The Perfection of God's Word Week 11

We are in Psalms chapter 19. We're going through the book of Psalms. Not every chapter, but we're picking and choosing. I could not pass Psalms 19. It's an amazing psalm with a lot there. The first part of it talks about the heavens declaring the glory of God and the firmament's handiwork. And and we talked about that last week uh in Roman number one. And so we're on Roman number two now. And looking at it talks about the scriptures in Psalms 19 7-11. says, "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul. The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart.

The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever. The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yay, than much fine gold, sweeter also than honey, and the honeycomb. Moreover, by them as thy servant warned, the keeping of them there is great reward. And so, we see a lot uh talking about the scriptures in these verses. And not only does the the heavens and creation declare the glory of God, but the scriptures also declare the g glory of God and his grace. You know, we can um as we talked about last week, there's a within every one of us, there's a God consciousness.

There's a there's a there's an emptiness that only God can fill. And everyone knows that and uh that there there's that conscious there must be a God and there's that that need for God and uh yet many people will deny that God consciousness and then God also reveals himself through creation and that we see the the amazing creation there has to be a creator and uh yet people will deny God in creation and then you have God in in the scriptures uh through Christ the living word and they have to deny Christ. And so we see here talking about the scriptures and and in this section uh he gives uh six different names for the criptures are used here.

And these names help us understand more about the word of God. And and the first one there is verse in in number one there in uh verse number se look at verses number 7- 11 verse number seven it says the law of the lord is perfect converting the soul. And so we see first of all it's called the law. And uh look over Romans chapter 7 and verse number 12. Romans chapter 7 and verse number 12 says wherefore the law is holy and the commandment holy and just and good. So we see the law of the Lord. Now when we talk about specifically the law of the Lord is usually referring to the first five books of the Old Testament.

uh and and and so that's what they primarily had when they wrote Psalms. Uh they had pretty well those those books and and so it's talking about the law of the Lord and and that includes of course the commandments and the the uh the law that was given to Israel to obey and and all of that's involved there. But what I think is interesting is is that the law of the Lord is perfect. And in other words, the word perfect often the Bible you is the idea of of being complete. Now we know the Bible has many other books after the law. Uh again remember when this was written that was their Bible pretty much Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy.

That was the scriptures that they had. Uh they might have had Job. They might have had some uh uh other other uh things, bits and pieces here and there, but pretty well what they had was the first five books of the Bible. And so that was their complete Bible at that time. Uh but we know of course you and I know that the Bible wasn't complete. Uh there was the rest of the Old Testament to be written. Then there's the New Testament as well. And so you and I, we have the privilege of having the complete word of God. uh we've got so much more than David had when he wrote Psalms because we got the whole word of God including the New Testament.

And so we have so much more than they ever had. And and that's a blessing that you and I have. But it talks about the law of the Lord is perfect is complete even though it wasn't complete in the sense that the scriptures were not finished at that point. What he's saying is that the law of the Lord, everything you need is right here. Everything you need to know God. everything they need need to be saved. Remember, they were saved in the Old Testament the same way you and I are saved in the New Testament. Uh they were saved by faith in the Messiah. Uh they believed in a coming Messiah, you and I believe in a crucified Messiah.

But we're all saved by faith. And all of that is in the first five books of the Bible. It's in the law. It's complete. It's everything that you needed uh in order to know God. And so he said the law of the Lord is perfect or is complete converting the soul. So you can come to salvation through the law. You can come to salvation through these books of the Bible and and understand that. And and so he [clears throat] talks about the law of the Lord. And then it goes on there to say the testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple. Look at John chapter 3. John chapter 3 and look at verses number 32 through verse number 35.

John chapter 3 and verses 32 through35 says that what he has seen and heard that he testifith and no man receives his testimony. He that re hath received his testimony hath set to seal to his seal that God is true. For he whom God hath seen said speaketh the words of God. For God giveth not the spirit by measure unto him. Uh the father loveth the son has given all things into his hands. And so he talks about that the the the testimony of the Lord is sure that we have the sure word of God. He he he talks about that in second Peter that we have the the sure word the the the the word of God the complete word of God.

uh and and the testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple. Uh remember the simple is the person that has not yet made his decision. The simple the word simple comes from a word which means to be open and and the simple are open to whatever influence they have in their life. Uh and and so if you get a simple person if you can get him be open to the word of God then that is going to change him and it's going to give him wisdom. And that's how we become wise is through the word of God. And then it goes on to say in the next verse, the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart. And the idea, I'm going back to number two, the testimony.

Put the word in the parentheses, the word witness, the witness of it. You know, he has given witness. Jesus Christ is the living word giving witness of the word of God. And and here he's talking about the testimonies or the the witness of the Lord is sure. And then you have the statutes of the Lord. The word statutes in parentheses you put the word precepts. Precepts. In Isaiah chap 28 and verse number 10. Isaiah chapter 28 and verse number 10. It says, "For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little and there a little." Uh h how do we learn?

We learn through repetition. uh precept upon precept. These things are repeated as you go through school. Here they introduce it and then they repeat it to you again, then reinforce it and and and building upon that. And as Christians, how do we learn precept upon precept? We we build on these things. We take the knowledge that we have and we build more knowledge on top of that. We learn our numbers and then we learn our addition and subtraction. Then we learn multiplication, division. But in all that, we have to reinforce the numbers. You got to know the numbers. You know, remember when back when you learned the multiplication tables?

Now, most of you in your head cannot multiply anymore because now you've got your phones to do that for you. And you've long forgotten that. But how do we learn? We learn by repetition. Remember the the pyramid of learning that we've used as an illustration? How that there's four levels to our process of learning. The base level is knowledge. And we gain knowledge line upon line. Learning a little bit here and a little bit there. We gain knowledge by being taught knowledge and by experience as well. And then that knowledge builds a foundation where then we can learn wisdom. And wisdom is a skill to use the knowledge that we have.

And and so here he calls it the the the statutes of the Lord, the precepts, the things that God says here is what you need to understand. And then we have number four there. It says that the um the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. So we talk about the commandments. Go over to Matthew chap 22. Matthew chap 22 and verses number 36- 40. Matthew chap 22 and beginning with verse number 36 says, "Master, which is the great commandment in the law?" Jesus saith them, thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.

And the second is like unto it. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments, hang all the law and the prophets. Now, for the Old Testament Jew, when you when you said the you say the word commandments, they would probably their mind would first go back to the ten commandments. And and and Jesus saying, listen, all 10 of those commandments can be summed up. love God, love others as you love yourself. And and those three steps in that process. And so he's calling the the word of God the commandments of God. And and he's given us his commandments. He's given us his guidelines and summed them up there in Matthew chap 22.

And then he goes on to say in verse number nine, the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever. And he calls the Bible, remember all these referring back to scripture, to the word of God. And you know, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Look over at Heb Hebrews chapter 4. Hebrews chapter 4 and verse number 12. Hebrews chapter 4 and verse number 12. Hebrews 4:12. For the word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than a two-edged sword, piercing even dividing sunender of soul and spirit, the joints of marrow, and a serner of the thoughts and intense of the heart. There needs to be a a fear.

Proverbs 1:7 talks about the fear of the Lord. And we see that in 1 John chapter 4 is as well. And and and it's not a fear of being afraid, but but a fear of the power. You know, one of the things that you want um I I remember years ago we had uh there's a a place here nearby here that has uh state it's called state surplus and it's it's got all the uh stuff the state doesn't want and they they take you this place and the nonprofits can come in there and can can either get it for free or a very discounted price. And uh when we had our preschool, we were able to do that. They don't let churches do it, but they did let our preschool do that.

as we'd go down and get desk and things like that that were being gotten rid of by either the state or the federal government. And uh I went down there one day and it had this huge these number of huge cardboard boxes full of knives. And it turned out that when you have to, you know, turn in a knife at TSA cuz you you have one, you're not supposed to. Uh they collect them there and then they took them down to the surplus and they got this where they got rid of it. And so I thought, well, that'd be neat uh to buy knives uh for not for our preschoolers. Okay. Uh, but I thought it'd be good to get these knives for our um uh our kids in our children's club, the boy, especially the boys to get them a knife.

And so I got a whole box full of these knives uh the Swiss they were all the Swiss Army type ones and and they gave to us for 50 cents each. And those things are cost they cost quite a bit. And so I got them and I brought them down and uh and and I I was going to give them out, but I didn't want to give them to the kids directly. So I I decided I'm going to give them to the parents. We're going to have a class in the club to tell them how to use knives correctly. And then we would give it to the parents and the parents could decide whether or not the kids can be trusted with the knives. And I was just really afraid as a pastor, one of these kids is going to cut himself and I'm going to get blamed as a pastor for giving him a knife.

Well, you know who cut themselves? One of the dads actually did it. And uh he said it was all my fault because I was not paying attention when I was using the knife. I was trying to show my son and impress him with it and I was doing stupid things with it. You know, this is the word of God. This is the it's sharper than any two-edged sword. And yet, we handle it so lightly. And we ought to realize that this is something that is sharp. And it can cut and and it can cut for good or can cut bad. And you know, knives can be very good things, but they can also be very bad things. And and we need to realize that the fear of the Lord is the beginning.

It it tells us the beginning of knowledge and as clean enduring forever and then the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. And the idea of this word judgments is decrees of the Lord. Uh look over at Romans 11. Romans chap 11 and:es number 33 and 34. Romans 11:es 33 and 34. Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God. How unsearchable are his judgments, his ways past finding out? For whoath known the mind of the Lord, or who hath been his counselor? Uh the depths here that we see of the word of God, the the decrees of God. This is this is God telling us what he's doing.

This is God helping us understand who he is and what this world is all about. And it's just amazing that we have the very decrees of God that we can turn to. And what I want you to see here in Psalms chapter 19 is the psalmist did this. He could have said, "We've got the Bible, you know, but it's more than that." And so often we just kind of treat this, you know, we we've got access to the word of God like never in history. You know, we've got it in and probably most of you got more than one Bible at home. uh you've got you've got uh not only have the Bible, but you have study Bibles and you have all the different tools.

Now we've got a computer and all the rest of it and we've got such access to the word of God. You got to remember the psalmist, he only had the first five books and and probably didn't have his own printed copy because all were handwritten and very likely most people in that day could not even read the Bible. They had to hear it read to them. And and and yet he's trying to get across, you have in your hands, and this was just again the first five books of the Bible. You have in your hands the very law of the Lord, the testimony of God, the statutes of the Lord, the commandments, the fear of the Lord, the the judgments of God.

You have the very decrees of God. What an amazing thing you have in your hand. and and that's just what the psalmist is trying to get across to us in this passage. Now notice also uses eight descriptive words are used describe the scriptures in verses 7-9. It talks about number one the law of the lord is perfect and uh go to 1 Corinthians chapter 13 and verse number 10. 1 Corinthians 13 and verse number 10. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. Now 1 Corinthians 13, what he's talking about here is talking about the gifts of the spirit in verse in chapter 12.

And then he comes in chapter 13. We've been studying about the love, charity, suffered long as kind. But then he comes back and he's talking about the gifts again. And at that time they didn't have the complete New Testament. Again remember it would still be written. Uh they didn't have all the gospels. They didn't have all the writings of Paul. Uh they didn't have the complete Bible, the complete scriptures at that point. And so they had still had people that had the gift of prophecy and would would present the word of God to them. And they had people that had the gift of knowledge and all the rest of it.

Uh they were still receiving the word of God. But he says, listen, when that which is perfect is come, now that's not talking about Jesus. Jesus is perfect, but when he which is perfect, he's done. He is not an it. He's a he. So it's not talking about the second coming of Christ. He says when that which is perfect or complete is come, then that which is part is done away. You don't need me on Sunday to stand up and say to you, "Oh, God revealed this to me last night." And give you some new revelation from God. because you have the complete word of God and and that's why we chose our theme verse Acts 17:11 these were more noble and that they search scriptures you can go back to the word of

God you don't have to take my word for it and so we have the complete word of God today again they didn't have that in Psalms when he wrote Psalms 19 they didn't have that when they wrote Corinthians but you and I we have the privilege of having the complete word of God and then he goes on to say that um that the law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple. Look at second Peter chapter 1 and verse number 19. Second Peter chapter 1 and verse number 19. It says, "We have also a more sure word of prophecy, where unto you do well that you take heed, as unto a uh light that shineth a dark place until the day dawn, the day star rise in your hearts."

We have a more sure word of prophecy. Now, what was it more sure than? Notice in verse 18, and this voice which came from heaven, we heard when we were with him at the holy mount. Peter says, you know, I was on the the mountaintop, Mount of Olives. I was there when when the voice of God came down and said, "This is my beloved son whom I'm well pleased." And we heard the very voice of God. What what an amazing experience that must have been to hear the voice of God. To hear, you know, we often will say, "Well, God spoke to me, but I've never heard God I've never heard God speak in an audible voice.

He'll speak in a still small voice in my conscience and and he'll speak through the word of God to me, but God's never spoken to me in a voice." You know, Adam and Eve, they they walked and talked with God. And Peter, he got to be on this mountaintop and hear the very voice of God coming from heaven. But he says, "I've got something that's more better. I've got the word of God." We have got the complete sure word of God. And and and so we go right back to the scriptures and see what God has to say. What an amazing thing you and I have today. And we have it right here in our hands. And then he goes on to say in in Psalms uh 19, the statutes, Lord, are right.

And uh look at 2 Timothy chapter 2 and verse number 15. Second Timothy chapter 2 and verse number 15. Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. We have the right word of God. And and you and I have the ability to rightly divide it to open up the word of God and say, "What does God want me to know?" And and you know, we can all have our opinions, but it all comes back to what does the Bible say? Because this is what's right. This is what's true. And and so we need to understand that. And then it goes on to say that um the statute of the Lord are right.

Rejoice in the heart. The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. Go over to James chapter 3 and verse number 17. James chapter 3 and verse number 17. But the wisdom is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy being treated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, without hypocrisy. The word of God doesn't have to be hard. It doesn't have to be difficult. It it's the it's the pure word of God. It it's it's it's it's something that we can go to. I I just love studying the Bible because you go in there and it's just it's not a matter of opinion. It's a matter of this is thus sayeth the Lord.

Now, I realize there's things that you and I may disagree on. What does this mean? What does that mean? But, you know, to me, the Bible is just such a a pure book with the with the pure word of God. And then going back to Psalms 19 again, it it goes on to say more to be desired. Let's see that is that is um I'm sorry in verse number nine. The fear of the Lord is clean. Look at Ephesians chapter 5 and verse number 26. Ephesians chapter 5 and verse number 26. Ephesians 5:26. The Bible says that he may sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word. The word of God is purifying. It's cleansing.

You know, one of the things that I love is when when there's something happens in my life, whether it's sin or whether it's just problems, you can go to the Bible and just sometimes I just like to just read it. It's like taking the water and turn it on, let it run over you like a shower. It's just clean and it cleanses us from all unrighteousness. It's just where we can go for cleansing. And then it goes on to say uh the the the fear of the Lord is clean enduring forever. And look at 1 Peter chapter 1 and verse number 25. 1 Peter 1 and 25. But the word of the Lord endured forever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

Where else can you take uh uh words that were written thousands of years ago and yet they apply today? I mean, we live in such a different world than they live back back then. And yet the Bible is so enduring throughout change, throughout history, the word of God applies in our lives. And then going on in Psalm 19, it says that that it endureth forever. The judgments, Lord, are true and righteous altogether. So it's true. John 17:17. Turn over to there. John 17:17. John 17:17 says, "Sanctify through thy truth. Thy word is truth." This is truth. This is absolute truth. I've talked [snorts] about before.

There's two kinds of truth. There's absolute truth, Bible truth, and then there's observational truth. Absolute truth is absolute. It doesn't change. It's it's true no matter whether you believe it or not. It's true because God said so. Now, observational truth is truth that's based upon our observation. There's things that the Bible didn't talk about that we know are true because we can observe and see that truth. Now, here's the problem with observational truth. observational truth will be based upon your absolute truth. So if I believe in God when I observe certain things I interpret them based upon my belief in God.

So if I observe uh science I say science proves that there's creation that there's a God and I can see that creation through the observation I see. But uh but somebody who believes in evolution they observe those same facts and they're going to interpret it as the truth is evolution. And we do the same thing with looking at the world around us, humanism and so on. So we have but we have the absolute truth. We know this is true. And we live in a society today where you know things that we know are true are no longer thought as true. You know there's not you you can't define a woman and a man. You know today uh that that's just so obviously true.

And yet the world doesn't seem to understand that we have no absolutes. And I'm thankful that we have the absolutes of the word of God. And then they're righteous altogether. Go to Psalms 119. Psalms 119 verse 137 and 138. Righteous art thou, O Lord, and upright are thy judgments. Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful. Sometimes I do struggle with scriptures. There's things in the Bible I struggle. Well, how could God do that? Or how could that happen? uh whether it's when God would command them to destroy entirely a whole nation. Uh I intellectually I can understand why that's necessary.

We can see that today, you know, that we got countries that uh no matter how much you kill off the bad people, there's always somebody else steps up to place and so on. And you understand it. But there's things in the Bible that I struggle with and and I know you do too as well. And there's things that I don't understand. But you know what? I know it's right because God is righteous and we have his righteous truth. We have that through the word of God. And so Psalmist is trying to lay that down in understanding. Then going back to Psalms, it also has six different results of reading the scripture.

This is what happens. The law lord is perfect. Converting the soul. Salvation. Romans 10:17. Faith come by hearing, hearing by the word of God. And and so we need to understand that when I'm witnessing to somebody, I need to use scriptures. I need to show them, quote the Bible, have them see it in the Bible. I want them to see this is the word of God. You say, "Well, what if they don't believe it's the word of God?" If I point a gun at you, whether you believe it's loaded or not, doesn't matter when I pull the trigger. Your belief doesn't matter. The power is in there when the bullet's in there.

And the same thing is true with the word of God. So, it converts the soul. And then he also says that the testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple in Hebrews chapter four five. Hebrews chapter 5 and verse number 14. Hebrews 5:14. But strong me belong to them that are full age. Even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised discern both good and evil. Remember on that pyramid wisdom comes from from use. You learn knowledge by being taught or by experience. I can learn the stove is hot when I touch it and burn my fingers. I've learned it's hot. And by the way, that's the better teacher.

You will remember that a lot longer than you will being told that it's hot. But the best way to learn is by learning be by being taught because it's not as painful. It's not as hard. But either way, we learn knowledge through either experience or being taught. But wisdom is learned by use. Is by going out and doing it. I can know how a car works. But the way I learn how to work on the car is by getting out there and get my hands dirty and working on it. It's the experience that that brings wisdom. And so as I experience the word of God, as I put it practice, Jesus said that uh search the scriptures for he told us in them they have eternal life.

That's converting the soul. But he also said later on he said that um how will you know this is truth? By putting to practice by by using the word of God. And then he goes on to say the statue of the Lord are right rejoicing the heart. Look at Jeremiah chapter 15 and verse number 16. Jeremiah chapter 15 and verse number 16. Jeremiah 15:16, "Thy words were found, and I did eat them. And thy word was unto me the joy and rejoice in mine heart, for I'm called by thy name, oh Lord, God of hosts." We kind of treat the word of God like, "I know it's good for me, but it's not going to be good to me." You know, we we treat it like we're not going to enjoy it.

And yet, we ought to enjoy the word of God. Do you enjoy reading your Bible? Do you enjoy hearing preaching and teaching? Do you enjoy the word of God? It's rejoicing because I I'm learning about God. I'm learning about the Christian life. I love it and rejoicing it. And then he goes on to say, "The statute of the Lord are right. Rejoice in the heart. The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes." Go to James chapter 1. James chapter 1 and verses 23 and 24. James chapter 1:es 23 and 24. For if any be a hearer of the word and not a doer, he's like unto a man, behold his natural face in a glass.

For he behold himself and goeth his way and straightway forgetth what manner of man he was. It enlightening to see what you really are. And it's interesting in these verses he talks about, you know, that uh he behold his natural face, but then it goes on to say behold himself and goeth his way and uh forget. But verse 25, but who so look at the perfect law of liberty and continued therein, he be not a forgetful here, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. When you, it's like the difference today. Um, I I shaved and when I got up, I looked in the mirror and I saw I needed to shave.

But I got busy and I left and I came here to church and about halfway through the day, I rubbed my cheek and oh, I I forgot to shave. And so I had to go back and when I got up there, when I went to shave, I got up close to the mirror. See, I beheld I need to shave, but then I had to get up close and see what I needed to do and take care of it. And that's what God wants to do. Put the light on that to see that. And then um it goes on to say, "The fear of the Lord is clean enduring forever, and the judgments of the Lord are righteous and and uh altogether." So more to be desired than gold. And he goes on to say uh verse 11, moreover by them as thy servant warned and in keeping of them there's great reward.

So he's warned in 2 Timothy chapter 3 and verse number 16. Uh very familiar passage to most of us. 2 Timothy 3:16. It goes, it says, "All scriptures given by inspiration of God is profitable for doctrine, for reprove, for correction, for instruction, righteousness, and reproof and correction is the idea of being told what we're doing wrong, and be told what we're not doing is right." You know, the Bible tells me, it gives me warning. I don't I don't have to make the mistakes because God says here, if you listen to the word of God, you're not going to make these mistakes. And then great reward. Look at Proverbs 13:13.

Proverbs chapter 13 and verse number 13. Proverbs 13:13. Who so despises the word of God shall be destroyed, but he that fearth the commandment shall be rewarded. There's so many rewards that we get from opening up the word of God. And just the psalmist is trying to express that. Look at creation, you can see God. Look at the law. Look at the statues. Look at the word of God and and see the glory of God. So look at Psalms 19 and verse number 10. Psalms 19 and verse number 10. More to be desired of they than gold. Yeah, they much fine gold, sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. And and and then Psalms 104 and verse number 34.

Psalms 104 and verse number 34. My meditation should be sweet. I'll be glad in the Lord. God says, listen, this is something again earlier on talked about that we can rejoice. We can enjoy it. It's good for us, but it being good to us as well. Whenever you read the word honey or honeycomb in the Bible, think of candy. Think of your favorite candy bar, whether it's a Snickers or Twix or whatever else it might be because that's what he's relating to. Back then, they didn't have the processed candies like we do today. So if they if the child wanted something sweet, he'd come to mom and said, "Mom, can I have some honey?

Can I have some honeycomb?" Honeycomb is what they would chew on like gum. And honey would be just a sweet thing. That was like their candy of that day. He said, "Listen, you can enjoy the word of God. You can enjoy the taste of it." And he wants us to enjoy it. And how can we fully enjoy? So taste and see that the Lord is good. God wants us to enjoy it. And if you remember back when we began the series on Psalms, one of our lessons was on meditation. And the idea of meditation is to chew on it. And God wants us when I one one of the things that I've learned in my later years is to enjoy candy to the fullest.

When I was younger, you know, candy didn't last very long in my mouth. You know, it would just you get a piece of candy and but before you knew it was gone. You know, you just kind of swallowed it down. And I've learned that that you want to enjoy the full flavor. Especially because when you get older, like me, you can't eat as much candy as you did when you were younger. Back when I was a kid, I can eat all the candy I wanted to. It never affected me. But now, um, one ounce of candy adds one pound on me is the way it works out now. And so, I can't eat as much of it. So, when I bite into it, I want to enjoy it as much as I can to meditate upon it to to get the fullness of the flavor out of it.

And that's what God is saying. Listen, you can enjoy the word of God. And and if you want to enjoy the word of God to the fullest, learn the art of meditation. It's a lost art and learn how to meditate upon the word of God that you want to to think about it to enjoy the fullness of the flavor. And then going back to Psalms chapter 19 verses 12-4, who can understand um let's see Psalm 19:12. Who can understand his errors? Cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins. Let them not have dominion over me. Then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

Let the words of my mouth and meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, oh Lord, my strength and my redeemer. So we we this talk about us now. We're the ones that declare the glory of God. And and and so look at verse 12. He says, "Who can understand his errors? Cleanse thou me from secret faults." So what does he mean by errors? And what does he mean by secret faults? Okay. And so when we look at this p these these words here, the idea is these are things that are hidden from others that are hidden from others. Look at 2 Corinthians chapter 4 and verse number two. 2 Corinthians chapter 4 and verse number two.

2 Corinthians 4:2. But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftness, not nor handling the words of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth, commencing commending ourselves to every man conscious in the sight of God. And so these these hidden faults, these secret faults are are ones that we we've hidden from others. And and and the psalmist said, "Listen, I don't want to hide these things anymore." And and and and so the things that we hide, the things that nobody else knows about, the things that we do in the darkness, we do when nobody else is around, is the hidden faults.

And the things are hidden from others. And and sometimes they're even hidden from ourselves. There's sometimes there's things in our lives that we haven't even really acknowledged to ourselves as being as as we're doing and we've hidden those things. But also these are things the errors are things that are done through ignorance. They're done through ignorance. Go to Leviticus chapter 4 and verse number two. Leviticus chapter 4 and verse number two. Levit Leviticus 4:2 speak unto the children of Israel, saying if if a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the Lord concerning things which are ought not to be done and shall do against any of them.

Then then chapter 5 and verse 17. And if a soul sin and commit any of these things which are forbidden so to be done by the commandments of the Lord, though he wished not, yet is guilty and shall uh bear his iniquity. Remember the word sin means to miss the mark. And it's the idea of you have a lane. You're driving. You got to stay in your lane. And if you go out of that lane, then you can get a ticket. Uh because you're you're out of your your lane. That's to miss the mark. Now, sometimes we miss the mark because we choose to. You know, I'm driving down the road. Uh this happens on the big aisle.

Had a number of accidents because of this. There's places where, you know, the there's a two-lane road and you can't get around. You get behind somebody slow and they got that double line in the middle there and you're supposed to stay. It's a no passing zone. But I decide, you know what? I don't want to wait. I'm going to go ahead and go around this guy even though it's a no passing zone. Now, when I done that, I have sinned. I am missing the mark. I can get a ticket and if a car is coming the way, I'm going to get an accident. That's what's happened on the Big Island uh a couple of them in the last couple weeks.

And and so you miss the mark on purpose. You've chosen to do that. But let's say I'm driving down that same road behind that same slow guy and I think, "Okay, I'm just not I'm not going to pass here." But I'm driving down there. I got my windows open because it's a hot day and I want the air blowing in. And there's a piece of paper on the seat there and the wind blows that paper and it starts to blows like it's going to go out the car window. And so I reach over to grab the paper and when I do that, I pull my steering wheel. You ever done that? And I I grab the paper to pull my steering wheel over and I go over to the ed of the lane.

Now, did I do it on purpose? No, I didn't. But the results can be the same. There a policeman there, I'm gonna get a ticket. If there's a car coming over the other way, I'm gonna have a head-on collision. Not that I did it on purpose, but I still missed the mark. And the Bible talks about that a number of places where there's some sins that we have deliberately chosen to do and we need to repent and get back in our lane. But there's other times we we we're not paying attention in life and we get out of that lane. and we don't really realize we're doing wrong. And the psalmist said, "Listen, Lord, keep me from these things.

Uh, you know, the these secrets these errors that I'm not even aware of, these secret sins that I hide and maybe I've been hidden from myself." He says, "I don't want to go that way." And sometimes we don't understand our errors and and and want we be cleansed of those secret faults. Look at Romans chapter 14 and verse number 23. Romans chapter 14 and verse number 23. Romans 14. Verse 23. And he that doubtth is damned if he eat because he is not of faith. For whatsoever is not of faith is sin. There's sometimes there's things in life that we're just not sure. Is this right or wrong? Should I or should I not?

There's a lot of things in the Bible that are very clear and that's what he talks about in Psalms 19 7-11. The Bible is the the statutes, the commandments, they're right there. God says, "Thou shalt, thou shalt not." But there are areas in the Bible and areas in life that they're kind of gray areas and we've got to determine is this right or wrong. and and and in Romans, listen, I don't I I don't want to have those those I don't want to be wrong here and I need God to guide me and I need the word of God to guide me in making the right decisions. Okay, I'm going to try to see if I can finish. I know right on the time to end here, but what can we do to avoid errors and secret faults?

In Psalms 139, the psalmist said, "Search me, oh God, and try me and see if there be any wicked way in me." It's to ask God on a regular basis, God, show me these secret faults. Show me the things that are not right with you. Show me these errors and these things that I need to take care of. Uh in Psalms 90 and verse number 8, the Bible says, "Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance." See, this again perfect word of God can help us to see those secret things in our lives that we aren't even aware of. And that's what the psalmist is asking for. Then look at Psalms 19:13.

Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins. Presumptuous sins are sins where we presume on the grace of God. Turn over to Numbers chapter 15 real quick if you would. Numbers chapter 15 and verse number 30 and 31. Numbers chapter 15. I'll get there in just a minute. In verses 30 and 31, the Bible says, "But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he is born in the land or a stranger, the same reproaches the Lord, and that soul shall be cut off from it among his people, because he despised the word of the Lord, and hath broken his commandments, that that soul shall utterly be cut off, his iniquity shall be upon him."

And uh look at numbers 14 and verse number 18. The Lord is long-suffering of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgressions and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting iniquity the fathers upon the third upon the children of the third and fourth generation. Now this idea of presumptuous sins is this. It's sin where we presume on the grace of God. It's sin that I, you know, this is my attitude. Well, I know it's wrong, but I'll do it and and but God will forgive me. It's presuming on the grace of God. I remember years ago we had uh a couple at the church and he was divorcing his wife and and I tried talking about it.

He says, "Well, you know, I know what's wrong, but I'm really in love with this other girl and what we'll do is we'll we'll find another church and get in church and get right with God and it'll be all okay." And I was like, "No way, man. This is exactly what Psalms 19 is talking about. That presuming presumptuous sin is presuming on the grace of God. Now, I'm thankful for the grace of God. And I'm thankful that I can depend on the grace of God. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. And I'm so thankful for it. But shall Romans chapter 6, shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?

God forbid. It's this idea that it's okay to sin because God will forgive me. No, it's not. I'm thankful that God will forgive me, but that doesn't make it okay. And presumptuous sin is presuming on the very grace of God. So, how does sin have dominion over us? Going back to Psalms 19, it says um that let them not have dominion over me. It did not rule over me. Uh Romans chapter 6 and verse 12 says basically the same thing. uh in ro in Hebrews chapter 12 and verse one it talks about besetting sins. These are the sins that that seem to control us. They're the sins that beset us that reach out and grab us.

Every one of us has certain areas of sin that we just can't seem to get victory over that that seem to so easily beset us. They just seem to take control so quickly and easily. I call them the holic sins. It's like being an alcoholic. It just these are the sins that just seem to have control over you and and they can be anything. And he says, "Listen, I don't want to have sin have dominion or have rule in my life." And um and doing that and then in letter E there, our words will be acceptable if our meditation is on God's word and God's word. And when we meditate on the Lord, when we think about the goodness of God, when you take time at the end of every day to just meditate on how God's been there, the the the grace of God, the goodness of God, the providence of God, the more you meditate on that, on God's word and God's work, the more the the more peace you're going to have.

And that's what he says, I want to meditate on the on on these things. the words of my mouth, the meditation of my heart be acceptable thy sight, oh Lord, my strength and my redeemer. And I hope you'll look up these verses. We're we're just way over time here, but um I hope this has been a good study. Psalms 19 is just a wonderful passage. And so I hope this has been a good study for you. We'll continue on next