God and His Word: The Inseparable Union

We typically think of Psalm 119 as a psalm about the Scriptures. But as I have studied it over the past months, I have found that although God’s Word is the focus, the underlying theme of the God of the Word is still very foundational.  Take verses like this:

“I have not departed from Your judgments, for You Yourself have taught me” (vs.102).

“Look upon me and be merciful to me, As Your custom is toward those who love Your name” (vs. 132).

“Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And Your law is truth” (vs. 142).

 “Concerning Your testimonies, I have known of old that You have founded them forever” (vs. 152).

I was thinking about the connection between God and His Word.  And indeed, they are so fused together, that John says this:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made...And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1-3, 14).

Derek Kidner well remarks: “This untiring emphasis [speaking of the Word of God] has led some to accuse the psalmist of worshiping the Word rather than the Lord; but it has been well remarked that every reference here to Scripture, without exception, relates it explicitly to its Author; indeed, every verse from 4 to the end is a prayer for affirmation addressed to Him. This is true piety: a love of God not desiccated by study but refreshed, informed and nourished by it.”

So in Psalm 119, we see the unbreakable link between God and His Word.  They go together. You cannot truly have God without His Word and you certainly cannot have the Word without having God too.  He is the purpose of the Word.  It’s all about Him!

For this reason, we should not approach our Bible reading simply as a task.  We shouldn't memorize Scripture simply because it’s something we are commanded to do.  Rather, we do these things that we might attain a far greater end, Jesus Christ.

Unfortunately, the picture painted by this anonymous person is often the case: “There is a way of reading the Bible that seems to leave God far away, off in the shadows somewhere. It is all information and technicalities and knowledge, but it feels like you're sitting with your back towards God. You come up against a difficulty or question, and you go to books, you ask pastors, friends, strangers on the internet, anyone but Him. Gradually God gets smaller and dimmer.”

In John 5:39 Jesus reiterates this point: “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me.”  The Pharisees had studied the Scriptures.  But they didn't know the purpose of the Scriptures: to testify of Jesus.  May we not simply to study the Scriptures in order to gain knowledge, but rather to be drawn closer to the King of kings and Lord of lords.

So, as you read His Word, remember Who wrote it. Remember the purpose of the Word.  Remember why we have the Word in the first place.  To point us to Jesus Christ.