Temple Baptist Church - 3-3-2024
Psalm 119:73-80
Introduction: One of the struggles that people have concerning the preservation of the Scriptures is that the teaching that the Bible is a man-made book and therefore is subject to additions, subtractions, and mistranslating. 176 verses, 22 stanzas with each beginning with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet, 8 verses in each stanza with each verse in the Hebrew beginning with the same letter of the alphabet (acrostic). What a magnificent work of God!
A. Tonight, the 10th stanza of Psalm 119, JOD. “JOD” is the smallest letter of the Hebrew Alphabet and is represented by a “dot . )
1. Every one of the 22 letters of the alphabet are created by continuous dots ……………... which form the lines that form the letters as letters consist of a continuous line of dots.
2. When two consecutive JODs or dots are found, they represent the word “God” or Adonai who is an eternal, unchanging God. Judaism considers the names of God so holy that, once they are written, should never be erased.
B. Whereas JOD is the smallest letter of the Hebrew alphabet, “iota,” which is the smallest letter of the Greek alphabet. In Modern Hebrew, the phrase “tip of the YOD” refers to a small, insignificant thing. God is meticulous! Precise in what He says.
C. JOD, of the Old Testament, was mentioned by our Lord Jesus when He said in Matthew 5:17-18: “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. (18) For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”
Of Hebrew origin (the tenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet); “iota”, the name of the eighth letter of the Greek alphabet, put (figuratively) for a very small part or amount of anything: - jot.
The word “Tittle” means a “horn” and is smaller than the “jot.” It is a horn like apex on a letter that changes the inflection of a word.
D. Thus, our Lord said that not even the most insignificant thing in the Word will ever change or disappear.
E. It would do us good to realize that the Doctrine of Divine Preservation is just as important as the Doctrine of Divine Inspiration. Without continuance of preservation, inspired manuscripts become a moot point.
F. The Continuity of the Word of God and its importance are found in these 8 verses of the 10th stanza.
1. Verse 73. Understanding. The continuity of God’s Word is essential to our understanding. We must continue to have the Word of God for all generations to understand how we got here, why we got here, where we are intended to go, what we are intended to do, and what it takes to suceed. In our Bible we understand that man was created by God and for God.
Proverbs 4:5-8 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. (6) Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. (7) Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. (8) Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.
Three branches of education are found in the Bible: Knowledge, learning facts – Wisdom, learning to use those facts – knowledge, is learning why those facts work. Without the continuance of preservation of God’s Word, we would have none of the three.
2. Verse 74. Hope. The continuity of God’s Word is essential to our blessed hope. Our temporal and eternal hope is Bible based. Through the eyes of the Word of God, we have hope in this world though it is deteriorating. Through the eyes of the Word of God, we have an eternal hope that is nearing!
Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Without continuing preservation of God’s Word, we would have neither.
3. Verse 75. Correction. The continuity of God’s Word is essential to our correction. Throughout the Bible, we find the righteous judgements of God that are essential to a godly, obedient walk with God and each other. There will be times that we fail and times when we will fall but God’s grace and strength will carry us through. The Word of God teaches us to walk in the right way wherein is the good way.
Hebrews 12:5-7 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: (6) For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. (7) If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
Without the continuing preservation of God’s Word, we would not know right from wrong and the consequences thereof.
4. Verse 76. Comfort. The continuity of God’s Word is essential to our comfort and peace. In the darkest hours of our lives, the Word is a light that shows us the way so that we do not stumble or proceed down the wrong paths. We have the love of God to comfort us and the promises of God to encourage us. A peace to trust and hearts to trust when we do not understand.
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
Without the continuing preservation of God’s Word, we would not have comfort in our tribulations.
5. Verse 77. Life. The continuity of God’s Word is essential to our living. Not merely physical life, though our physical life should be guided by the Bible, but also our life in Christ. The Bible gives us grace, mercy, and strength for the journey. The three remaining gifts of faith, hope, and charity are all found within the volume of the Word of God. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives.
2 Peter 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
Without the continuing preservation of God’s Word, we would have no parameters to keep us living a life that is right and godly.
6. Verse 78. Confidence. The continuity of God’s Word is essential to our confidence. Our confidence in the scriptures leads to our confidence in God which leads to our confidence in life. The world lives unto shame, but the child of God lives unto Christ! The enemies of Christ become the enemies of God’s children, but—through the scriptures—we can walk in total confidence.
Hebrews 10:35-36 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. (36) For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
Without the continuing preservation of God’s Word, we can know for certain that everything both works together for good but will also turn out right in the end.
7. Verse 79. Companionship. The continuity of God’s Word is essential to our company that we keep. The Word of God teaches that the world will turn away from us and count us as enemies. Often, those of our own household will become our foes. But those of like precious faith will become our friends and family. We are exhorted to spend quality time with our brothers and sisters in Christ. I find no greater joy than to visit with our people who are going through trying times. Oh, what joy! Oh, what delight!
Acts 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
Without the continuing of the Word of God, we would not be able to properly identify God’s people much less have a place called the church where we assemble to bless and worship our wonderful lord Who gave Himself for it.
8. Verse 80. Spiritual Soundness. The continuity of God’s Word is essential to our spiritual soundness which leads to our spiritual boldness. A song says, “I had rather be an old time Christian, Lord, than anything I know.” We who are saved are not ashamed of our Lord, the brethren, or our precious local church.
John 17:22-23 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: (23) I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
Without the continuing of God’s Word, our overall spiritual wellbeing would in jeopardy. The Bible is the measuring stick by which we measure ourselves and the benchmark from which we measure everything else.
Conclusion: JOD! A point from which comes continuation. Since both our physical and spiritual welfare depends upon the veracity of God’s Word, there must be a continuity or continuance of preservation of said Word. All that we need and all that we have is founded upon the Continuity of The Word of God. Preservation is an act of God, not of man.
No comments:
Post a Comment