God's Word: A Precious Treasure - Carla D Burnette
Do we truly cherish God’s Word and recognize how precious it is to us? Through His living and active Word, God reveals Himself and His will. Plus, we have the incredible privilege to access His Word each and every day, anytime and anywhere.
Let’s turn to Psalm 19:7-11 (AMP) which describes the beauty and power of God’s Word. As we study this passage, may we develop a deeper level of appreciation for the precious treasure of God’s Word.
Psalm 19:7-11, “The law of the Lord is perfect (flawless), restoring and refreshing the soul; The statutes of the Lord are reliable and trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true, they are righteous altogether. 10 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. 11 Moreover, by them Your servant is warned [reminded, illuminated, and instructed]; In keeping them there is great reward” (AMP).
(V. 7a) “The law of the Lord is perfect (flawless), restoring and refreshing the soul”
God’s law or instruction is complete, lacking nothing, showing us the way to life. It is living water that restores and refreshes our thirsty, parched souls.
(V. 7b) “The statutes of the Lord are reliable and trustworthy, making wise the simple.”
Statutes or testimony of the Lord refers to God’s law given to humanity. Unlike man, whatever God says is true, for He is unchanging, completely trustworthy (Numbers 23:19).
Another attribute of God is His omniscience. Because of His foresight, He always knows what is best. Therefore, His statutes impart understanding and provide light, giving us discernment and wisdom (Psalm 119:130).
(V. 8a) “The precepts of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart”
Merriam Webster’s Dictionary defines precept as “a commandment or direction given as a rule of action or conduct; an injunction as to moral conduct”. Additionally, Strong’s Concordance tells us His precepts are “true, just, safe, straight”.
God’s precepts define right from wrong. They guide us on how to live and provide boundaries to keep us safe from the destruction of sin. Don’t we as parents define boundaries for our children? We love them and desire to protect them. However, our children may regard boundaries as limitations and not understand the meaning behind them.
Similarly, our Heavenly Father establishes boundaries for our protection, because He loves us and desires what is best for us. When we live within these boundaries, we are protected, happy and free to live for God.
(V 8b) “The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.”
God’s law and instruction is like refined silver that is purified seven times (Psalm 12:6). It is completely pure and flawless, providing spiritual insight to the eyes.
“The commandments of God are eye-opening. They illuminate dark situations so that we know how to proceed.”
The Tony Evans Bible Commentary
(V. 9a) “The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever.”
“Fear is here a synonym for the Law, for its purpose was to put fear into human hearts (Deut. 4:10, KJV). It was designed to cause believers to obey God and lead righteous lives.”
The Bible Knowledge Commentary
God’s law is described as clean or pure, lasting forever. His instructions remain relevant and applicable to us today. Although we no longer follow the ceremonial law which instructed the Israelites on how to worship with sacrifices and offerings, we do still follow the moral law, such as the Ten Commandments.
(V. 9b) “The judgments of the Lord are true, they are righteous altogether.”
The Lord is a Righteous and Just Judge (Psalm 9:8). Only He sees the true motives of our hearts; He knows our inclination toward sin. Therefore, His divine law is just and right, guiding us how to live set apart for Him.
(V 10) “They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.”
God’s Word is more valuable than anything. Nothing in this world compares. Only His Word is eternal and impacts our daily lives as well as our future.
In addition, God’s Word is sweeter than honey. When we taste of the Word, do we want more? Do we pause and savor what the Word reveals to us rather than just rushing through to finish today’s reading? May we delight in God’s Word and meditate on it, so God’s truths fill our minds transforming us into the image of Christ. (See my post on “Delighting-in-the-Word“)
(V 11) “by them Your servant is warned [reminded, illuminated, and instructed]; In keeping them there is great reward”
God’s Word warns us against evil and its consequences. It is our guide, instructing us how to live uprightly. When we follow God’s ways, we are blessed (Psalm 1:1-2).
Friends, what a precious treasure God’s Word is to us. When we open His Word, let’s be mindful of its beauty and power, cherishing this gift that is in our hands.
Father, thank You for Your Word. Forgive us for not cherishing this precious gift. We desire Your Word to be our delight, our greatest treasure. Open our eyes and grant us understanding to fully comprehend Your Word. May we be excited to meet with You and discover what You have to say to us in Your Word. We love You and give You all the glory, honor and praise. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Comment Below
- How are you appreciative of God’s Word?
- What stood out to you the most from this post?
For Further Study
Read and meditate on Psalm 119 which provides even more reasons to cherish God’s Word.
2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (ESV).
Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (CSB).
