FROM THE PULPIT

Ancient Words: Israel—David’s Heart

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. (Psa 119:11 KJV-BRG)

I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word. (Psa 119:16 KJV-BRG)

Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word. (Psa 119:17 KJVBRG)

My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word. (Psa 119:25 KJV-BRG)

My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word. (Psa 119:28 KJV-BRG)

Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear. (Psa 119:38 KJV-BRG)

So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word. (Psa 119:42 KJV-BRG)

This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me. (Psa 119:50 KJV-BRG)

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Psa 119:105 KJV-BRG)

Psalms 119 is full of “Thy word” proclamations. In fact 36 times the Psalmist speaks to us about the magnificence of God’s word! The last reference in this Psalm is about the commitment to speak the very words of God: My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness. (Psa 119:172 KJV-BRG)

Fast forward to the Hebrew letter and we find testimony to this same “word”: For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Heb 4:12 KJV-BRG) The book of Hebrews was written about 68 AD. The “word” spoken of here is clearly inclusive of the “word” spoken of by the Psalmist David (and others), all of the word of the OT, and includes the new word spoken by Jesus which will appear in an accepted New Testament division but not until about 300 years later. Some are too quick to dismiss the word of the OT. While some limited yet important covenants of the OT did change with Jesus, the overall expression of God’s word remains forever eternal.

Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (Mat 4:1-4 KJV-BRG)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (Joh 1:1-14 KJV-BRG)

I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. (Joh 17:6 KJV-BRG)

I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. (Joh 17:14 KJV-BRG)

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. (Joh 17:17 KJV-BRG)

Peter references King David (and Psalms) when standing in explaining the defense he gave before the Sanhedrin : And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said… (Act 4:24-25 KJV-BRG)