Loving the Word of the Lord

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” “No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.” [1]

The Word of God is Jesus Christ. Whenever we read, “the Word of the Lord” or “thus says the Lord” in the Old Testament, that is the pre-incarnate Son of God speaking and revealing Himself through one of His messengers. “The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared [Greek - exegeted] Him.” Jesus is also the One who explains the meaning of the Scripture.

During the time in which Jesus walked in the flesh here on earth, He constantly explained the meaning of the Word of the Lord to people. He explained it to those who heard Him gladly and to those who hated Him for not adhering to their false interpretations. [2]

This same Jesus is the One who guided Ezra to explain the Scriptures accurately to the people who had returned from Babylon to Jerusalem...

“All the people... rejoiced greatly, because they understood the words that were declared to them.” “...All the people, with the priests and Levites, were gathered to Ezra the scribe, in order to understand the words of the Law.” “Day by day, from the first day until the last day, he read from the Book of the Law of God...” [3]

Jesus would have done the same for the priests and scribes in the days that He walked on the earth, but they were a very corrupt group of religious leaders. They chose a notorious prisoner named Barabbas over Jesus. Barabbas was a murderer, robber and insurrectionist. [4]

Thus, they fulfilled the Scripture spoken by God’s prophet David, who wrote, “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.” [5]

Later, when Peter was brought to trial by some of these same religious leaders, he told them, “You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you.” [6]

I wonder how many religious leaders and religious organizations today are rejecting Jesus from giving the true meaning of the Scriptures to them and through them. How many governments of nations are behaving as Pilate did when He ordered Jesus Christ to be crucified?

David was a king of a nation, and yet he wrote, “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.” [7]

The governments of this world will eventually be replaced by the kingdom of God. One day, all the pride of man will be humbled, and every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to glory of God the Father. [8]

King David loved the Lord by loving His Word. Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible. Psalm 119 is filled with David’s expressions of love for God’s Word. When we know the Lord and when He reveals the meaning of His Word to us, we love Him and His Word.

Below are some of David’s expression of love for the Lord (who is God’s Word):

“Deal bountifully with Your servant, that I may live and keep Your Word. Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your Law.” [9]

The Lord invites us to ask for revelation into the meaning of His Word.

“I will run the course of Your commandments, for You shall enlarge my heart.” [10]

Just as leg muscles grow when we run, so our hearts grows in love for God as we read His Word.

“Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your Law; indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart.” [11]

Understanding the Lord and His Word helps us to be wholehearted for Him.

“Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things and revive me in Your way.” [12]

So much of following the Lord involves turning away from what is not the Lord.

“This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your Word has given me life. The proud have me in great derision, yet I do not turn aside from Your Law.” [13]

Don’t give up on God when proud people deride you. God will comfort you and give you a better ending than they will.

“I am a companion of all who fear You, and of those who keep Your precepts.” [14]

Look far and wide for friends who love the Word like you do. Such friends are precious jewels.

“The Law of Your mouth is better to me than 1,000’s of coins of gold and silver.” [15]

Don’t believe the lie that the world believes. Worldly riches never satisfy the soul. Only the Lord and His Word does that.

The teachings and edicts of worldly leaders rise and fall, but “Forever, O Lord, Your Word is settled in heaven.” [16]

“I have seen the consummation of all perfection, but Your commandment is exceedingly broad.” [17]

Man’s ways never match God’s. God’s way is always better for us.

“O, how I love Your Law! It is my meditation all the day. 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 the ancients, because I keep Your precepts.” [18]

There are so many weight loss programs propagated nowadays. The Lord helped me to lose over 50 pounds two years ago and to keep the weight off. How? By daily satisfying my soul with His Word. When a soul is starving, the flesh tries to fill in the void with indulgences like unhealthy and sensual foods, but it is better to feed one’s soul with God’s Word.

“How sweet are Your Words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” [19]

God’s Word, Jesus, turns the lights on so we can discern truth from lies.

“Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. The entrance of Your Words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” [20]

Let us pray to our Lord Jesus Christ to bring people back to Him... back to His Word...

“It is time for You to act, O Lord, for they have regarded Your Law as void.” “Rivers of water run down from my eyes, because men do not keep Your Law.” “I see the treacherous, and am disgusted, because they do not keep Your Word.” [21]

Let us prefer God’s Word to sleep if nighttime is the only time we can truly focus on it.

“ I rise before the dawning of the morning, and cry for help; I hope in Your Word. My eyes are awake through the night watches, that I may meditate on Your Word.” [22]

Evil rulers hate God’s Word because it exposes their wrong-doing, but we should treasure God’s Word just the same. Evil rulers are a vapor that appears for a moment and then is gone. Keep praising God for His Word. God’s Word gives peace. The words of evil rulers do not.

“Princes persecute me without a cause, but my heart stands in awe of Your Word. I rejoice at Your Word as one who finds great treasure. I hate and abhor lying, but I love Your Law. Seven times a day I praise You, because of Your righteous judgments. Great peace have those who love Your Law, and nothing causes them to stumble.” [23]

[1] John 1:1, 14, 18
[2] Mark 12:12, 24, 37; Matthew 13:36-37; Luke 24:27
[3] Nehemiah 8:12-13, 18
[4] Matthew 27:16; Mark 15:7; John 18:40
[5] Psalm 118:22-23
[6] Acts 3:14
[7] Psalm 118:8-9
[8] Daniel 2:44-45, 7:14; Revelation 11:15; Philippians 2:6-11
[9] Psalm 119:17-18
[10] Psalm 119:32
[11] Psalm 119:34
[12] Psalm 119:36
[13] Psalm 119:50-51
[14] Psalm 119:63
[15] Psalm 119:72
[16] Psalm 119:89
[17] Psalm 119:96
[18] Psalm 119:97-100
[19] Psalm 119:103
[20] Psalm 119:105, 130
[21] Psalm 119:126, 136, 158
[22] Psalm 119:147-148
[23] Psalm 119:161-165