Psalm 19:7-11 - God's Pure Word

These five verses (vv. 7-11) in Psalm 19, put together one of the best descriptions of the various aspects of God’s Word and how it can and will impact our daily living if take the time to expose our minds and hearts to it and if we will humbly obey it! Today, we will pick up in verse 8 from where we left off yesterday. “The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart” (v. 8). These are the God's detailed instructions concerning the practical matters of everyday life. For the Old Testament Jew, the statutes related to what they ate, how they dressed, how they kept clean, and so forth. God laid down certain basic laws and commandments, and the statutes applied them to specific situations. The New Testament epistles repeat nine of the Ten Commandments for believers today, omitting the Fourth Commandment, and then give applications of these principles. (See Eph. 4:20-32.) Some of the statutes that legislators are passing today are not right and they are bringing grief, but the statutes of the Lord bring joy. “The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes” (v. 8). The word means "that which is appointed." Because the Lord loves us, He commands us what to do and warns us what not to do, and how we respond is a matter of life or death (Deut. 30:15-20). God's commands are pure and lead to a pure life, if we obey from the heart. The Bible is the Holy Scriptures (Rom. 1:2; 7:12; 2 Tim. 3:15), and therefore His Word is "very pure" (119:140; Prov. 30:5). We are enlightened and learn God's truth when we obey what He says (John 7:17) and not just when we read it or study it (James 1:22-25). We are strangers on this earth, and the Word of God is the road map to guide us (119:19). Psalm 119:105 tells us, “Thy Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path”. “The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever” (v. 9). This is an unusual name for the Scriptures, but it reminds us that we cannot learn the Word of God unless we show reverence and respect for the God of the Word. To teach the Bible is to teach the fear of the Lord (34:11; Deut. 4:9-10), and the mark of a true Bible student is a burning heart, not a big head (Luke 24:32; 1 Cor. 8:1). While some of the fears people have might be distressing and even defiling, the fear of God is clean and maturing. We do not decay or deteriorate as we walk in the fear of the Lord (2 Cor. 4:16-18). “The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether” (v. 9). This can be translated "ordinances" or even "verdicts." It refers to the decisions of a judge. Throughout the Bible we see the Lord passing judgment on what people and nations do, and His rewards, rebukes, and punishments help us understand what pleases Him. In the nation of Israel, the ordinances instructed the officers and judges in settling problems between individuals and in meting out punishments to guilty offenders. Believers today are not under the Old Testament law, but how those laws were applied helps us understand the righteousness of God and our need for His grace. “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” (v. 10-11). The way we treat the Bible is the way we treat the Lord, so it isn't difficult to determine if we are rightly related to God. We should desire God’s Word more than wealth and more than tasty food (v. 10). We should accept the warnings of the Word and act upon them (v. 11). To have an appetite for God's Word is a mark of a healthy Christian whose priorities are straight. The Lord has sent the Holy Spirit to teach us His Word, and if we walk in the Spirit, we will learn and live the truth (John 14:26; 16:12-15; 1 Cor. 2:9-10; 1 John 2:20-29). God bless!