Psalm 19:10, Psalm 119:137-144 – Instruction and Testimony
The first word used to describe the revelation of God in his Word is ‘law’ and the second is Testimony. This does not just refer to the ten commandments or indeed the Torah, but rather has the meaning of instruction or direction and encompasses the whole of the scriptures. The Word of God in both Old and New Testament has been given to enable men and women to know God and his salvation, and to walk in his ways day by day. That the Word is able to do that is made clear by the characteristics assigned to it; it is perfect and it is sure! There is no falsehood nor error in the law of the Lord; it always tells the truth and always leads those who read it and believe it in right and honest ways. Not only is the Word of God error free, it is also whole and complete. It tells us everything we need to know about God and about the Lord Jesus Christ. It instructs us with regard to sin and teaches us about the true nature of man. It is no wonder then, that the palmist speaks of the effect of the law of the Lord in that it ‘converts or restores the soul’. We are told by Paul in Romans 10:17 that ‘faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God’ and when he spoke to the Ephesian elders at Miletus he told them of the restorative power of the Word when he said, ‘I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified’. So the perfect law of the Lord is able to save the sinner from his sin and bring him to a knowledge of the truth, it is also able to bring the backslider back from his wandering away from the Lord, and is able to build up the believer in his faith. No wonder the psalmist says ‘God’s law is perfect and converts the soul in sin that lies.’
Questions
- What does ‘law’ mean in the psalm?
- How does the law of the Lord build up believers in their faith?
Prayer Points
- Pray that God would give deeper insight to the law of the Lord.
- Pray that God would bless the proclamation of the Word.
- Pray for sister congregations.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.