The Word of God

I have always loved Psalm 119. It's the biggest chapter in the Bible, and it talks so much about God's word. Out of 176 verses in the chapter, 167 of them refer to God's word. Words such as "statutes, ordinances, precepts, words, commandments, judgements, laws, and testimonies" are all used to describe the Word of God in the chapter. It is the overwhelming theme of the chapter.
And I cannot read it without a great depth of gratitude to God for my Bible!!

The King James Bible is the only one. Changes to it are perversions.

What a joy that while we don't have prophets and preachers doing miracles as they did in times of old, the preserving of our Bible is a miracle in of itself. "That which is perfect" is here. (1 Cor. 13:10) I love my Bible! It is my most cherished earthly possession. It is the only earthly possession I have that bears heavenly significance. Here are some thing I thought of that describe my Bible:

1. My Orders

As a soldier, my orders for battle are found in it's pages. It strengthens me to fight "against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." It reminds me that I'm in a battleground, not a playground.

2. My Love Letter

It is through the Bible that we find Salvation in Jesus Christ; without God's word, we would all be lost. Thank God for the love of God that saved me, the love of Christ that constrains me, and the love of the bridegroom that shall soon resurrect me.

3. My Comfort

Sometimes only my Bible can solve my problems. It soothes my broken heart, it's the balm of Gilead to my troubled soul, and I run to it my darkest hour.

Psalm 119: 9
"Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word."

Psalm 119:36-37
"Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.
Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way."

It keeps me clean. The more I read, the cleaner my mind and heart is. Someone in sin will not read the word of God; it cleans them. The longer I am in God's word the more it cleans me. "God's word will keep you from sin, but sin will keep you from God's word."

Psalm 119:24
"Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors."

Psalm 119:59
"I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies."

Psalm 119:105
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."

It leads me. When I don't undertand what to do or how to act, I turn to my Bible. I have great friends and counsellors, but the word of God excels them all! I can always trust in the counsel of the Word of God. It shall never fail me.

Pastor Hank Thompson said on his death bed, "I’ve lived my life upon the Scriptures. I’ve slept on them. I’ve fed on them I’ve given my whole life to the Scriptures; they’ve never failed me. They’ve kept me and led me. They’ve been my life. Don’t ever forsake them..."

Psalm 119:63
"I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts."

It associates me with the right people. When people have God's word in common, it seems like most other things fall into place. I have the most awesome friends anyone could ever have, and I have the Word of God to thank for that! It made me who I am, and it made my phriends who they are! It is how iron can sharpen iron, it settles disputes, it corrects mistakes, and it stays you when you misunderstand those around you.

Psalm 119:71
"It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes."

Psalm 119:114
"Thou art my hiding place..."

It strengthens me in the battle.

When I am weak, and tired, and overwhelmed, I can run to the refuge of his words and find comfort, help, and peace for my soul. This world can tear you up! Especially in the ministry! But God is my refuge, he is a very present help in time of trouble. In affliction, it draws us to know God's words even better, and to love and cherish them even more.

Psalm 119:103
"How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!"

Psalm 119:130
"The entrance of thy words giveth light."

It is sweet. I love to sit and meditate on the words of God! It is a past time that you will surely not regret. "Where the word of a king is, there is power." I love the sweetness of the fellowship of God Almighty as I read his word.

Psalm 119:165
"Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them."

It grants peace. What can you do with a man who is so founded in God's word that this world cannot offend him? Want peace in the storm? Turn to God's word.

This is not by far all that I gleaned in Psalm 119 this morning. As I drank my Dutch tea and read my Bible, I was simply thankful to God for allowing us the priveledge of holding his word. I pray that I never fail in my faith toward it. I pray that I live it, love it, and proclaim it as long as I live.