I've long maintained that every verse in the 119th Psalm somehow references the Word of God (whether directly, or in synonymous terms such as statutes, judgments, precepts, laws, testimonies, etc.). All 176 of them, I've thought and proposed.
Last night, however, I happened upon a verse that does not fit my description.
"Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: Thou hast established the earth, and it abideth" (Psalm 119:90).
I've missed this declaration over the years, or rather, I've missed the fact that although it is the Word of God, the statement does not directly mention or describe Scripture. I've thus been wrong, and just as importantly, I've communicated the error to others in discussion, as well as in both written and verbal messages. For this, I apologize to our readers if I've included my misunderstanding in these sendings, having repented to our Lord for misrepresenting His Word and His Truth.
Born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ serve as ambassadors not of ourselves, but of the One who redeems, calls, and commissions us to represent Him. Thus, we must exercise great and grave caution regarding our understanding and dissemination of God's truth. Precision is required, along with a solemn sense of fear that through carelessness, the trumpet can "give an uncertain sound" (I Corinthians 14:8). "Whoso despiseth the Word shall be destroyed, but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded" (Proverbs 13:13). Especially those with calling to preach or teach must do so in the realization of how seriously the Lord views His truth, and how easily people are misled.
We must view the Bible as the unshakable rock that it is. "Forever, o Lord, Thy Word is settled in Heaven" (Psalm 119:89). Nevertheless, we must handle it as if we bear a most delicate piece of the finest crystal, exercising the utmost caution in its care and transportation. Much is at stake, including faithful representation of God's truth, and faithful communication to needy human hearts. I'm grateful for our Lord's reproof and correction, and for His promised forgiveness and cleansing. And I come away with a more determined resolve to understand and communicate His truth with greater recognition of its eternal permanency and essential precision.
"Whom shall He teach knowledge? And whom shall He make to understand doctrine? Them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little."
(Isaiah 28:9-10)
Last night, however, I happened upon a verse that does not fit my description.
"Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: Thou hast established the earth, and it abideth" (Psalm 119:90).
I've missed this declaration over the years, or rather, I've missed the fact that although it is the Word of God, the statement does not directly mention or describe Scripture. I've thus been wrong, and just as importantly, I've communicated the error to others in discussion, as well as in both written and verbal messages. For this, I apologize to our readers if I've included my misunderstanding in these sendings, having repented to our Lord for misrepresenting His Word and His Truth.
Born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ serve as ambassadors not of ourselves, but of the One who redeems, calls, and commissions us to represent Him. Thus, we must exercise great and grave caution regarding our understanding and dissemination of God's truth. Precision is required, along with a solemn sense of fear that through carelessness, the trumpet can "give an uncertain sound" (I Corinthians 14:8). "Whoso despiseth the Word shall be destroyed, but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded" (Proverbs 13:13). Especially those with calling to preach or teach must do so in the realization of how seriously the Lord views His truth, and how easily people are misled.
We must view the Bible as the unshakable rock that it is. "Forever, o Lord, Thy Word is settled in Heaven" (Psalm 119:89). Nevertheless, we must handle it as if we bear a most delicate piece of the finest crystal, exercising the utmost caution in its care and transportation. Much is at stake, including faithful representation of God's truth, and faithful communication to needy human hearts. I'm grateful for our Lord's reproof and correction, and for His promised forgiveness and cleansing. And I come away with a more determined resolve to understand and communicate His truth with greater recognition of its eternal permanency and essential precision.
"Whom shall He teach knowledge? And whom shall He make to understand doctrine? Them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little."
(Isaiah 28:9-10)
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