What the Word Reveals

Scripture consists of God’s inspired communication to man that reveals His heart and includes His Law so that we will know how we are to live.  Psalm 119:89 explains scripture’s unchanging nature, “Your Word, O Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.”  The authorship of this Psalm is unknown, but King David demonstrated that he adhered to its precepts.

David is a favorite Biblical character both because of his love and dedication to God, and for his human failings that make him real to us.  Through his obedience to God, he became King of Israel.  Through his affair with Bathsheba, he became an adulterer and murderer.  Although he sought to hide the latter, God revealed David’s sin to Nathan, the prophet, who was sent to David with this Word from God: “Why did you despise the Word of the Lord by doing what was evil in His eyes?” (2 Samuel 12:9) This question referred to God’s Law which David knew well.  Nathan went on to explain that when we despise God’s Word through disobedience, we are despising God Himself, an act that prompts God’s enemies to show Him utter contempt (vs. 10-14).  So as bad as it was for David to commit adultery and murder, he also profaned the character of his Holy God.

From our 21^st Century armchair, it is easy to be disappointed that David would stoop so low.  But when it comes to demonstrating our reverence for God by obeying His Law, how do we line up?  God is clear about the evil of lying and profaning His Name, yet how many believers participate in both without a second thought?  Do we conduct ourselves with the integrity of speaking truth even when it hurts us personally?  Have we rationalized sexual promiscuity, dysfunction, and perversion by defending what is abhorrent to God as “love?”  Are we able to love those who malign us without wanting to get even?  These questions are just the tip of the iceberg that gives non-believers good reason to call Christians hypocrites.  We thusly convince them they have no need of an outdated and wishy-washy God.

David repented and asked the Lord for forgiveness which was granted along with harsh consequences: “the sword will never depart from your house because you despised Me,” “I will take your wives and give them to one close to you, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight,” ”because you have made the enemies of the Lord show utter contempt, the son born to you will die.” (vs. 10, 12, 14)  If we are convicted enough of our sin to ask for forgiveness, we wrongly tend to expect God’s grace will also remove the consequences.  It wasn’t true for David, a man after God’s own heart, and it’s not true for us either.  Consequences follow sin. This may take the form of a loss of reputation, alienation from others, physical maladies, and many other unwanted results.  The “fallout” from our sin on us and others is sobering.

One of the enemy’s greatest deceptions today is that the Word of God does not matter, is irrelevant to the times, and is impotent.  Satan’s goal is that sin would prevail and take as many souls with it as possible.  Holding up one simple verse, Psalm 119:89, will reveal where we come down. “The law from Your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.”  Ouch!  That Word is too revealing.

But our loving and gracious God knows the human inclination towards sin and has provided us a way out in Jesus.  Paul explains that the grace of forgiveness is not to keep sinning, but sharing in Jesus’ death to sin, and “just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” (Romans 6:1-4).  This is truly a precious and priceless Word! Therefore, the greatest revelation of scripture is salvation and life. Jesus punctuates it with His prayer for us, “Sanctify them by the truth; Your Word is truth.” (John 17:17)