Psalm 19:10 "More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb."
Challenge: The Lord desires for us is to possess such an intimacy with Him that we wholeheartedly serve Him through a great love which was stated in the first & the greatest commandment (Mark 12:30).
The Excellency of the Scripture: God's glory, (that is, his goodness to man) appears much in the works of creation. The holy scripture, a love letter to rule both of our duty to Him & our expectation from him, is of much greater use and benefit to us than day or night, than the air we breathe in, or the light of the sun. The discoveries made of God by his works might have served if man had retained his integrity; but, to recover him out of his fallen state, another course must be taken; that must be done by the word of God. And here,
I. Introduction: The psalmist David gives an account of the excellent properties and uses of the word of God, in six sentences (v7-9), in each of which the name Jehovah is repeated, and no vain repetition, for the law has its authority and all its excellency from the lawmaker. This is King David Love Song.
II. Message: Here are the 6 titles of the Word of God to take in the whole of divine revelation, precepts or rules, and promises and especially the gospel.
A. The law of the Lord is perfect (v7a). It is perfectly free from all corruption, perfectly filled with all good, nothing is added to it nor taken from it (Rev. 22:18). It will make the man of God perfect.
1. To meditate on God's law (Psa 77:12) "They are constantly in my thoughts. I cannot stop thinking about them" & Psalm 119:97 "Oh how i love your law! I meditate on it all day long"
2. Formula of success (Jos 1:8) "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth"
3. Jesus come to fulfill the law (Matt 5:17-18) - "Think not that I am come to destroy the law...."
4. V-7b, converting the soul 2 Tim 3:17, "That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works"
a) The law is use to convert the soul, to bring us back to ourselves, to our God & to our duty
b) For it shows us our sinfulness and misery in our departures from God and;
c) It will guide us to the indispensable necessity of our return to him
B. V-7c, the Testimony of the Lord is sure. We may rely upon & may be confident it will not deceive us
1. Gen 5:24, Enoch walked with God, then he was no more. because God took him away.
2. Job 2:3, And the Lord said unto satan, hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
3. V-7d, Making wise the simple. It is of use to make us wise to salvation,
c-1) Prov 11:30, The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and that he that winneth souls is wise.
C. V-8a, The statutes of the Lord are right
1. Ex 15:26, And said, if thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee.. for I am the Lord that healeth thee (dietary laws)
2. V-8b, Rejoicing the heart, The law as we see it in the hands of Christ gives cause for joy & when it is written in our hearts, it lays foundation for everlasting joy, by restoring us to our right mind.
D. V-8c, the commandment of the Lord is pure. It's clear, no darkness, it's clean, no dross & defilement.
1. Moral laws (10 commandments)
2. V-8d, enlightening the eyes - Christ began to open the spirituality of the new law
a) 6th, thou shalt not kill, rash anger-heart murder or tongue murderer. The new law goes to the source of the act & deals with the uncontrolled temper. Soln. Ask forgiveness.
b) Moses' law - eye for an eye or tooth for tooth. Soln. New way is to pardon, not retaliate.
c) Love your enemies - how to treat our enemies is a measure the degree of our spiritual maturity.
d) (Old) Prejudiced-(New) impartial, hypocrisy-humble, greed-generous
E. V-9a, the Fear of the Lord is clean, (true religion and godliness prescribed in the word, reigning in the heart & practiced in the life)
1. John 15:3, Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
2. 2 Peter 3:9, The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but it is long suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
3. V-9b, Enduring forever, Psalm 119:9, And it endured forever, it's of perpetual obligation & can never be repeated. The ceremonial law is long since done away, but the law concerning the fear of God is ever the same. Time will not alter the nature of moral good and evil.
F. V-9c, The judgments of the Lord are true (all his precepts, which are framed in infinite wisdom)
1. They are grounded upon the most sacred and unquestionable truths.
2. V-9d, and righteous altogether. They are righteous, all consonant to natural equity, and they are so altogether, there is no unrighteousness in any of them, but they are all of a piece.
III. David expresses the Excellency of the Scripture, the great advantage he had & hoped to have, from it,
A. V-10a, More to be desired are they than gold, yea much fine gold. See how highly he prized the commandments of the God. It is the character of all good people that they prefer their religion and the word of God,
1. Far before all the wealth of the world, it is more desirable than gold, than fine gold, than much fine gold. Gold is of the earth, earthly, but grace is the image of the heavenly.
2. Gold is only for the body & the concerns of time but grace is for the soul & the concern of eternity.
B. V-10b, Sweeter than honey and the honeycomb. Far before all pleasures & delights of sense. The word of God, received by faith, is sweet to the soul, sweeter than honey & honey comb. The pleasures of sense are the delight of brutes, and therefore debase the great soul of man, the pleasures of religion are the delight of angels and exalt the soul. The pleasures of sense are deceitful, will soon surfeit, and yet never satisfy, but those of religion are substantial and satisfying, and there is no danger of exceeding them.
C. V-11a, Moreover by them is thy servant warned. See what use he made of the precepts of God's word. by them is thy servant warned. The word of God is a word of warning to the children of men. it warns us of the duty we are to do, the dangers we are to avoid, and the deluge we are to prepare for, Ezek 3:17, 33:7, it warns the wicked not to go on in his wicked way, and warns the righteous not to turn from his good way. All that are indeed God's servants take this warning.
D. V-11b, and in keeping of them there is great reward. See what advantage he promised himself by his obedience to God's precepts. In keeping them there is great reward. Those who make conscience of their duty will not only be no losers by it, but unspeakable gainers. there is a reward, not only after keeping. but in keeping, God's commandments, a present great reward of obedience. Religion is health and honour. it is peace and pleasure, it will make our comforts and our crosses easy, life truly valuable and death itself truly desirable.