Psalm 119:140 – Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.
Many of us prefer fiction over non-fiction stories. We prefer romantic comedies to real-life testimonies. We prefer to dream rather than do. And thus is our approach to God’s Word! We enjoy feel-good, warm and fuzzy messages. Our favourite preacher is the one who excites us… We love messages on God’s love, mercy and grace, etc. oh, but when the message is on sin, it’s as if the pastor is ruffling our feathers. Our ears prick and our hearts twitch when we hear hard-hitting truths from the pulpit. We give no eye-contact to the one preaching, we turn our eyes away and we choose not to connect with the Word.
David loved the Word. Scholars say he used it almost 35 times in his writing. David rejoiced when God labelled him a man after God’s own heart and David accepted and immediately repented when God reproved his vicious act of having Uriah killed only to marry his wife Bathsheba.
What is our expectation when God’s word is preached? Are we expecting God to speak to us personally? Do we love the holiness of the Word? The Word is preached–to beat down sin, and advance holiness. Do we love it for its spirituality and purity? Some of us love the Preached Word only for its eloquence and notion. We come to a sermon as to a performance (Ezekiel 33:31,32) or as to a garden to pick flowers–but not to have our lusts subdued or our hearts purified… Like a foolish woman who paints her face–but neglects her health!
Because God’s Word is pure, it will also purify and preserve those who trust and obey its unpolluted words. Earlier in this psalm, David said, “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9). It could very well have been David’s own experience, for he confessed later that “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Psalm 119:11). He also testified, “I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word” (Psalm 119:101).
The beauty of God’s holiness shines through every word of His Word. Those who walk in the light of His Word shall have the joy of walking in the beauty of His holiness.
The pure Word of God shall keep us away from all defiling ways. So, let us love it as David did.
