Psalm 119:145-176 finishes the longest book in the Bible. And it has been a book filled with truth about God’s Word. The psalmist mixes his personal struggles with people coming after him from all sides with the reality that God has a plan and has given us His direction. It can be summed up with the words of verse 160: “Your words all add up to the sum total: Truth”. That pretty much says it all. If we want to take everything and shake it down to the basics this is it. God’s Word is all we need. It is all there really is. It is the truth. It gives us the direction. And our writer here points to the other key which is our relationship: “you’re the closest of all to me, God”. Is God the closest relationship you have? Do you share you inmost thoughts and needs? Is He the one you share your heart with? If we can get these two things right – a deep and growing relationship with the Father and His Son, and a life that is based on His Truth to us, well life will be on track. We too will be able to say “your words keep me stable”.
Of course we need to realize that God’s truth is to guide us all the time. “The evidence of your words that you meant them to last forever”. God gave us His truth for eternity. It isn’t just to live by when we feel like it. The psalmist points out that many “walked away from Your promises so casually”. God’s Word is to be our guiding direction every day. Our writer tells us how it should impact us:
- “I do what you tell me
- My soul guards and keeps all your instructions
- I follow your directions
- I abide by your counsel
- My life’s an open book before You
- I live by your counsel
- Your promises ring from my tongue”
Bottom line, God’s truth is our light and our Salvation. It gives us direction. And if we live by it we will find “insight that comes only from Your Word”. God wrote His Book to help us live. We need to make sure we are reading, and heeding, God’s truth. And as we do, it will “put iron in my soul”. It is our strength and gives us a future and a hope. It is our path to walking and living as God desires. Are you reading it and living it daily?
