Articles
The sum of your word is truth
Psalms 119: 160-176
160 The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever. 161 Princes persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of your words. 162 I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil. 163 I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love your law. 164 Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous rules. 165 Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble. 166 I hope for your salvation, O Lord, and I do your commandments. 167 My soul keeps your testimonie; I love them exceedingly. 168 I keep your precepts and testimonies, for all my ways are before you. 169 Let my cry come before you, O Lord; give me understanding according to your word! 170 Let my plea come before you; deliver me according to your word. 171 My lips will pour forth praise, for you teach me your statutes. 172 My tongue will sing of your word, for all your commandments are right. 173 Let your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts. 174 I long for your salvation, O Lord, and your law is my delight. 175 Let my soul live and praise you, and let your rules help me. 176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I DO NOT FORGET YOUR COMMANDMENTS!
Last night at mid-week Bible study I was fascinated by the reference to Psalms 119:160. But as is my custom I usually read around the quoted text seeking context, and I think I have found a treasure piece here. Reading on through verse 176 Starting from verse 160 we find the immutable truth that God's word is true. No matter how a nation, state, community or even a supreme court may try to pervert it, God's word is true forever. Moving on to verses 162-163; The "princes of this world" are persecuting those of us who believe in and follow the only true God of all creation. They would have us to be silent and let them have their way as they seen fit, even if it infringes on our right to be heard extoling the name and the virtues of the Lord God Almighty. they won't understand or accept that we stand in awe of the word of God, we consider it a great treasure, and absolutely love his laws, precepts and instructions. They will not see why we hate and abhor their falsehood, lies and deceits. Verses 164-168, We praise God because of His rules for us, the peace and love we have for His law makes us so that we cannot stumble. We show that we have hope for our salvation by doing His commandments, we keep His testimonies because we love them, not just exceedingly but totally. We keep them because we know that He sees the inner heart and knows that we are open totally to His sight and knowledge of us. Verses 169-172 We must cry before Him for understatding of the word, we plead for deliverance promised by His very word, our lips pour out praise (not in silence) for the very word He puts in our hearts, our tongue should speak and sing loudly because all of His commandments are right and true. Verses 173-176 we pray for His help because we have chosen to follow Him. We long for the promised salvation which make His laws our hearts delight, as we live and praise Him His rules will be of great help in all things. Though we are weak and may somtimes wander and grow weary, He being the shepherd will find His flock, He will find us, His servants because WE HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN HIS COMMANDMENTS.
