Importance of God’s Word

Scripture Texts

Heb. 4:12 

 Psalms 19:7-14

Intro: There are many books in this world you can read but no worldly book will do for you what God’s word can. When the word of God was written it was under the specific guidance and supervision of the Holy Spirit. That same Holy Spirit is still revealing the truth of God’s word to our hearts today.  God’s word shows us the path to take in this world of confusion. There are many voices speaking to us today but only one voice needs to be heard above all the others. God’s word is the necessary standard for all other hearing and the way we live.

I. King David had learned the importance of obeying and living God’s word. Psalms 19:7 (NLT) The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

 a. The perfect Law of God can change people. God’s word is constantly changing people. It revives the weary soul, those whose souls need rest from the trials, tests, tribulations of this life. The word’s instructions can be trusted to make one wise.  There are many books filled with knowledge, but only one addresses our spiritual needs. We can fill our minds with knowledge, but only God’s wisdom can tell us how to apply God’s word to everyday living.

II. God’s word gives joy to the heart and gives insight for living. Psalms 19:8 (NLT) The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living.

 a. Insight is an understanding of the motivational forces behind our actions, thoughts, and behavior.  That is, insight brightens our lives and guides us each day. The word’s instructions, commands, and rules for living are all clear and specific instructions from God Himself on how we are to live. It gives us guidance when we don’t know the way to go or what to do. Joy and guidance fill the soul of one who meditates on the word of God and follows His commands.

III. Reverence for the Lord is pure and God’s word is always true. Psalms 19:9 (NLT)
 Reverence for the Lord is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the Lord are true; each one is fair.

 a. Reverence is here a synonym for fear, for its purpose was to put fear into human hearts. It means to deeply respect God as the One who controls our life. The Law (word of God) is true.... sure, and righteous. It was designed to cause believers to obey God and leads to righteous living. We reverence God because He saved us and adopted us into His family.

IV. God’s word is more desirable than gold and sweeter than honey. Psalms 19:10-11 (NLT)
¹⁰ They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb. ¹¹ They are a warning to your servant, a great reward for those who obey them.

 a. God’s words are more precious than gold, the most valuable commodity in the ancient Near East, the rich man who lost his soul. The values of the Word cannot be computed in terms of gold. But it does have this one thing in common with gold: persons must dig for its treasures. Great wealth is hidden in the pages of God’s Book, and man’s best interests are served by searching for them. God’s words are sweeter than honey, the sweetest substance known in the ancient Near East. Nothing is sweeter than reading God’s salvation message and His words of love, mercy, grace, and compassion toward us who belong to Him. God’s word’s give us warnings of the dangers of folly and sin. God’s word protects us from all evil and its terrible consequences. God’s word brings us a great reward. God’s word gives us the path of life that leads to His blessings and favors.

 V. God’s word reveals our sins and faults. (v:12) Psalms 19:12 (NLT) How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults.

  a. When we read God’s word is a warning to us. Hebrews 4:12 (NLT) For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. The word of God penetrates through our outer facade and reveals what lies deep inside. The metaphor of the sharpest knife pictures the word of God cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires, revealing what we really are on the inside. Nothing can be hidden from God; neither can we hide from ourselves if we sincerely study the word of God. It reaches deep past our outer life as a knife passes through skin. It penetrates to the soul!

  b.   God’s word tells us how to be cleansed from our secret sins. 1 John 1:9 (NLT) But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

Conclusion:  David closed with a prayer. Psalms 19:13-14 (NLT)
¹³ Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. ¹⁴ May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

   a. Contemplation of the holy word of God led David to pray for complete cleansing so that he could live an upright (innocent) and acceptable life before God.

      He prayed for God to keep him from deliberate sins. Those he planned in his heart and then carried out knowing it was wrong. He asked to be free of guilt and to be innocent of great sin.

   b. David prayed that the words of his mouth and the meditations of his heart be pleasing unto God his Rock and Redeemer. There is much to gain by reading, studying and living God’s word. How to live the successful and abundant life is found in God’s word.                    
Invitation: The word of God says that we have all sinned and come short of God’s glory. (Rom. 3:23) The bible says the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ. (Rom. 6:23) Have you asked Jesus to forgive and save you from hell and give you the gift of eternal life? If not now would be an excellent time to do so. Are you daily reading and studying God’s word? Are you daily living for God? If not start today and watch your life to change!