Psalm 119:128 Therefore I esteem all your precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way. Therefore hold I straight all thy commandments (Prayer-book Version). "In the word 'therefore' there is a peculiar beauty. The violation of God's Law by the wicked only brings out more intensely in his servants the sense of its preciousness, and the enthusiasm of devotion to it." It is not so much the wickedness of the wicked that is in the psalmist's mind, as the wrong and unworthy ways in which they twist and turn God's Word, so that it shall either excuse their wickedness or seem to have nothing to do with it. He "hates every false way," every way of dealing with God's way which is not genuine and straightforward; and for himself he will persist in "holding straight" all the command-melts, dealing honestly and sincerely with them. I. SELF-WILL SELECTS FROM GOD'S WORD WHAT SUITS IT. It is true that every one does and must select from God's Word what is most helpful; and that all Bible-readers find different parts and portions helpful in different moods and circumstances. The Bible of each individual is a much smaller book than the Bible God has provided for the world. But the good man (1) recognizes the value and authority of all; (2) seeks relativity to his passing spiritual needs; and (3) depends on Divine illumination and guidance for the parts he finds; giving due heed to them, whether he likes them or not. The self-willed man takes out only what he likes or what will serve his ends, and consequently his Bible is his own; it is not God's. II. SELF-WILL DISTORTS EVEN WHAT IT GETS. Only the sincere, God-honoring mind sees in the Word what God put there. If a man brings his own ideas to the Word, looking in it for what he wants to find, the mere language will easily take shape that satisfies him. He will loudly assert what it says, in entire indifference to what it means. This self-willed distortion of God's Word to support preconceived doctrinal ideas is the treacherous basis on which all sectarianism rests. But it is more important to rebuke the distortion of God's Word which is made to support practical unrighteousness. It has even been made the minister, and the excuser, of man's sin. - R.T. Parallel Verses KJV: Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.WEB: Therefore I consider all of your precepts to be right. I hate every false way. PEY |
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