My zeal has consumed me, because my enemies have forgotten Your words. Your word is very pure; therefore Your servant loves it.
--Psalm 119:139-140 (NKJV)
From the daily Bible reading on July 20, 2013 of Psalm 119:137-144; Luke 2:21-52; 2 Chronicles 1-3.
God is righteous, and so is His word. That is the message our psalmist delivers in the 18th stanza of the 119th Psalm, the eight verses associated with the Hebrew letter Tsadde. This is clear from the opening verse, when he recognizes God as being righteous and His judgments upright. Normally when we look at the word "righteous", we consider it as being and doing right, living correctly, in the eyes of God. But how does it apply to God Himself? Being righteous can also be defined as being free from guilt or sin. That is certainly true of God. He could never break His own commandments or sin against Himself. If He ever should, in that very instant the whole universe would fall apart for everything there is depends upon God and His being true and faithful. So the Creator of all cannot be guilty of breaking His own laws, nor can He sin against Himself. Another definition of righteous is to be morally right or justifiable. The psalmist states that God's judgments are upright, meaning they are morally just, and justifiable. And since God Himself is righteous, then so must His word also be righteous, morally right and justifiable.
With this basic premise established, we can look at today's focus verses where the psalmist shows how his adherence to God and His laws provide him an edge over those who torment him. Of course, even in the psalmist's eyes it isn't his love of God's word that gives him the advantage, it comes from God Himself. Because the psalmist follows God's word and his enemies don't, God favors him over them. The psalmist readily admits that because God's word is pure (another way to describe righteousness) he loves it.
And that brings us to God's Word, which we know from the Apostle John is Jesus our Christ, who was with God from even before time began (please reference John 1:1-5). The psalmist declares God's Word to be righteous and pure. Jesus indeed fits this description and all definitions of righteous and upright apply to Him as well. Jesus as a man was free from sin, the Spotless Lamb sacrificed for us all. God's Word strengthens us to stand and face our true enemy, Satan. Through Christ we gain the advantage over the powers of this world, and only through Him do we gain salvation. Jesus is righteous and pure and we, His followers, love Him. May we always be His servants. Amen.
Son of God and Son of Man, You are the true Word of God - righteous, upright, and pure. In You all our hopes are founded. In You our salvation is assured. May we ever praise Your most holy name. May we ever acknowledge Your sovereignty over our lives. In Your beautiful name, Lord Jesus we pray. Amen.
With this basic premise established, we can look at today's focus verses where the psalmist shows how his adherence to God and His laws provide him an edge over those who torment him. Of course, even in the psalmist's eyes it isn't his love of God's word that gives him the advantage, it comes from God Himself. Because the psalmist follows God's word and his enemies don't, God favors him over them. The psalmist readily admits that because God's word is pure (another way to describe righteousness) he loves it.
And that brings us to God's Word, which we know from the Apostle John is Jesus our Christ, who was with God from even before time began (please reference John 1:1-5). The psalmist declares God's Word to be righteous and pure. Jesus indeed fits this description and all definitions of righteous and upright apply to Him as well. Jesus as a man was free from sin, the Spotless Lamb sacrificed for us all. God's Word strengthens us to stand and face our true enemy, Satan. Through Christ we gain the advantage over the powers of this world, and only through Him do we gain salvation. Jesus is righteous and pure and we, His followers, love Him. May we always be His servants. Amen.
Son of God and Son of Man, You are the true Word of God - righteous, upright, and pure. In You all our hopes are founded. In You our salvation is assured. May we ever praise Your most holy name. May we ever acknowledge Your sovereignty over our lives. In Your beautiful name, Lord Jesus we pray. Amen.
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