Everlasting Truth

Ps 119:160 The sum of Thy word is truth,​​ and​​ every one of Thy​​ righteous​​ ordinances is everlasting.

Ps 119:160 (KJV) Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

What an incredible and encouraging verse to​​ end the section of Psalm 119 we have been studying! ​​ I love the beginning of this verse. ​​ God’s word is completely true from the beginning, all of it, in its entirety! ​​ This statement is a promise we can stand on, feel secure in, and trust upon. ​​ In a world which often does​​ not make sense, it is reassuring to know God is absolute truth. ​​ 

God’s word is everything He has spoken, all He has caused to be recorded, each word of His counsel, all of His commands, and every one of His promises and judgments. ​​​​ All God’s thoughts that He has chosen to reveal to us and every spoken sentence from Him is truth.

As we contemplate the totality of the statement in this verse, there is​​ realization that no one else who has ever existed or will exist in the future is able to claim their words as​​ absolute​​ truth. ​​ We may say something that is true but certainly embedded in anything I may say or think are errors. ​​ 

Consider. I may say I love someone. ​​ With all my heart I may be sincere in this statement. ​​ My desire is to show that love in thought, word and action. ​​ No matter how strong my desire or motivation may be to follow through, I will fail. ​​ Why? ​​ Because I am absolutely unable to act out love perfectly. ​​ Sooner or later, I will become tired, hurt, frustrated, busy, misunderstood, selfish or distracted. ​​ What then happens to the love I have professed? ​​ Certainly is not a perfect picture. ​​ Think upon the many instances you may have said you will do something. ​​ Does it always happen? ​​ Are you able to follow through with your word in every situation? ​​ Of course not! ​​ Even though my intentions may be stellar, what happens if I become ill, or get a flat tire, or someone else has an emergency I need to help with? ​​ The truth and certainty of my love and actions is based upon the circumstances of my heart and the things happening around me. ​​​​ 

God’s truth does not change because an individual does not respond correctly. ​​ God’s truth is not changed because the majority does not agree. ​​ God will never be too busy to follow through with His word and His love is independent from us. ​​ God is the source of truth and error or falsehood are concepts completely unassociated with His perfect nature. ​​​​ The word truth means it is stable, it is certain, it is trustworthy, it is assured, it is established, it is faithful, it is right and it is sure.​​ Truth, in its essence, does not change. ​​ It does not readjust itself when thinking becomes more ‘progressive’. ​​ Truth has complete and perfect information as its basis and will always be the same, no exceptions.

How can we apply this understanding of God’s word being absolutely true? ​​​​ Along with the incredible promise​​ and encouragement​​ we have of the certainty of God’s truths, we have a reminder how important it​​ is to check what we say and​​ think,​​ to be sure it is in line with God’s word. ​​ Do I strive to share only truth? ​​ Unembellished, complete honesty based upon the word (not what I think but what​​ God​​ says)?​​ ​​ This is an important consideration to address. ​​​​ We are to follow Jesus. ​​ We are to be holy. ​​ 

Read​​ the charge Abraham was given by God in​​ Genesis 17:1. “Now when Abram was ninety-nine​​ years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am God Almighty; Walk before Me, and be blameless.”

Mt 5:48 "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. ​​​​ Perfect meaning complete: in applications of labor, growth and mental and moral character.

Christ died for us that we might be holy, presented to His Father in glory, blameless.

Eph 5:25b-27 just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her;​​ 26​​ that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,​​ 27​​ that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she should be holy and blameless.

2Ti 3:16-17​​ All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;​​ 17​​ that the man of God may be adequate,​​ equipped​​ for every good work.

Are my thought, words and actions based on the truth of God’s word? ​​ Do I​​ take​​ seriously that I am to be preparing for Christ’s return –​​ at any time?

2Pe 3:10-11​​ But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.​​ 11​​ Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,

"Thy word is true," in its principle and in all its details, from Adam to Moses; from Moses to Christ, from Christ to the present time; and from the present time to the end of the world.”​​ Adam Clarke’s Commentary

When we consider the statement, “The sum of Thy word is truth”, we conclude God is faithful. ​​ Faithful to all He says and faithful to His children. ​​ We should be encouraged! ​​ Is there anything or anyone else you are able to trust completely? ​​ Of course, the answer is no. ​​ Even the very earth we stand on is not secure. ​​ 

Our Psalmist states the faithfulness of God’s word earlier in his writing.

Ps 119:86 All Thy commandments are faithful;​​ they​​ have persecuted me with a lie; help me!

Ps 119:138 Thou hast commanded Thy testimonies in righteousness and exceeding faithfulness.

The second half of​​ Psalm 119:160​​ says,​​ “And every one of Thy righteous​​ ordinances​​ is everlasting”.

Perhaps​​ you or someone you know has been tempted to embrace some of God’s commands but not all. ​​ It is easier to obey the things that make sense to us or that seem fitting for society in general. ​​ Often the truths contained in the Bible can seem offensive or​​ unfair​​ or judgmental or even out of date with modern thinking. ​​ 

The thought of willingly placing oneself under the authority of leadership could cause a riot in some groups. ​​ Yet, this is a biblical concept. ​​ Imagine a book with the title of ‘Serve Another Before You Consider Your Own Needs or Desires’? ​​ It goes without saying that this would probably not be a best seller!

Yet, the statement​​ in Psalm 119:160 says​​ ‘every one​​ of Thy righteous ordinances is everlasting’. ​​ It​​ is not followed with a list of exceptions. ​​ All God’s word is true, and all God’s principals are right and applicable from before time began and into eternity. ​​​​ 

Pr 30:5​​ Every​​ word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

2Ti 3:16​​ All Scripture​​ is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for​​ reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;

Mt 5:18 "For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away,​​ not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the Law, until all is accomplished.

God’s word is naturally right, morally right and legally right. ​​​​ Perhaps not in the sense of weighing it against man’s law – which is severely flawed and sinful – but​​ inherently​​ right because of its perfect source.​​ 

Humankind likes to point fingers, accuse of being unjustly treated, and find reasons for why life can be difficult. ​​ 

This idea of blaming someone or something for our own failure begins almost as soon as​​ we are able to speak.​​ Consider young children and the phase of being a ‘tattle tale’ they seem to fall into. ​​ Additionally, we have all thought or spoken in anger. ​​ Why? ​​ Not because​​ someone or something caused us to be angry, but because we chose to react in anger.​​ Looking back to the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, we see Adam blaming God for giving him Eve who made him eat who blamed the serpent for deceiving her. ​​ 

Life is difficult because we don’t acknowledge God’s word as true and righteous and eternal.​​ We are incapable of​​ fully​​ understanding God’s mind therefore it is impossible for us to know​​ all the reasons​​ why certain commands exist. ​​ Often, obedience in faith needs to be exercised. ​​ Therefore, trust based on faith must be a factor in accepting God’s word​​ as absolute truth in its entirety.

So, when God’s word says do not be​​ quickly angered,​​ we are to take heed. ​​​​ Ec 7:9 Do not be eager in your heart to be angry, for anger resides in the bosom of fools.

Consider. ​​ If you have chosen​​ not​​ to follow God, then His word​​ will seem​​ burdensome and​​ unjust, even downright mean and unloving. ​​ If you have embraced Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then God’s word represents His love, His redemption, His mercy and grace. ​​ It is not a burden but a freedom to live according to​​ God’s commands. ​​ A grateful heart, or grace-filled heart,​​ recognizes the necessity of a perfect God casting judgment on sinful mankind.​​ 

Just as God’s word is truth and does not change, God’s perfect judgment will endure forever. ​​ There is no lasting security in anything other than God. ​​ Is​​ God​​ the foundation we are standing on?

“The Lord has nothing to regret or to retract, nothing to amend or to reverse. All God's judgments, decrees, commands, and purposes are righteous, and as righteous things are lasting things, every one of them will outlive the stars.”​​ Treasury of David

Throughout Psalm 119, David has habitually praised God for His enduring truth and righteousness.

Ps 119:86 All​​ Thy commandments are faithful; they have persecuted me with a lie; help me!

Ps 119:89​​ Forever, O LORD, Thy word is settled in heaven.

Ps 119:90 Thy faithfulness [continues] throughout all generations; Thou didst establish the earth, and it stands.

Ps 119:144 Thy testimonies are righteous forever; give me understanding that I may live.

Ps 119:152 Of old I have known from Thy testimonies, that Thou hast founded them forever.

Think​​ of the​​ person​​ that​​ God used​​ to write this Psalm. ​​ David had​​ been changed by the Truth, he had​​ seen God’s work in his life.​​ David’s​​ testimony is of God’s continued faithfulness even when​​ the​​ Psalmist weakened, changed his focus,​​ and was caught in the throes of sin. ​​ David’s own experience led him to boast of God’s​​ faithfulness​​ and​​ righteousness. ​​ He bathed​​ himself in the comfort and protection of an unquestionable,​​ perfect, righteous​​ God Who will continue through eternity. ​​ I pray each of us is able to find the same encouragement as we seek God and witness His work in our lives.

Ps 119:160 The sum of Thy word is truth, and every one of Thy righteous ordinances is everlasting.