DAVID’S EVALUATION THE WORD OF GOD

By: Richard Kirkland

Psalm 19:7-11

Introduction:

                        A.        The Word of God is the Holy Scripture, the Word confirmed by signs and wonders and written with the pen of inspiration.  It is not modern day revelations, direct communications from God, dreams, visions, or words communicated directly to the heart by the Holy Spirit; but the inspired, confirmed, written, and preserved Word of God--the Bible.

                        B.         Evaluate - to appraise carefully; to determine the value of.

                                                1.         To some it is a priceless treasure; to others it is worthless junk.

                                                2.         To some it is a book to be believed, trusted, and obeyed; to others it is a hoax, a fraud, a deception.

                                                3.         Our evaluation of the Word of God will determine our attitude toward it.

                        C.        We depend on God’s Word for guidance -- without it we are like a ship n the ocean of life without chart or compass tossed to and fro and driven by every wind of doctrine.  Without His Word for a guide, we make the wrong decisions and choices. (Jer.  10:23).  The guidance we need for directing our lives is found only in the Word of God.

                        D.        Jesus said, “Man shall not ...” (Matthew 4:4).

                        E.         The Word of God must be taught diligently if we are to evaluate it properly.

                                                1.         The failure of our generation has been a failure to diligently teach the Word of God.  We have taught other things; social responsibility, philosophy, and psychology: but we have failed to teach the Word of God.

                                                2.         During the spiritual restoration of Israel under Ezra the priest -- “So they read distinctly from the book, in the law of God: and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading” (Neh.  8:8).  We need to return to that practice.

                        F.         David evaluates the Word of God.  (Psalm 19:7-11).

I.          THE LAW OF THE LORD IS PERFECT, CONVERTING THE SOUL (verse 7).

                        A.        Perfect means complete, lacking nothing, without defiency.  James refers to God’s law as the “perfect law of liberty” (James 1:25), liberating us from the terrible bondage of sin.  The area in which the law of the Lord is operative is the conversion of the soul.  There is nothing needed in addition to, or as a supplement to the word of God for man’s conversion.  The direct operation of the Holy Spirit is not needed, no supernatural experience should be expected -- in the area of man’s conversion, David declares “The law of the Lord is perfect.”

                        B.         The law of the Lord is perfectly suited to God’s work of conversion.

                                                1.         Isaiah 55:10-11.  “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”

                                                2.         Jesus said, “The seed (of the kingdom) ... is the Word of God (Luke 8:11), and Peter explains, “having been born again, not of corruptible seed...”(1 Peter 1:23).

                                                3.         Paul wrote, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ ...” (Romans 1:16).

                                                4.         Timothy was exhorted, “But as for you, continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the...” (2 Timothy 3:14-15).

                        C.        In the realm of man’s service to God, the law of the Lord is complete.  “All scripture is given by the inspirations of God...” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

II.        THE TESTIMONY OF THE LORD IS SURE, MAKING WISE THE SIMPLE (verse 8).

                        A.        The simple are made wise by the Word of God.

                                                1.         “The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.”  (Psalm 119:130).  Even fools will not go astray when walking in the way of God (Isaiah 35:8).

                                                2.         Again, David declared, “Oh, how I love Your law!  It is my mediation all the day.  You, through your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; for they are ever with me.  I have more understanding than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation.”  (Psalm 119:97-99).

                        B.         The testimony of the Lord is sure.  His promises are certain.  His words never fail.

III.       THE STATUTES OF THE LORD ARE RIGHT, REJOICING THE HEART.  (verse  8).

                        A.        The law of God is right -- correct, just, fitting, proper, and virtuous.  God has not given laws which are offensive, arbitrary, or oppressive.  Those who live in harmony with His laws have the greatest possible happiness in life.  Truly, the statutes of the Lord cause the heart to rejoice.

IV.       THE COMMANDMENT OF THE LORD IS PURE, ENLIGHTENING THE EYES. (verse 8).

                        A.        It is pure -- unmixed, free from defects or deficiencies, without impurities, faultless, unadulterated.  It contains no human traditions, no vain philosophies, no heathenistic superstitions, no myths, and no legends.  Peter said, “For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.  (2 Peter 1:16).

                        B.         A stream of water is pure because it flows form a pure source.  God’s Word is pure because it comes from God himself.

                                                1.         “But I make known (certify) to you, brethren, that the gospel...” (Galatians 1:11-12).

                                                2.         “[K]nowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture...”(2 Peter 1:20-21).

                                                3.         “All Scripture is given by the inspiration...” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

V.        THE JUDGMENTS OF THE LORD ARE TRUE, AND RIGHTEOUS ALTOGETHER.  (verse 9).

                        A.        Not only true (accurate, straight, etc.), but absolute truth.  (John 8:32).

                        B.         Righteous.  “For in it (the gospel) the righteousness of God is... (Romans 1:17).

VI.            MORE TO BE DESIRED ARE THEY THAN GOLD, YEA, THAN MUCH FINE GOLD; SWEETER ALSO THAN HONEY AND THE HONEYCOMB.  (verse 10).

                        A.        Those who have mined the treasures of its great storehouse know it to be of greater value than gold which perishes or is stolen away.  Its value will be evident when applied to our daily lives, when opened at death, and in eternity.

                        B.         Those who have “tasted the good Word of God” know of its sweetness -- the sweetness of comfort, assurance, peace joy, and confidence that it provides.

VII.     BY THEM YOUR SERVANT IS WARNED, AND IN KEEPING THEM THERE IS GREAT REWARD.  (verse 11).

                        A.        The Bible stands as a warning to the wayward, announcing their certain destruction and turning them back to the right way.

                        B.         Those who keep the Word of God will be rewarded with a home in heaven.  “Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.”  (Revelation 22:14).