Psalm 119:97-104

GOOD MORNING! Our meditation today begins with verse 97 of the 119th Psalm: "O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts. I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word. I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me. How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way." [1]

The pure praise of God for His incomparable word wells up in these verses. Let us enumerate the Psalmist's reasons for so manifold a praise for the word of the LORD.

First, the living God has made His child wiser than his enemies by training him in obedience. "I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one."[2]

We learn to be overcomers by the precepts and commandments of God's word. The commandments of the Bible heeded, bestow practical wisdom, and make us conquerors over the arch enemy of souls.

A holy life is the highest wisdom and the surest defense. We are instructed to "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith,"[3]

The child of God who continues to walk in "the faith which was once delivered unto the saints,"[4] is an overcomer in the spiritual battle. "(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)" [5]

Secondly, it is through the meditation in the testimonies of the word of God that the child of God has a true understanding of them; an understanding that cannot be obtained from a merely worldly education. "I have more understanding than all my teachers; for thy testimonies are my meditation."

One can sit under the teaching of the wisest of worldly teachers, and yet remain willfully ignorant of the truth. But, when I give earnest diligence to God's word, when I meditate upon the law of the LORD, then will I understand the will of and way of the LORD.

This is the burden of the words of the apostle to Timothy, "But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. … All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." [6]

Thirdly, the Psalmist writes of loving God's law, that the words of the LORD are sweeter than honey in his mouth, and by keeping the precepts of the LORD, he understands things not perceived by the ancients.

Our LORD, glorified His Father, "I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight."[7]

Scripture speaks clearly on this subject: "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God." [8] And again, "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."[9] … "I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me."

"My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Tho' some may dwell where these abound,
My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.

I want to live above the world,
Tho' Satan's darts at me are hurled;
For faith has caught the joyful sound,
The song of saints on higher ground."[10]

AMEN.

[1] Psalm 119:97-104
[2] 1 John 2:14
[3] 1 Peter 5:8-9
[4] Jude 1:3
[5] 2 Corinthians 10:4
[6] 2 Timothy 3:14-17
[7] Luke 10:21
[8] 1 Corinthians 2:12
[9] John 20:31
[10] From "Higher Ground" by Johnson Oatman, Jr.