The established Word

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The Established Word

Psalm 119:89-96

 The tone of the next section of verses quickly becomes more joyful.

  • In the storms of life – circumstances change – and they often change rapidly
  • Charles Spurgeon wrote: “After tossing about on a sea of trouble the psalmist here leaps to shore and stands upon a rock. Jehovah’s Word is not fickle nor uncertain; it is settled, determined, fixed, sure, immovable.”

POEM:

THE ANVIL OF GOD'S WORD

Last eve I passed beside a blacksmith's door And heard the anvil sing the vesper chime; Then, looking in, I saw upon the floor Old hammers, worn with blasting years of time.

"How many anvils have you had," said I, "To wear and batter all these hammers so?" "Just one," said he; and then, with twinkling eye, "The anvil wears the hammers out, you know."

And so I thought, the anvil of God's Word For ages, skeptic blows have beat upon. Yet tho' the noise of falling blows was heard The anvil is unharmed--the hammers gone. --John Clifford

 FRIENDS –This morning’s section of Psalm 119 focuses on the endurance of the Word of God.

  • Just as the anvil wears out the hammers that beat upon it
  • The Word of God withstands all and still stands

 THE PERMANENCE OF GOD’S WORD – V.89-91

“For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. 90Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth. 91They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants.”

A.  “For ever. O LORD, Thy Word is established” – WHY?

  1. It is settled – It is Permanent because it is the Word of God

FRIENDS – That may sound simple – but think with me on this

  • God is omniscient – He knows everything, every fact, every detail
  • His Word does not need to be updated laike an encyclopedia or a dictionary
  • It is impossible for God NOT TO KNOW something

Acts 15:18 – “Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world”

B.   “For ever. O LORD, Thy Word is established” – WHERE?

  1. In heaven – V.89b
  • “settled” – Settled in its most basic sense has the idea to “stand”
  • God’s Word stands in Heaven – Far beyond the reach of man
  • It has from eternity past
  • It will forever

FRIENDS – The Word of God is precisely preserved in heaven by God Himself

  • God has preserved His Word on this earth through His people
  • The Old Testament has been preserved through God’s Covenant people – Israel

Isaiah 59:21 – “As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.”

  • The New testament has been preserved by the church

1 Timothy 3:15 - But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”

FRIENDS – The eternal back-up disc is in heaven.

  • It always has been and always will be

EXAMPLE: François-Marie Arouet, better known by the pen name Voltaire, was a French Enlightenment writer, essayist, and philosopher known for his wit and his defense of civil liberties, including both freedom of religion and free trade.

  • Voltaire said this concerning God’s Holy Word: “In 50 years I’ll have this Book in the morgue”

FRIENDS – 50 YEARS LATER – Voltaire was dead and his house was being used by the Geneva bible Society to store Bibles

  1. In Creation – V.90

 “Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.”

1)    God has been faithful in not only preserving His Word – He has been faithful in preserving this earth as a place of ongoing habitation

2)   The earth is here and is being preserved by the Word of God

Genesis 1:3 – “God said …. And there was!”

FRIENDS – All of the so-called “natural laws” do not change. WHY? – Because has established His Word!

C.  “For ever, O LORD, Thy Word is Settled …” WHEN? – V.91

 “They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants.””

  1. From the time it was given until this very moment
  2. People speak of “providence” and “laws of nature” – But the Bible speaks of GOD!

FRIENDS – Those terms are feeble attempts to avoid acknowledging GOD as Creator

  • However, no part of God’s Word has changed from the time that God first spoke until this morning

THE PROTECTION OF GOD’S WORD – V.92

92Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.

FRIENDS – Here we see David’s personal testimony

  • He harkens back to the days of trouble described in earlier paragraphs
  • David freely acknowledged that if His delight had not been in the Word of God – he would have perished in his trouble
  • The Word of God gave him something to hang onto when his world was falling apart
  • It was his ROCK – an ANCHOR to hold him steady

THE POWER OF GOD’S WORD – V.93-95

I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me. 94I am thine, save me: for I have sought thy precepts. 95The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies.

A.  V.93 – “Thou hath quickened me”

  1. David freely proclaimed to God that he would never forget God’s sacred promises
  2. They had “quickened” him – revived his spirit and encouraged him in times of need

B.  V.94 - It Will bring Life

  1. Spiritual life comes from the Word of God
  2. Spiritual sustenance for that life comes from the Word

NOTE PETER’S RESPONSE to Jesus when he asked if the disciples would turn away from Him.

John 6:67-68- Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? {68} Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

C.  V.95 - It Will bring Deliverance

1.  Last week we saw David ‘s  short prayer – “Lord help thou me”

2.  THIS MORNING – Another abbreviated prayer “save me”

FRIENDS – David says: Lord –  the wicked one is waiting to destroy me – save me!

  • He knew that God’s Word would keep him safe

CLOSE BY LOOKING AT V.96

THE PERFECTION OF GOD’S WORD – V.96

I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad

FRIENDS - It is a matter of perspective

  1. We have seen this principle before
  2. The average person views the bible as a very narrow book with very narrow teachings
  3. BUT – nothing could be further from the truth

The Word of God can never be fully fathomed.

  • It’s breadth cannot be measured
  • Its depth cannot be plumbed
  • Its promises can never be exhausted

“Thy commandment is exceeding broad”

  • Broad-minded human philosophies and religions have brought us evolution, Nazism, humanism, and abortion.
  • A world without God that can offer no hope beyond the grave – no comfort for the weak – the sick – the dying – or the lost
  • A world where people have such a disregard for life that they grieve over the tragedy of Columbine High School and wink at the millions of babies aborted each year

God’s Word is exceeding Broad

  • It gives us a true account of the origin of the universe
  • It gives us an understanding of why we are here and what our purpose is
  • It gives us the plan of salvation and reveals to us the heart of God
  • It gives comfort to the suffering – and hope to the lost

GOD’S WORD IS PERMANENT

IT OFFERS US PROTECTION – POWER – AND IT IS PERFECT

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