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Are you able to fully appreciate something you don’t understand?
Consider. An artist probably gets more excited about color and placement than a banker. A chef certainly appreciates the quality and availability of food ingredients. You likely value the things you are interested in and have knowledge of more than those things that you have difficulty comprehending.
An understanding of who God is leads to a right appreciation of His word.
What we love is what we serve. Praise God that He, in His mercy, has opened our hearts to see Him. A love for God produces a life with purpose to serve God along with the desire to want others to love God. It’s a good expectation to want for others what we have in Christ; thankfulness and a need to share Truth should be applied in the lives of all God’s children. Is your compassion growing for those who don’t know God? In Psalm 119:139, David conveyed how his excitement for God led him to despair for those not following God. Ps 119:139 My zeal has consumed me, because my adversaries have forgotten Thy words. Now, in verse 140, the Psalmist recounts the purity of God’s word and the resulting love he has for it.
Ps 119:140 Thy word is very pure, therefore Thy servant loves it.
What is our subject?
What is the quality of our subject?
What is the result of understanding the quality of the subject?
The Subject – Thy word. God’s commands. The truths that reveal His will. His word that gives direction. God’s faithful promises to His children. God’s laws.
Read the excerpt below from the Treasury of David:
Thy word. Let us refresh our minds and our memories with some of the Scripture adjuncts connected with "the word," and realize, in some degree at least, the manifold relations which it bears both to God and our souls. It is called "the word of Christ," because much of it was given by him, and it all bears testimony to him...It is called "the word of his grace," because the glorious theme on which it loves to expatiate is grace, and especially grace as it is seen in Christ's dying love for sinful men. It is called ololov tou staurou, "the word of the cross" (1Co 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.), because in the crucifixion of the divine Redeemer we see eternal mercy in its brightest lustre. It is called "the word of the gospel," because it brings glad tidings of great joy to all nations. It is called "the word of the kingdom," because it holds out to all believers the hope of an everlasting kingdom of righteousness and peace. It is called "the word of salvation," because the purpose for which it was given is the salvation of sinners. It is called "the word of truth," because, as Chillingworth says, it has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth without mixture of error for its contents. And we will only add, it is called "the word of life," because it reveals to a sinful, perishing world the doctrines of life and immortality. --IV. Graham, in "A Commentary on the First Epistle of John," 1857. (Emphasis added)
Thy word. Food for the soul – Deut 8:3 "And He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD.
Thy word. Alive and working in the hearts of men – Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Thy word. Powerful – Jer 23:29 "Is not My word like fire?" declares the LORD, "and like a hammer which shatters a rock?
Thy word. Enduring forever –
Isa 40:8 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.
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.
Thy word. Converts souls, gives wisdom, rejoices the heart, gives understanding, endures forever, is completely righteous, more valuable than fine gold, sweeter than honey, gives warning, and rewards those who are faithful.
Ps 19:7-11 The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether. 10 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. 11 Moreover, by them Thy servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
The Quality of the Subject – very pure.
Psalm 119:140 says, Thy word is very pure. Pure. What does it mean to be pure?
Pure <tsaraph> to fuse (metal), i.e. refine (literally or figuratively):--cast, refiner, founder, goldsmith, melt, pure, purge away, try.
When something is refined, the impurities are removed, making it perfect.
Notice the adjective attached to pure: very. Meaning, vehemently or exceedingly; this is an intense word full of action. Look at Hebrews 4:12 again. Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
The action of God’s word is pure. It purges away the sin in man; it cleanses a heart from impurities.
In Judges Chapter 7, God tests <tsaraph> the hearts of men to assemble Gideon’s army.
Ps 17:3 Thou hast tried my heart; Thou hast visited [me] by night; Thou hast tested <tsaraph> me and dost find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.
Ps 26:2 Examine me, O LORD, and try me; Test <tsaraph> my mind and my heart.
Ps 66:10 For Thou hast tried us, O God; Thou hast refined <tsaraph> us as silver is refined.
Isa 48:10 "Behold, I have refined <tsaraph> you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
The quality of God’s word is pure. The word reflects the holiness of God.
2Sa 22:31 "As for God, His way is blameless; the word of the LORD is tested <tsaraph>; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
Ps 12:6 The words of the LORD are pure words; as silver tried <tsaraph> in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times.
Ps 18:30 As for God, His way is blameless; the word of the LORD is tried <tsaraph>; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
“David's great affection for the word of God: Thy servant loves it. Every good man, being a servant of God, loves the word of God, because it lets him know his Master's will and directs him in his Master's work. Wherever there is grace there is a warm attachment to the word of God. … Our love to the word of God is then an evidence of our love to God when we love it for the sake of its purity, because it bears the image of God's holiness and is designed to make us partakers of his holiness. It commands purity, and, as it is itself refined from all corrupt mixture, so if we receive it in the light and love of it, it will refine us from the dross of worldliness and fleshly-mindedness.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary
Several months ago, we looked at Psalm 119:128. In it, David explained his love for God’s word, Ps 119:128 Therefore I esteem right all [Thy] precepts concerning everything, I hate every false way.
“‘Gold hath need to be refined; but thy word is purity itself.’—The figurative term used in the original, denotes the purity of the sacred scriptures; which reflect the holiness of the Lord’s character and government, and require of us, and lead us ‘to purity of heart and life.’ This purity of the scriptures the carnal mind dislikes; but the spiritually-minded love and relish it, and they perceive it equally in the righteous precepts as in the faithful promises; and therefore they love the whole word of God.” Thomas Scott
“Thy word is very pure. It is truth distilled, holiness in its quintessence. In the word of God there is no admixture of error or sin. It is pure in its sense, pure in its language, pure in its spirit, pure in its influence, and all this to the very highest degree -- "very pure." Treasury of David
God’s word is pure in its essence and is pure in its efficacy.
Consider. If you are a true believer in Jesus Christ then you understand that God’s word is perfect and holy and you can’t help but love it! How have you recognized the power of God’s word in your own life? How has the Word changed your thoughts, your actions, and your desires?
The Result of Understanding the Quality of The Word – Therefore Thy servant loves it. These are the words David uses as he concludes Psalm 119:140. The result of understanding the purity of God’s word and the work it does in the heart of a believer, leads to a great affection towards it.
Think of using a strainer in the kitchen. You pour whatever is mixed through a sieve to catch the stuff you don’t want. Often, this has to be repeated several times until there is nothing left except what is useful and good. The working of God’s word exposes sin. It’s as if every corner of our hearts and minds are sifted through as we are transformed more into His likeness. The opposite of being pure is impure – having blemishes or stain or extraneous elements. As we look at our own lives, it is not difficult to recognize the dross. We need the purity of God’s word to constantly expose that which is relevant and important and true and that which is unnecessary.
In John 15:3 we read Jesus’ words to the disciples after the traitor Judas was gone from them. As they spent time with Jesus, their lives had been purged from their previous ways of sin.
Joh 15:3 "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
“It is this, its pure quality combined with its tendency to purify every nature that yields to its holy influence, that endears it to every child of God. Here it is that he finds those views of the divine character, those promises, those precepts, those representations of the deformity of sin, of the beauty of holiness, which lead him, above all things, to seek conformity to the divine image. A child of God in his best moments does not wish the word of God brought down to a level with his own imperfect character, but desires rather that his character may be gradually raised to a conformity to that blessed word. Because it is altogether pure, and because it tends to convey to those who make it their constant study a measure of its own purity, the child of God loves it, and delights to meditate in it day and night.” – John Morison.
The love of God’s word could not be ours without His love first shown towards us.
Eph 2:4-5 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
1Jo 4:10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins.
God’s word transforms.
2Pe 1:3-8 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of [the] divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. 5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in [your] moral excellence, knowledge; 6 and in [your] knowledge, self-control, and in [your] self-control, perseverance, and in [your] perseverance, godliness; 7 and in [your] godliness, brotherly kindness, and in [your] brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if these [qualities] are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The truth of Psalm 119:140 – Thy word is very pure – provokes a response. Does it lead you to love God’s word? What does it mean to love God’s word? When we say we love something there is a person or thing that is the recipient of that affection. Whether it’s a food we love to eat or a person we love to be with or an activity we love to participate in. Loving something or someone typically leads to an action.
"Therefore thy servant loveth it," which is a proof that he himself was pure in heart, for only those who are pure love God's word because of its purity. His heart was knit to the word because of its glorious holiness and truth. He admired it, delighted in it, sought to practise it, and longed to come under its purifying power.” Treasury of David
God’s response to His perfect love for us led Him to send Jesus to the earth, to suffer and die on a cross, to pay the penalty we owe, so that we could be with Him eternally.
Col 1:21-22 And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, [engaged] in evil deeds, 22 yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach—
What is your response to the purity of God’s word? Do you willingly place yourself as a servant of the Lord, just as David call himself, to be subject to His word and live accordingly?
