"My soul hath kept thy testimonies, and I love them exceedingly. I keep your precepts and testimonies, for all my ways are before you."
Psalm 119:167-168
Part 2
Yesterday: Keeping God’s Testimonies
“My soul hath kept thy testimonies.”
Obedience to our God begins deep in our souls, not with our actions. Internals before externals!
Today: How to Love God’s Testimonies
“And I love them exceedingly.”
What beautiful words from the “sweet singer of Israel!” How did he get to the point where he could say this, and it is every bit true? He did much thinking and study on God’s testimonies. He first needed to know what they are like, what they mean, and how they describe God. Aren’t we like this? We need to see the truth and understand it before we can fully accept it.[1]
In his meditations, what did David learn about God’s Testimonies? Here are his words, his descriptions:
“Thy testimonies are very sure…” (Psalm 93:5).
“Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counselors” (Psalm 119:24).
“Thy testimonies are wonderful” (Psalm 119:129).
“Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful” (Psalm 119:138).
“The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting” (Psalm 119:144).
“Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them forever” (Psalm 119:152).
David learned that God’s testimonies are ancient, eternal in fact. They are a safe place for a believer to be, and not only do they delight the soul, but they are great counselors! These truths about our God are righteous and faithful. No error here. David would endorse these for every believer! What believer could understand these truths and then reject God’s goodness? Only a fool would do that.
David accepted God’s Testimonies, personally. Because of these truths that he learned about God, what did he do with these truths believed? What are his actions?
“I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies…” (Psalm 119:14).
“…I have kept thy testimonies” (Psalm 110:22).
“I have stuck unto thy testimonies” (Psalm 119:31).
“I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings…” (Psalm 119:46).
“I thought on my ways and turned my feet unto thy testimonies” (Psalm 119:59).
“…I will consider thy testimonies” (Psalm 119:95).
“…thy testimonies are my meditation” (Psalm 119:99).
“Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart” (Psalm 119:111).
“…I love thy testimonies” (Psalm 119:119).
“I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies” (Psalm 119:125).
“…I shall keep thy testimonies” (Psalm 119:146).
“…I do not decline from thy testimonies” (Psalm 119:157).
“My soul hath kept thy testimonies, and I love them exceedingly” (Psalm 119:167).
“I have kept thy precepts, and thy testimonies: for all my ways are before thee” (Psalm 119:168).
We need to remember that all of this began deep in his soul and then exploded out into action. If you asked David, “Are you keeping a list of rules?” He probably would laugh, but surely, he would set us straight. “No,” he will say, “I am just loving my God!” Keeping God’s testimonies are a way of life for God’s child. We love Him, and we live for Him—we keep His testimonies.
“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous” (1 John 5:3).
What are God’s “precepts,” and how can we keep them? Come back tomorrow, and let’s keep following the Book together!
Quote: “Let it never be said that we cannot know whether a Christian really loves Christ. It can be known. It can be discovered. The proof can be seen. You have heard them this very day. Love to the Lord Jesus Christ is no hidden, secret, unseen thing. It is like the light – it will be seen. It is like sound – it will be heard. It is like heat – it will be felt. Where it exists, it cannot be hidden. Where it cannot be seen, you can be sure there is none”[2] (J.C. Ryle).
[1] This is why apologetics is an integral part of the believer’s witness to the lost.
[2] Ryle’s quote was Downloaded: Monday, January 4, 2021. From: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/loving-god.