God’s Word – The Divine Teacher | Discover the Book Ministries

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Psalm 19

BYT-13

Our text this morning is Psalm 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. (KJV)

IN THE DRAWING ROOM (1954 R.B. Munger)

We walked next into the drawing room. This room was rather intimate and comfortable. I liked it. It had a fireplace, overstuffed chairs, a bookcase, sofa, and a quiet atmosphere. He also seemed pleased with it. He said, “This is indeed a delightful room. Let us come here often. It is secluded and quiet and we can have fellowship together.” Well, naturally, as a young Christian I was thrilled. I could not think of anything I would rather do than have a few minutes apart with Christ in intimate comradeship.

He promised, “I will be here every morning early. Meet with Me here and we will start the day together.” So, morning after morning, I would come downstairs to the drawing room and He would take a book of the Bible from the bookcase. He would open it and then we would read together. He would tell me of its riches and unfold to me its truths. He would make my heart warm as He revealed His love and His grace toward me. They were wonderful hours together. In fact, we called the draw ing room the “withdrawing room.” It was a period when we had our quiet time together.

But little by little, under the pressure of many responsibilities, this time began to be shortened. Why, I don’t know, but I thought I was just too busy to spend time with Christ. This was not intentional, you understand; it just happened that way. Finally, not only was the time shortened, but I began to miss a day now and then. It was examination time at the university. Then it was some other urgent emergency. I would miss it two days in a row and often more.

I remember one morning when I was in a hurry, rushing down the steps, eager to be on my way. As I passed the drawing room, the door was ajar. Looking in I saw a fire in the fireplace and the Lord sitting there. Suddenly in dismay, I thought to myself, “He was my guest. I had invited Him into my heart! He had come as Lord of my home. And yet here I am neglecting Him.” I turned and went in. With downcast glance I said, “Blessed Master, forgive me. Have you been here all these mornings?” “Yes,” He said, “I told you I would be here every morning to meet with you.” Then I was even more ashamed. He had been faithful in spite of my faithlessness. I asked His forgiveness and He readily forgave me as He does when we are truly penitent.

He said, “The trouble with you is this: You have been thinking of the quiet time, of the Bible study and prayer time, as a factor in your own spiritual progress, but you have forgotten that this hour means something to Me also. Remember, I love you. I have redeemed You at a great cost. I desire your fellowship, Now,” He said, “do not neglect this hour if only for My sake. Whatever else may be your desire, remember I want your fellowship!”

You know, the truth that Christ wants my fellowship, that He loves me, wants me to be with Him, wants to be with me, and waits for me, has done more to transform my quiet time with God than any other single fact. Don’t let Christ wait alone in the drawing room of your heart, but every day find some time when, with the Word of God and in prayer, You may fellowship with Him.

Psalm 19 magnifies God’s Revelation of Himself.

In v. 1-6 through CREATION God is revealed in a general way. (general revelation)
1. The start of the Universe – Supernatural because they are v.1 “the work of His hands”.
2. The Purpose of Creation – Eternal v. 1 “telling the glory of God”.
3. The Extent of God’s influence – Universal v. 2 “day unto day bubble forth”.
4. The Confrontation with God’s revelation – Inescapable v. “no speech or words” and v. 4 “their cty has gone through all the earth”.
5. The Comparison of our world to God – Infinitesimal v. 4 “in them (sky) he placed a tent for the Sun”. The Sun is the mightiest power we know. Almighty thermonuclear furnace consuming millions of tons of matter each day. Super densely heated at the core to millions of degrees. All this is dwarfed by the Magnificent Almighty Creator who lit the Sun and flung it into its tent!
  1. So God gave us in v. 1-6 the;
  2. SUPERNATURAL START -God gave us the Universe
  3. ETERNAL PURPOSE God programmed the Universe
  4. UNIVERSAL EXTENT God speaks through the Universe
  5. INESCAPABLE CONFRONTATION God is seen as Creator through His Universe
  6. INFINITESIMAL COMPARISON God is greater than His Universe
6. In v. 7-14 the SCRIPTURES reveal God in a special way. (special revelation)

What does mankind see? The Candle of Creation. And what does God add? The candle of Conscience. Note that v. 1-6 has only one name of God. It is EL the least specific term for God in the Word of God. But look at v. 7-14. We find 7x the intimate, personally revealed name of God – JEHOVAH (YAHWEH).

So what is the point? Psalm 19:1-6 reveals God in a general way by the:

1. 1. 1. candle of creation. The incomprehensible size of the universe. The inescapable signature of the Creator. The indescribable power in nature. The incalculable variety of life and diversity of entities in the universe. (Any direction we go there seems to be no limit to the unfolding symmetry and diversity. From particles to stellar groups.)
    2. candle of conscience. As the 18th century philosopher Immanuel Kant concluded in his Dialect of Pure and Practical Reason: “Two things fill the mind with ever new and increasing admiration and awe, the starry heavens above, and the moral law within.” There they are, the two candles! But we need to look at the floodlight!
    3. The source that gives ultimate light is the sublimely described Scriptures. Psalm 19:7-9 has six synonyms for God’s Word and twelve qualities ascribed to it. Each of these 18 descriptions of the Word of God is an inspired photo of the Divine power of God’s Word. It is sufficient. It can absolutely meet its purpose!

Six masterpieces of word painting. Each with a three part description.
1. THE DIVINE TEACHER: God’s truth that totally transforms
2. THE DIVINE WITNESS: God’s testimony absolutely trustworthy
3. THE DIVINE DIRECTIONS: God’s statutes giving directions to only secure place in the universe
4. THE DIVINE DECREES: God’s commands giving a clear portrait of God’s non-optional absolutes
5. THE DIVINE CONDITION: fearing God, lovingly acknowledging by my actions God sees me
6. THE DIVINE DECISIONS: God’s judgments, His finl word on everything! Non-negotiable living.

The CHARACTER of the Word of God
1. LAW = The Word of God is the Divine Teacher
2. TESTIMONY = The Word of God is the Divine Witness
3. STATUTES = The Word of God is the Divine Directions
4. COMMANDMENTS = The Word of God is the Divine Decrees
5. FEAR = The Word of God is the Divine Conditions
6. JUDGMENTS = The Word of God is the Divine Decisions
The CLAIMS of the Word of God – PERFECT
1. SURE
2. RIGHT
3. PURE
4. CLEAN
5. TRUE
The CATALYST of the Word of God
1. RESTORES
2. MAKES WISE
3. REJOICES
4. ENLIGHTENS
5. ENDURES
6. VINDICATES

Look at Psalm 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. (KJV)

“The law of the LORD is”. The Word of God is the Divine Teacher. God is the instructor. The Word of God is His Divine instructions. The book is the revelation of our Creator’s will! We have the LORD’S rules for living life.

“The law of the LORD is perfect”. The word perfect literally means: entire day, healthy vine, spotless, altogether directed toward the good of man; complete and entirely in accord with truth and fact. Thus it means lacking nothing, covering all aspects.

“The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul” . Nephesh or soul speaks of the whole person. The Word of God can turn the whole person to God . Scroggie adds, “Refreshing the inner life as food to the body.”

So what do we have? An amazing promise.

Divine instructions from God.
All sided, able to touch every part of our life.
Able to turn a whole person to God.
That is no less than a totally transforming power.

The applications of Psalm 19 may be found in Psalm 119. In the 22 stanzas of the longest chapter in the Scripture we find a love song about the transforming power of the Word.

Psalm 119:41 Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word. (KJV)
Psalm 119:50 This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me. (KJV)
Psalm 119:81 My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word. (KJV)
Psalm 119:146-147 I cried unto thee; save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies. I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word. (KJV)
Psalm 119:158 I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word. (KJV)
Psalm 119:174 I have longed for thy salvation, O LORD; and thy law is my delight. (KJV)
1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. (KJV)

So how is it with you? The Word of God is designed to be our Divine instructor. Is God’s Word –

REGENERATING James 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. (KJV)
QUICKENING YOU Psalm 119:50 This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me. (KJV)
ILLUMINATING YOUR PATH Psalm 119:130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. (KJV)
SANCTIFYING John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. (KJV)
PRODUCING FAITH IN YOU? John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. (KJV)
PRODUCING HOPE IN YOU? Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. (KJV)
PRODUCING OBEDIENCE IN YOU? Deuteronomy 17:19-20 And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them: 20 That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel. (KJV)
CLEANING YOUR HEART? Ephesians 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, (KJV)
PROMOTING GROWTH IN GRACE? 1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: (KJV)
ADMONISHING YOU? Psalm 19:11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. (KJV); 1 Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. (KJV)
COMFORTING YOU? Psalm 119:82 Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me? (KJV)
REJOICING YOUR HEART? Psalm 119:111 Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart. (KJV)

If you don’t listen to Him now, you will later. Poem Luke 6:46 (*) Ye Call Me Lord And Master And Obey Me Not. from cathedral in Lubeck, Germany:

You call me Master, and obey ne not;

You call me Light, and see me not;

You call me the Way, and walk me not;

You call me the Life, and live me not;

You call me wise, and follow me not;

You call me Fair, and love me not;

You call me Rich, and ask me not;

You call me Eternal and seek me not.

If I condemn thee, blame me not!

How does the Power of the Scriptures change me? In one place in the Bible the Powerful Scriptures are most clearly displayed. In six masterful strokes the eternal author etches his character and sufficiency toward us. We are introduced in this passage to the first of six synonyms for the Word of God. In fact there are three sets of truths:

There are Six TITLES given for the WORD: law, testimonies, statutes, commandments, fear, judgments.
There are Six ATTRIBUTES given for the WORD: perfect law, sure testimonies, right statutes, pure commandments, clean fear, true judgments.
There are Six EFFECTS given for the WORD: perfect law restores, sure testimonies makes wise, right statutes rejoices, pure commandments enlightens, clean fear endures, true judgments vindicates.

All of these reveal the Word in a whole new, powerful and refreshing way.

They give us God’s purpose and plan for His Word.
They are His review on this new product He has manufactured.
They give us the operator’s manual for this new high powered instrument.

THE DIVINE TEACHER: God’s truth that totally transforms
THE DIVINE WITNESS: God’s testimony absolutely trustworthy
THE DIVINE DIRECTIONS: God’s statutes giving directions to only secure place in the universe
THE DIVINE DECREES: God’s commands giving a clear portrait of God’s non-optional absolutes
THE DIVINE CONDITION: fearing God, lovingly acknowledging by my actions God sees me
THE DIVINE DECISIONS: God’s judgments, His final word on everything! Non-negotiable living.

The Law of God –