“The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.”
Psalm 19:7
Today’s passage comes from David’s magnificent nineteenth psalm, a psalm in which he celebrates both God’s general and special revelations. He begins by announcing with authority that the created order itself is a revelation of God. “The heavens declare the glory of God;” he wrote, “and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard” (Psalm 19:1-3). In fact, the created order is a composite, a collection of created things each declaring the wisdom and power of God. As an example, David draws his readers to the Sun. The Sun, David tells us, “is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof” (Psalm 19:5-6). The Sun rises and sets according to schedule, a sure sign of the power, authority, and dependability of God. Suddenly in his celebratory song, David switches emphasis from God’s general revelation in nature to God’s special revelation in Scripture. “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul,” says today’s verse passage, “the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether” (Psalm 19:7-9). Here, in very few beautiful words, the Scripture gives authoritative testimony to itself. God’s word is sure, right, true, and righteous. The word of God is life-giving; it converts the soul and leads a person from death to life (John 6:63-69; 20:30-31). “The simple believeth every word,” says the proverb, “but the prudent man looketh well to his going” (Proverbs 14:15). Today’s passage reminds us that it is God’s word that changes a person’s mind, converting him from one who uncritically accepts whatever he hears, to one who is able to “test all things” (1 Thessalonians 5:21) rightly discerning truth from error. Of course the greatest of God’s special revelations to man is the Lord Jesus Himself. The Redeemer of men is also the ultimate Revealer of divine truth. His coming into the world, not to condemn the world but that the world through Him might be saved (John 3:17), shows the heart of God on the matter. Our God is not only just, He is kind, gracious, and abounding in mercy. Let us love and serve our Rock and Redeemer, the Revealer of divine truth today!
God bless you, dear saints!
Pastor John
English