Answers in a Confused World
Where do we turn for clarity in a confused world? Pt 1
Psalm 119
“How blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord.”
Where do we turn for answers in a morally confused world? Where can we find certainty in a world where there seems to be disunity and uncertainty?
Psalm 119 sits at the center of the Bible. In many ways, it is not just a celebration of God’s word; it is a reminder that the Bible is the foundation of life. The Psalm is an acrostic, with each line of each stanza starting with a Hebrew letter. The words that divide the Psalm (Aleph, Beth, Gimel, etc.) are letters of the Hebrew alphabet, similar to A, B, C, D... This acrostic is more than just a literary form; it serves as a reminder that from beginning to end, and everything within it, is governed by the law of God.
In extoling the supremacy and extent of the law of God, the Psalmist uses every word available to him to highlight the vast array of applications the Law of God has for every situation in life. Just as a jeweler closely turns a diamond to examine the multi-faceted beauty and value of the precious stone, so the Psalmist paints a verbal picture of the beauty and value of God’s word. He uses eight different terms, each giving the reader a different perspective on the significance and purpose of God’s Law. So pervasive is God’s law throughout this Psalm that there are only four lines that do not mention at least one of these words.
The first word, “law,” refers to the authoritative rules and regulations that God requires us to follow. It expresses God’s mandate for how we are to live before Him. The second word, “testimonies,” means to bear witness to an event or person and highlights God’s own testimony and affirmation of His character and purpose. To keep His testimonies is to live according to the character of God that is revealed in His word. The third word is “judgment.” This word is used to describe the legislative and judicial laws of a government. Because all authority belongs to God, He is the ultimate judge of the world; He pronounces His judgment, which is righteous and pure. This includes the declaration of punishment upon sin as well as the acquittal of those who have accepted His salvation. The fourth word is “commandments.” This points to the commands that God has given and the responsibility to obey them. It highlights God’s authority to issue commands and our duty to follow them. The fifth word, “statutes,” means to engrave or inscribe on stone. It is a term used to describe the marking out of land boundaries. These boundaries were written in stone to reflect their unchangeability. In His Word, God places boundaries that are fixed and unchangeable. His commands are unalterable. The sixth word, “precepts,” was used to describe the oversight of a subordinate and speaks of the responsibilities God places upon His people. The last two words, “word” and “promises,” are more general terms that encompass the truth of God in all its forms.
The kaleidoscope of terms used to describe God’s law throughout this Psalm emphasizes that the totality of God’s word is valid and binding for us. In an age when absolute truth is rejected and truth has become relative, the psalms call us back to the centrality of God’s word as the answer to life. The Bible is more than just a book; it is the source of truth that brings clarity in a confused world. In our search for meaning and truth, there is only one absolute, binding, and valid source: the Bible.
Psalm 119
“How blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord.”
Where do we turn for answers in a morally confused world? Where can we find certainty in a world where there seems to be disunity and uncertainty?
Psalm 119 sits at the center of the Bible. In many ways, it is not just a celebration of God’s word; it is a reminder that the Bible is the foundation of life. The Psalm is an acrostic, with each line of each stanza starting with a Hebrew letter. The words that divide the Psalm (Aleph, Beth, Gimel, etc.) are letters of the Hebrew alphabet, similar to A, B, C, D... This acrostic is more than just a literary form; it serves as a reminder that from beginning to end, and everything within it, is governed by the law of God.
In extoling the supremacy and extent of the law of God, the Psalmist uses every word available to him to highlight the vast array of applications the Law of God has for every situation in life. Just as a jeweler closely turns a diamond to examine the multi-faceted beauty and value of the precious stone, so the Psalmist paints a verbal picture of the beauty and value of God’s word. He uses eight different terms, each giving the reader a different perspective on the significance and purpose of God’s Law. So pervasive is God’s law throughout this Psalm that there are only four lines that do not mention at least one of these words.
The first word, “law,” refers to the authoritative rules and regulations that God requires us to follow. It expresses God’s mandate for how we are to live before Him. The second word, “testimonies,” means to bear witness to an event or person and highlights God’s own testimony and affirmation of His character and purpose. To keep His testimonies is to live according to the character of God that is revealed in His word. The third word is “judgment.” This word is used to describe the legislative and judicial laws of a government. Because all authority belongs to God, He is the ultimate judge of the world; He pronounces His judgment, which is righteous and pure. This includes the declaration of punishment upon sin as well as the acquittal of those who have accepted His salvation. The fourth word is “commandments.” This points to the commands that God has given and the responsibility to obey them. It highlights God’s authority to issue commands and our duty to follow them. The fifth word, “statutes,” means to engrave or inscribe on stone. It is a term used to describe the marking out of land boundaries. These boundaries were written in stone to reflect their unchangeability. In His Word, God places boundaries that are fixed and unchangeable. His commands are unalterable. The sixth word, “precepts,” was used to describe the oversight of a subordinate and speaks of the responsibilities God places upon His people. The last two words, “word” and “promises,” are more general terms that encompass the truth of God in all its forms.
The kaleidoscope of terms used to describe God’s law throughout this Psalm emphasizes that the totality of God’s word is valid and binding for us. In an age when absolute truth is rejected and truth has become relative, the psalms call us back to the centrality of God’s word as the answer to life. The Bible is more than just a book; it is the source of truth that brings clarity in a confused world. In our search for meaning and truth, there is only one absolute, binding, and valid source: the Bible.
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