The Heart of the Matter
“It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.”
Psalm 118:8-9
Today’s passage is very nearly the middle, or the heart, of the Bible. Its message is clear: God’s infallible word is to be trusted more than the opinions of men, even men who are respectable and well-meaning. When the Bible’s teachings are in conflict with the overwhelming tide of human opinion, it is helpful to remember that no one is more respectable than God, and no one is more well-meaning than He. God is the king of eternity (Isaiah 57:15). His goings forth are from old even from everlasting (Micah 5:2). He is infinite, without beginning or end (Psalm 90:2). His knowledge is unsearchable (Romans 11:33); He knows all things in a seamless, timeless intuition. He is, we may say, the incomparable Original Knower. As His creatures, we are dependent, small “k” knowers; our knowledge is derivative. Our finite, dependent nature isn’t, however, why we are so prone to error in our thought. The Bible explains that when Adam sinned at the dawn of human history, he led the whole human race into disaster. His entire nature, and that of us his descendants, was thoroughly corrupted. This extended even to man’s ability to think and reason (Ephesians 4). Not only is God our superior in matters of knowledge and rationally, He is infinitely above man in terms of moral goodness as well. Whereas man has an awareness of moral values and duties that are not original with him (they are not based on his own subjective opinion) God’s own morally-perfect character is itself the foundation and source of moral truth. Man can recognize moral goodness only because God has informed him. God has written His moral law on his heart (Romans 2:14-15). Nowhere is the knowledge, wisdom, and moral goodness of God seen more clearly than in the Gospel. Only an infinitely wise God could devise such a plan to save humanity, a plan that does not compromise God’s justice or His mercy. Surely the God who who would choose to redeem us with His own blood (Acts 20:28) can be relied upon to tell us the truth. When the opinions of fallen men come into conflict with the Bible, let us remember that God alone has the supreme right to be believed and obeyed. “If we receive the witness of men,” wrote the beloved disciple John, “the witness of God is greater” (1 John 5:9). No one is more trustworthy than God, and no one loves and cares for us as He does. May these meditations be a blessing to you today.
God bless,
Pastor John
English