The Supremacy of the bible
Psalm 119 is entirely dedicated to extolling the wonders & value of God's Word. It is noteworthy that this is the largest chapter in the Bible as well as the one with the most verses. When speaking on this subject, one could research a multitude of passages that aim the listener toward the magnificent perfection of the Bible, God's Word. Today, I would like to examine just 3 verses from this monumental Psalm. Ps.119:98-100 reads, "You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than he ancients, because I keep Your precepts." There are 3 kinds of people mentioned in this small passage; enemies, teachers, ancients. David fares better than all 3 because of his relationship with the Almighty thru the vehicle of His Word. Let's examine each of these.
Enemies speaks of warfare & conflict. David fares well against any enemy because God's Word prepares him for the conflict, guides him victoriously thru the conflict, and keeps him during the actual battle. David is prepared for God sees all before it ever happens and for those who seek to know and APPLY the Word, they receive the preparation that makes them able to appropriately ready. If we know something hard is coming, we can get ready for it and our chances of success are far greater. But there is no 'chances of success' with God. HE never fails!
The Word guides us thru the conflict into glorious victory. The Lord's disciple is promised strength, power, shielding, wisdom, etc. It is most powerful to have perfect knowledge of all enemies & their strategies. We may not know what is coming but our Father does and perfectly prepares us if we will follow Him. The point: the application of the Bible to anyone's life makes them invincible. By that I do not mean infallible for we have limited understanding (at best) of all God knows & commands. But since HE is invincible & we have HIM, it stands to reason that His victory is ours in the end. Things my seem bleak. They did on friday night when jesus was dying - but Sunday morning was on its way. Hear the promise of Jesus, "Though you die yet shall you live, and not a hair on your head will perish." The enemy is coming - and he will choose many forms - but God knows about him, sees his rage, understands fully his plans, and has completely provided for his defeat. The Christian cannot lose in the end even if it appears he/she has lost a skirmish. It only seems like the end of the line - but that is only natural thinking and one thing the Word of God does it get us to think on a different plane - a heavenly plane!
The Word keeps me while I am in the conflict and the outcome seems uncertain (only to the natural mind). I can be at peace even while my enemy frets, plans, fears defeat & loss, and works feverishly for my destruction even though the outcome has already been determined. Therefore, I can rest for I know all is in my Father's capable hands. "Great peace have they who love Your Law and nothing shall offend them." If God's commands are always with me, then I am always prepared for the nasty intentions of my enemy. Peace & rest come from faith & the Presence of God - not from KNOWING EVERYTHING! So, how important is it to, "study (seek to know in order to obey) to show ourselves approved, a workman who needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (applying) the Word of truth." It is EVERYTHING my friends because it not only provides a pathway to walk & win, but a pathway to rest & confidence and I become wiser than my fiercest opponents. The promise to Joshua is a promise to us. There shall not be a man able to stand before you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I shall be with you."
Teachers speak of instruction. Neither God nor I am saying that we cannot or should not learn from teachers. A teachable spirit is of enormous benefit and the opposite of that is sheer arrogance. But what God is proclaiming here is that no teacher can be more critical to another's development than the amazing worth of the commands of the Bible. As David meditated on the testimonies of God's Word, he brought the BEST TEACHER along with him. This is what is meant when John spoke in his letter of an anointing that is always with us and that the believer did not need anyone to teach them. John wasn't belittling teachers, he was extolling the instructive properties of God's Word wielded by the unseen Presence.
In the end, the most any teacher can hope for is to bring the student up to where the teacher is. Then it is hoped that the student can advance beyond his/her teacher. But with God interacting with His children thru the vehicle of His Word, there is always another level of wisdom available - another round of instruction needed - and another level of maturity that can be reached as God lifts us. Teachers used by God to instruct us are a wonderful blessing and surely an integral part of God's plan for us. But who was behind the teacher? Who sent them? Who enabled them? Who was working in them and thru them for our benefit? Who equipped them so as to make them effective on our behalf? It was the Word working deep within our hearts by the Holy Spirit given to us.
Ancients are not just the experienced elderly - though we desperately need their wisdom. Ancients meant those GREAT PEOPLE thru time who are renowned for their prowess, wisdom, greatness, and accomplishments. God is saying here that if David were to keep the precepts of the Lord, he would have even more understanding than the greats of old. The word keep means to treasure and then to practice. What makes a person truly great is that some truth of God, some piece of the Almighty has gripped & inspired a person to do amazing things.
The Bible is replete with heroes. Hebrews 11 has quite a list. Church history has great heroes as well. Whatever hero you choose, a close look at their life will reveal their human weakness (except for jesus of course). What made these people great - what made them heroes? It wasn't inherent greatness. Something made them rise above sinful selfishness to do or be something magnificent. God's Word, one of His testimonies, precepts, statutes, or Laws got hold and aimed an individual to do or go beyond the normal human pale. David understands this. He knows there is wisdom so great inside God's Word that he is committed to mine the Bible for all its worth.
One more thing. Our God is the 'ANCIENT OF DAYS'. HE has always known. Without beginning or ending, our God possesses all the wisdom and knowledge there is. When one is tapped into that inexhaustible store, there can be no doubt that he/she has an endless supply wisdom to guide them. They can literally know what God knows or what they need to know in the time given to them. How great is our God - how great is our Savior, Jesus - how great is His Word when it is wielding a Christian. Unstoppable. Jesus keep you strong my friends.
