F.E. Marsh :: 175. God's Written Word

PSALM 119:89-112

WE give an acrostic on the title, as illustrating a few of the characteristics of the Word of God in it.

G Guiding Word (Psalm 119:105).

It is a lamp unto our feet, to show how we should live; it is a light to our path, to reveal danger in the way; and it is a star that we shall find-as the wise men did-that leads to Christ. The Lord guides with His eye (Psalm 32:8); with His counsel (Psalm 73:24); with His hands (Psalm 78:72); and with His Spirit (John 16:13). And all this is by His Word. There is no guidance apart from the truth.

O Overcoming Word (Psalm 119:98).

We are wiser than our enemies, because we know their tactics through the Word. The way to overcome Satan is to meet him, as Christ did, with “It is written,” and the secret of victory over the world is by letting the Word dwell in us (1 John 2:14), and by simple faith in Christ.

D Delighting Word (Psalm 119:92).

The Word enables us to delight in the Lord, as the Psalmist did (Psalm 34:2); to delight in the work of Christ, as the Samaritans did under the preaching of Philip (Acts 8:8); it brings us joy, as the angels did to the shepherds (Luke 2:10); and it gives us gladness.

S Strengthening Word (Psalm 119:112).

The Word first inclines the heart, and then the heart is inclined to the Word. His Word puts strength of purpose in our hearts, so that we purpose to go in the strength of the Lord. He strengthens us by His Word for life’s journey, as the angel did Elijah with the food (1 Kings 19:7). He strengthens us for service, as Christ did the disciples with the promise of the enduement from on high (Luke 24:49); and He empowers us for suffering, as He did Paul when He promised him sufficient grace (2 Cor. 12:9).

W Winnowing Word (Psalm 119:102).

We are very foolish, and the Lord has often to teach us by painful experience how weak and erring we are; but His purpose in all His dealings is, that the chaff may be winnowed away, and that we may the better serve Him.

R Rejoicing Word (Psalm 119:111).

Jeremiah found rejoicing of heart, by eating the Word (Jer. 15:16), and the Ethiopian found joy in the Lord by believing in Christ (Acts 8:39). Search the Scriptures to be sure, believe them to be bright, practise them to be powerful, and rest in them to rejoice.

I Instructing Word (Psalm 119:95).

Contemplation in the truth will enable us to confound our enemies. If we are instructed in the Word, and instructed by it, it will construct our character. Then we shall be like Abram’s instructed servants (Gen. 14:14, margin), able to overcome our enemies in conflict.

T Testing Word (Psalm 119:96).

We shall never be Pharisees boasting of our purity, if we go by the truth, and judge ourselves by the Word. The Word is a light to search out evil, a hammer to break down self, a fire to consume sin, and a sword to kill all that is not of God.

T Tried Word (Psalm 119:105).

Christ is the Tried Stone (Isa. 28:16). He is the Tried Stone in two senses. (1) Because He has been tried, and (2) because He tries. His Word is the same; it has come through the fire and stood the test; and as we try it, it tries us.

E Enduring Word (Psalm 119:89).

God’s Word is settled and more lasting than the heavens, for they shall pass away, but His truth remains. His Word is settled about sin and the sinner (Rom. 3:10); the Saviour and His Work (Heb. 10:7); His servants and their message (Rom. 10:15); and about sanctification and the means of grace (Matt. 4:4).

N Nerving Word (Psalm 119:107).

Discouraged we are apt to be as Elijah was because of his enemies (1 Kings 19:4); dismayed we may be as we think of the power of those we have to contend against, even as the companion of Elisha (2 Kings 6:15); and disheartened as Israel was, because of the roughness of the way (Num. 21:4); but let us pray the Psalmist’s prayer; then we shall have spiritual nerve to endure whatever comes.

W Wonderful Word (Psalm 119:103).

It is the sweetest and dearest of all. There is no other like it, as David said of Goliath’s sword (1 Sam. 21:9). It is sweeter than honey, more precious than gold, and lasting as God. It is wonderful because of its Author; because of its contents; and because of its construction.

O Omnipotent Word.

The spirit that runs like an electric current through the words of the Psalmist is, that if anything is to be accomplished, it must be by and according to the Word.

R Refreshing Word (Psalm 119:103).

When David’s servants found the Egyptian in the field, he was almost dead; but they gave him food and his spirit came again, and he was refreshed and able to do David service (1 Sam. 30:12). Even so with the Word, it refreshes us, and with renewed vigour we go on our way.

D Delivering Word (Psalm 119:101).

Goliath came against David in his own name, and was defeated. David went against Goliath in the name of the Lord, and according to His Word, and was delivered.