The Bible with Nicky and Pippa Gumbel, Classic Version, 2015Sample

The Word of God

My father wanted to go to Russia before he died. We went there on holiday as a family. We visited Moscow, St Petersburg and other parts of the USSR (as it was then). At that time Bibles were strictly illegal there. I took some Christian literature, including some Russian Bibles, with me. While I was there I went to churches and looked for people who seemed to be genuine Christians (Church meetings in the Soviet Union were often infiltrated by the KGB.) 

On one occasion I followed a man, who was probably in his sixties, down the street after a service. I went up to him and tapped him on the shoulder. There was nobody about. I took out one of my Bibles and handed it to him. For a moment he had an expression of utmost disbelief. Then he took from his pocket a New Testament, which was probably 100 years old. The pages were so threadbare they were virtually transparent. When he realised that he had received a whole Bible, he was elated. He didn’t speak any English and I didn’t speak any Russian. We hugged each other and he started to run up and down the street jumping for joy.

For him, like David in today’s psalm, the words of God are ‘more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb’ (Psalm 19:10).

Why are the words of God so precious? Jesus said: ‘People do not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’ (Matthew 4:4). The ‘word’ is in the present tense, and means ‘is continually coming out of the mouth of God’; it is like a stream pouring forth and, like the stream of a fountain, it is never static. God is continually communicating with his people. He does so, primarily, through the Bible.

Psalm 19:7-14

1. Let the word of God transform you

We all need the transforming power of God’s word in so many ways. Whether you are seeking wisdom in stressful and complex situations, encouragement when you are downhearted, or guidance on the way forward, you can find help in the pages of the Bible.

Obviously, David did not have nearly as much of the Bible as we have. But he did have ‘the law of the Lord’ (v.7a), ‘the statutes of the Lord’ (v.7b), ‘the precepts of the Lord’ (v.8a) and ‘the ordinances of the Lord’ (v.9b).

He describes these words as being ‘perfect’ (v.7a), ‘pure’ (v.9a) and ‘precious’ (v.10a).

In this psalm we see some of the effects of reading the Bible. It:

• Revives the soul (v.7a)
• Brings wisdom  (v.7b)
• Gives joy to the heart (v.8a)
• Gives light to the eyes (v.8b)
• Warns us of danger (v.11a)
• Brings great reward (v.11b).

Reading the Bible and praying are very closely associated. We do not simply read the Bible for information, but to hear God speaking to us. And our natural response to that is prayer. It is a two-way process. That is why we try to finish each section of this Bible in One Year commentary with a prayer, responding to what God has shown us through his word. This is a model which we also see in this psalm, as David goes straight from extolling the virtues of the word of God into a wonderful prayer.

David’s prayer is my prayer (vv.12–14). Lord, ‘forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from wilful sins; may they not rule over me … May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer’.

Matthew 26:47-68

2. Be guided by the word of God

Jesus clearly studied the Scriptures very carefully. His whole life was shaped by what he read. It was from his reading of the Scriptures that he understood what was happening to him when he was arrested. His companions try to resist but Jesus says, ‘But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?’ (v.54). He explains to the crowd that, ‘But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled’ (v.56).

It was the Scriptures that gave him the ability to deal with:

• Disloyalty
  Judas appears to be expressing his love for Jesus with a kiss, when actually he is betraying him: ‘The betrayer ... embraced him and kissed him with [pretended] warmth and devotion’ (vv.48–49, AMP). It was disloyal and the ultimate two-faced act.
• Abandonment
  His friends did not show much loyalty; all his friends ‘deserted him and fled’ (v.56b). In the moments of triumph (when people get engaged, have a baby or do well in their exams) it is natural to want to make contact and be around them. But loyalty means also supporting people when they are down. It is much harder to know what to say and the temptation is to stay away and, in effect, abandon them.

It is said, ‘When you are up in life, your friends get to know who you are. When you are down in life, you get to know who your friends are!’

• False accusation
  Jesus faced the terrible injustice of false witnesses testifying against him in order that they might put him to death (v.59).

He exercised extraordinary restraint. He did not answer back (v.63), he allowed himself to be attacked physically (v.67), he chose not to win the argument but rather to win the war (something for small group hosts on Alpha to remember!). He understood from the Scriptures that all of this had a purpose and would lead, ultimately, to a great victory.

Jesus’ understanding of his own identity and of his mission clearly came from his reading of the word of God. In the situation of his trial before the Sanhedrin, where Jesus appears to be a helpless victim, he is actually progressively revealed as the builder of a new temple (v.61), the Messiah (v.63), the Son of God (v.63) and the Son of Man who was to be enthroned at God’s right hand (v.64). In reality, the helpless victim is the one with all the authority and power.

The reference to being the ‘Son of Man’ is a quotation from Daniel 7:13. Jesus understood this as a messianic promise. He used it as a self-designation, pointing to his coming suffering, his vindication and his God-given authority.

The irony is that it is the judges who are actually the ones on trial. We all have to decide what we think about Jesus (Matthew 26:66).

Lord, thank you for the example of Jesus studying the Scriptures and applying them to his own life. When we encounter situations of disloyalty, abandonment and false accusation, help us to follow your example of humility and patience.

Exodus 6:13-8:32

3. Obey the word of God

Moses and Aaron listened to God’s words and did exactly what God commanded them to do (Exodus 7:6). They obeyed the word of God. On the other hand, in stark contrast, Pharaoh constantly refused to obey. He stubbornly disobeyed the word of God.

At this stage in history Moses may not have had any written words from God. But the Lord spoke to Moses. He heard the word of God over and over again (6:13,28; 7:1,14,19; 8:5,16,20, and so on) and did what God commanded. The heart of God’s word was, ‘Let my people go, so that they may worship me’ (for example 7:16; 8:1; 9:1,13; 10:3).

We should not be surprised that the magicians and sorcerers ‘by their enchantments and secret arts’ (7:11, AMP) were able to perform some of the same miracles as Moses (7:22; 8:7). The devil is an imitator. He is able to perform destructive signs and even some that might appear constructive. His aim is always to deceive.

Today, God often works through the gifts of the Spirit, such as prophecy, healing, speaking in tongues and words of knowledge. The fact that the devil may attempt to imitate such gifts through telepathy, spiritualised ‘healing’ or even speaking in tongues, does not mean that we should avoid such things – but rather we must be discerning about them.

We must look to the fruit. The Egyptian magicians imitated Moses’ miracles ‘by their secret arts, and Pharaoh’s heart became hard’ (7:22). The effect of these magicians was not neutral. They were evil and had the effect of hardening Pharaoh’s heart against God.

It is clear from this passage that Pharaoh hardened his own heart against God, ‘But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had said’ (8:15, see also v.32). At the same time he reaped what he had sown. God hardened his heart (7:3). The two are complementary. God’s hardening of the heart follows his own hardening.

In this passage we see an example of how many opportunities God gives to people. Through Moses, God repeatedly spoke to Pharaoh. Pharaoh had plenty of opportunity to respond but ultimately he refused to do so. Moses, on the other hand, walked in a very close relationship with God; praying to him often (8:12,30) and listening to his words.

Lord, give me a soft heart that is open to listening to your words and obeying them. Thank you that in obeying them there is great reward. Help me today not only to listen to the word of God but also to put it into practice.

Pippa Adds

Matthew 26:53

It is encouraging to know that Jesus had ‘more than twelve legions of angels’ at his disposal. Even if he didn’t call on them at that time hopefully they are helping us now!

Notes:
Unless otherwise stated, Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version Anglicised, Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 Biblica, formerly International Bible Society. Used by permission of Hodder & Stoughton Publishers, an Hachette UK company. All rights reserved. ‘NIV’ is a registered trademark of Biblica. UK trademark number 1448790.

Scripture quotations marked (AMP) taken from the Amplified® Bible, Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

Scripture marked (MSG) taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.