with a desire to know and live out all of God's truth!
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Biblical Foundations for Freedom
Notes:
(1) I of course do not refer to any version or even original language text but to the original autograph which we do not presently have. We do acknowledge that the copies that we do possess have errors - like spelling mistakes. But this is very different than what certain false representatives of God are saying when they say that the words are not reliable as speaking God's authoritative opinion. They deny their truthhood.