December 7th, 2025: God's Word | Psalm 19:7-13

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12).

 To the skeptic, the word of God, or simply belief in God, is viewed as a crutch to a believer. To the atheist, there is no god and no need for one. Agnostics contend that any knowledge of a god is unknown and unknowable. The ideas that we can be our own god, that we can be in charge, and that we need not answer to a higher authority, are simply not new. These are the ideas that have grown from the serpent’s tale in the Garden of Eden. Sadly, the story is passed along from generation to generation and always brought up as an option for those seeking the truth. What is rarely discussed are the many stories of finding out too late that these ideas are wrong. Yet the tale continues just as Satan intended. Using doubt, disbelief, lies, and our own wisdom, this tale keeps those seeking truth discouraged and doubtful.  Satan knows his fate.  He is actively seeking to take as many with him as he can. 

So,  what about the Christian church? Are we defending the word of God? Have we fallen into the trap, even at times, considering the lies?  Do we doubt?  Are we afraid to ask questions?  God is not upset that we ask questions. A very wise pastor’s wife explained to me once that my questions were good.  Many had asked her the same or similar things. Sometimes, she said, the answers are God’s business. They are not critical to the plan of salvation and are not necessary to know right now.  She patiently explained that many things will be revealed when we reach heaven. So for now, we live and walk by faith in what we do know.  It isn’t the things we don’t understand that should cause us to fret.  It is the things we do understand that we need to work on diligently.  

The next few lessons are designed to remind the church of the foundations of faith. Yes, it is still by grace through faith in Jesus that our sin debt is paid. No, we don’t know every detail of every biblical situation (if someone tells you they do, they lie). And yes, it is still Satan’s job to get our minds off of the truths we understand to quibble about the things there are no answers to here. We do know and should focus our time and energy on the fact that we serve a just God, an all powerful, all seeing, in control Creator of the universe.

We are not simpletons embarrassingly caught up in fables, and we do not have blind faith. We trust in a God breathed instruction manual that has been compiled and proven correct for thousands of years. The same manual (Scriptures) has an exclusive plan of salvation, and was directed by an all-knowing God that wishes to reveal himself to us. Why?  Simply because He loves us!   

We know there is a God by His Word. The word He spoke in creation, the Word of God in the form of His son Jesus, and the written word that we call the scriptures. The Old and New Testaments give us a unified story of God, and both are essential to the Christian faith. Paul reminds us that it takes both. 

What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. (Romans 3:1-4). 

Today’s lesson starts with King David in Psalms chapter 19:

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

Humans do not attain perfection on earth. Perfection in scripture, when referring to God, means that He is without sin, without error, never wrong.  When perfection is used to discuss the believer, it usually means to mature, to no longer act as a child, and to be convinced. The law of the Lord is perfect. Jesus said he came to fulfill the law; not to do away with it. There was nothing wrong with the law. God gave them the law.  Mankind simply could not keep the law perfectly.  Paul says that the Law given to Moses was good; however he discovered another law.

For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members (flesh). (Romans 7:22-23). 

It is the knowledge of God, the offerings for sin, the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, that we obtain the conversion of our souls. His story is sure. We need not doubt. The saving of our soul is so easy that everyone willing to believe will not err in it. 

The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

When speaking of God, the terms "true" and "right" (righteousness) are often used together.  God’s rules and commandments are right, and they are pure.  His statutes have no bad residue, and following his commandments opens our eyes to see even more clearly the goodness of God. We sometimes call this a ripple effect. What you see the next time you read His word may not be what you saw the first time. It will always be more! There is no end to what you learn from God. 

 We are blessed when we hunger and thirst for righteousness. We have to learn that His ways work and when they do, we are happier.

 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Lord ( and leads to understanding), but that’s not all.  The fear of the Lord also prolongs our days, is strong confidence, and tendeth to life.  Proverbs are full of reasons to have a reverent fear of the lord.  David says  that it is clean (basic/foundational/without flaw)and endures forever.   His judgments are without error and are always true and right.

And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: (1Peter 3: 13-15).

There are many in Nigeria and other countries where believing in God is restricted or subject to penalty and death.  May we always pray for those willing to suffer for righteousness' sake. Peter said it like this: And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. (1 Peter 4:18-19).

May we always have an answer, in meekness and fear (of God), for the hope that is in us. 

More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

How much do we desire gold, wealth, abundance, fame, praise, and acknowledgement?  The serpent’s tale takes us off track. We start worrying about the wrong things - The temporal things.  Nothing we accumulate goes with us after we pass away.  The security we seek for our family can be lost overnight by a crash of the stock market or even a change in leadership.  David suggests that we should desire this right relationship with God, this acknowledgement of who He is more than anything else. Do we do that? David uses this as a warning and as an encouragement.  Keeping our priorities straight is great reward. 

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33). David also later pens, I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed. Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore. For the Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever. (Psalm 37:25-29).

Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

Still talking about the errors of the person with misplaced desires, David reminds us that there are different kinds of sins.  Here, he discloses that there are sins that are secret, known only to the individual. Maybe thoughts, attitudes, laziness, jealousy, untruths, covetousness - the things we don’t let just everyone see.  Yet God sees.  He sees us to the very intentions of our hearts. 

 There are presumptuous sins, those things we say or do that we know are wrong, but we do anyway. If we are not careful, we will give in to the cultural philosophy to “act now, ask forgiveness later”.  David asks that God protect him from the things that can easily overtake his relationship.  Protecting us from ourselves and our misguided rationalizations is a full-time job!  Thankfully, we have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the word of God to be a light to our path and direct our steps. Jesus himself advised us to pray,  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (Matthew 6:13).

The lesson jumps to the new Testament and Paul suggests the answer to these relationship dilemmas: (2 Timothy 3: 14-15).

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.

Keep the faith.  Hold on to the truth. Don’t succumb to every new thing, new idea, new doctrine that shows up.  The serpent’s tale will continue to recruit and grow.  Listen to  the gracious words of Jesus and study the scriptures rightly understanding the truth.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; (1Corinthians 10:3-5).

Thank you for studying with us! God bless!