The Works and the Word of God

Psalm 19

GOLDEN TEXT: “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable hi Thy sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”—Psalm 19:14

IN THE first few verses of this Psalm, the writer gives a beautiful and poetic description of the heavens and about their constant testimony to the wisdom, power and order of the Creator. He then turns form the Book of Nature to the Book of divine Revelation and recounts what great advantages and blessings flow to the one who studies and obeys God’s instructions therein. The Psalmist’s conclusions are recorded in our Golden Text, and this inspired prayer is echoed by every true child of God.

But, realizing the downward tendencies of the old nature, one may be inclined to ask, How may the difficult task of subduing the inherent depravity be accomplished? It is hard for one, particularly under exasperating circumstances, to control a violent or hasty temper; for another to bridle a gossiping tongue; and especially if the trials of life to some extent hinder a true appraisal of his conduct and blind him to his weaknesses. With this problem in mind the Psalmist inquires, “Wherewith al shall a young man cleanse his way?” and then replies, “By taking heed thereto according to Thy Word.” (Psa. 119:9) Then he frames for us this resolution: “I will meditate in Thy precepts, and have respect unto Thy ways. I will delight myself in Thy statutes: I will not forget Thy Word.” (Psa. 119:15,16) Here is the secret of a pure and noble life, acceptable to God. It is to be attained, not merely by prayers and righteous resolutions, but, in addition to these, by careful, painstaking heed, by systematic and diligent effort at self-cultivation, by care and perseverance in weeding out evil thoughts, and by diligent and constant cultivation of pure, benevolent and noble thoughts, and by nipping in the bud the weeds of perversity before they bring forth their hasty harvest of sinful words and deeds.

But how important is the consideration, that this heed or care is to be taken, not according to the imperfect standard of our own judgment, but according to God’s Word. The standard by which we test our lives makes a vast difference in our conclusions. A very important part of the Christian’s daily business is to engrave in his character, in his heart, more and more deeply, the laws of the Lord; and the more earnestly he gives attention to this discipline and schooling, necessary to all the disciples of Christ, the more he prepares himself for the Kingdom condition and joint-heirship with the Lord.

“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.” (Psa. 19:7,8) How true are these prophetic declarations may be comprehended only by those who have learned to appreciate the Word of God. It deters from sin, it encourages toward righteousness, it gives consolation in trouble, it gives strength and courage in a time of general fear and quaking, it gives wisdom in times of perplexity, and the result is that the people of the Lord have much advantage every way through it as respects the present life, besides the hope, the encouragement and the preparation which it alone gives for the life which is to come.

Continuing, the Psalmist says, “The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever. … More to be desired are they [the law and the testimony of the Lord] than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.” This fear of the Lord inculcated by His Word, is not a servile fear, but a noble fear, a reverence begotten of love—a fear of falling short of His righteous approval. And since it is the means by which we may be sanctified and prepared for the responsibilities and the joys of the Kingdom, the knowledge of God’s Word is beyond comparison with any amount of earthly treasure. It is the power by which we are to be sanctified.—John 17:17

The prayer in the concluding verses of our lesson is worthy of very careful attention. It speaks of three phases of sin, “secret faults,” “presumptuous sins,” and “the great transgression.” When we measure ourselves by the Word and detect and deplore our short-comings, let us remember the Psalmist’s prayer: “Cleanse Thou me from secret faults”—thus supplementing our efforts by our prayers. Another part of this prayer reads: “Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me; then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.” Well may we strive and pray to be kept back from presumptuous sins—sins of pride and self-will which do not meekly submit to the will of God. Let us beware of the slightest tendency toward pride and self-will, or the disposition to be wise above that which is written, or to take for granted what God does not clearly promise. “Then,” indeed, if we watch and strive against the very beginning of such a disposition, we “shall be innocent from the great transgression.”

“Blessed is the man … whose delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the river of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season, his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” (Psa. 1:1-3) If we make the Word of God the theme of our constant meditation, its principles will soon be assimilated and become part of our mental makeup, making our characters more beautiful, and in harmony with this habit of the mind will be our words and actions. The purified fountain will send forth sweeter waters than formerly, bearing blessing and good cheer to those who come in contact with it.

QUESTIONS:

What lessons can a Christian obtain from God’s creative works?

What provision has God made for directing His people in the ways of truth and righteousness?

Should the Christian meditate upon the law of the Lord even as David meditated upon the beauty and grandeur of the heavens?

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