The Excellency of God’s Word, Part 2
Central Thought: God’s word is forever settled and will prosper.
Hymn: I am Thine O’ Lord
Text: Psalm 119; Isaiah 55:8-11
Introduction:
The Bible is God’s written word and will, Jesus Christ is His word made flesh, being “the way, the truth and the life”, John 14:6. God’s spoken word brought the world into being. It’s forever the same, immutable and inexhaustible. The Psalmist was persecuted by men of rank and authority, who ridiculed his beliefs, seeking to put him to shame and make him give up his faith. But he strengthened himself by meditating on the word of the Lord, which to him was his comfort, his prized possession, his rule of life, and his resource for strength – all of which drove him to desire it even more. God’s word is as sure now as it was then. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, act on it to be blessed (and prosper).
Lesson Objectives:
- To appreciate that God’s word is excellent.
- To know the blessings in God’s word.
Question 1.) How is God’s word excellent?
Excellency is a state of being of the highest or finest quality, exceptionally good, superb. It’s being the very best one can be under any condition. The Psalmist tasted and tested God’s word under various conditions and has the following testimonies to share with us about its excellency.
God’s word is the remedy for Sin: the Psalmist declares that a person cleanses “his way” (conduct) by obeying God’s word, v.9; testifying that he had assimilated and rejoiced in God’s word so that he might be morally pure. Hence he pledged “I will not forget, thy word”, v. 16, which “I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against thee”, v 11.
God’s word is a light in dark days: When life seems precarious (v. 7), and earthly days seem far from home (v 19), and authorities are condemnatory and suspicious (v. 22-23), God’s word gives purpose to life (v. 17) and makes it bearable (v. 19). Without divine aid there is no comprehension. This prompted the Psalmist to ask God to open his eyes so that he could see the marvelous blessings of God in His word.
Salvation comes through God’s word: Realizing that the gospel of our Salvation, Ephesians 1:13, is all that is able to save our sours, James 1:21, the Psalmist called on God to deliver him through His love and His word (promise), v. 41, ref Hebrews 4:12.
There is Comfort in God’s word: Declaring his hope in the Word of God which is comfort in trouble, vitality to meet opposition without deviating, emotions anchored to true moral values, uplifting thoughts when otherwise depression might strike home, the Psalmist sang about and meditated on the word, v. 49-56.
God’s word is trustworthy: The Psalmist trusted that the Lord would deal with him according to His Word, v. 65. He declared his trust in the midst of slander, v. 69-70, 51-53, and admitted that through affliction he realized more of the value of the word of God, v. 71-72.
There is hope in God’s word: “Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator”, 1 Peter 4:19. God is the Creator in whose word there is hope know that in faithfulness God had afflicted him, v. 71, the Psalmist asked God to comfort him and prayed that those who fear the Lord will likewise turn to Him in accordance with His word, v. 79-80.
God is Faithful to his word: The Psalmist admitted that his soul almost fainted while waiting for God’s word, v. 81-82. Often the godless seem to have it their own way, v. 85-87, and the apparent silence of God cannot be comprehended by man: much more when there is an apparent delay in fulfillment of the promises to the believer, v. 82 & 84. There is need to trust in the word that originated from His mouth, v. 88, Isaiah 55:8-11; God is faithful to fulfill His word!
God’s word is sure: “Forever, Oh Lord, Thy word is settled in heaven”, v. 89; this is attested to by His faithfulness and the victory that resulted from the Psalmist delight in the word of God. God’s word is boundless, v. 96, in its value.
God’s word is a source of wisdom and knowledge: A man taught by God’s law is wiser than his opponents, would –be teachers, and even the proverbially wise elders, v. 98-101. The explanation is that in His Word, God is the teacher, v. 102, and the result is love, v. 97, desire and sound moral judgement, v. 103-104.
God’s word is a alight to the pathway of life: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path”, v. 105. The divine origin of the word made the Psalmist to value it. It is its practical usefulness as a guide which makes him solemnly determined to hold to it in trouble, joy, peril and hostility, v. 107-110, even as an eternal heritage, v. 111.
God’s word is wonderful: “The entrance of thy words giveth light: it giveth understanding unto the simple”, v. 130. Therefore the Psalmist declared his delight for God’s wonderful Word, v. 127-130.
God’s word is a righteous and faithful testimony of God: “Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness and thy law is the truth”, v. 124. The worth of God’s word constantly elicited the Psalmist devotion to it. The peculiar worth of the word as state in v. 137-144 is that His word is pure and clean, v. 140, and true, v. 142.
God’s word is true: “Thou are near, O’ Lord and all thy commandments are truth”, v. 151. The Psalmist was so sure of the nearness of God and so relied on His word which he hoped in, obeyed and meditated on, that he could call upon Him for deliverance in the midst of his enemies. No wonder he said, “Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth forever”, v. 160.
There is deliverance in God’s word: The knowledge of God in an individual’s life brings deliverance. The Psalmist called on God to hear his supplication and deliver him, v. 169-170. He desired to praise God for His word, v. 171-172. He asked God to enable him to live since he delighted in his law. The Psalmist concluded by confessing that he had gone astray like a lost sheep and asked God to rescue him in His word, v. 176.
God’s word therefore leads the believer to making the best of any situation. The word is indeed a lamp to our feet and a light to our path, keeping us in His will every time and making us testify like the Psalmist, of the Excellency of God’s word.
Question 2.) Highlight some of the blessings in God’s word.
God’s word assures the believer of an abundant life in this world and in the world to come, eternal life.
It all begins with believing in Jesus Christ as Lord and personal Savior, John 3:14-15. When the sinner comes to the Lord he gets rest from his burden of sin, Matthew 11:28-30. With the word of God heard and by the power of the Holy Spirit his faith is gradually built up, Romans 10:17. As long as the believer does not doubt the word of God and the ability of God to meet his needs, his prayers will be answered, Mark 11:23-24. Peach and joy are also guaranteed in the word of God for the believer. Our Lord Jesus said, “In this world ye shall have tribulations but be of good cheer: I have overcome the world”, John 16:33. Consequently, though the believer will have many afflictions, the Lord will deliver him from them all, Psalm 34:19. “All things will also work together for good”, Romans 8:28, for the believer because he loves God and loves His word. Like the Psalmist testified in our test, Psalm 119, the believer has protection, provision and deliverance in God’s Word, Mark 10:30. As long as the word of God the believer has heard remains and guides him, he shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. This is the promise that the Lord has promised us, “even eternal life”, 1 Peter 2:24-25. The believer is therefore assured in the Word of God, of blessings in spirit, soul and body.
Daily Living Application:
God’s word brings out the best of any situation. It is the only remedy for sin, the ever certain light for dark days, and the only hope of mankind. God’s word is also sure, faithful, sweet, wonderful, righteous, true and unfailing with infinite value and backed by divine ability. This makes God’s word the best defense of the believer in adversity and the “sure road” to eternal life. God’s word is excellent and only by it can man have an excellent life.
Memory verse:
Psalm 119:160
“Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgements endureth forever”.