Section 9
9. A godly man is a lover of the Word, Psalm 119. 97. O how love I thy Law.
1. A godly man loves the Word written. Chrysostom compares the Scripture to a garden set with knots and flowers: A godly man delights to walk in this garden, and sweetly solace himself; he loves every branch and parcel of the Word.
1. He loves the counseling part of the Word, as it is a Directory and Rule of life: The Word is the Mercurial Statue which points us to our duty; it contains in it credenda and facienda, things to be believed and practiced: A godly man loves the Aphorisms of the Word.
2. A godly man loves the Minatory part of the Word: The Scripture, like the Garden of Eden, as it hath a Tree of Life in it, so it hath a Flaming Sword at the Gates of it; this is the threatening of the Word; it flashes fire in the face of every person that goes on obstinately in wickedness, Psalm 68. 21. God shall wound the hairy scalp of such an one, as goes on still in his trespasses. The Word gives no indulgence to evil; it will not let a man halt between God and Sin: The true Mother would not let the Child be divided, and God will not have the heart divided: The Word thunders out threatenings against the very appearance of evil; it is like that flying Roll full of curses, Zechariah 5. 1.
A godly man loves the menaces of the Word, he knows there is love in every threatening: God would not have us perish, therefore does mercifully threaten us, that he may scare us from sin: God's threatenings are as the Sea-mark, which shows the Rocks in the Sea, and threatens death to such as come near; the threatening is a curbing bit to check us, that we may not run in a full career to hell; there is mercy in every threatening.
3. A godly man loves the consolatory part of the Word, the Promises; he goes feeding upon these, as Samson went on his way eating the honey-comb, Judges 14. 8. The Promises are all marrow and sweetness; they are our Bezoar-stone when we are fainting; they are the conduits of the Water of Life, Psalm 94. 19. In the multitude of my thoughts within me, thy comforts delight my Soul. The Promises were David's Harp to drive away sad thoughts; they were the breast which milked out Divine Consolation to him.
A godly man shows his love to the Word written:
1. By diligent reading of it: The Noble Bereans did search the Scriptures daily, Acts 17. 11. Apollos was mighty in the Scriptures, Acts 18. 24. The Word is our Magna Carta for heaven, we should be daily reading over this Charter: The Word is index sui et obliqui, it shows what is truth; and what is error; it is the field where the Pearl of Price is hid: How should we dig for this Pearl! A godly man's heart is the Library to hold the Word of God, it dwells richly in him, Colossians 3. 16. It is reported of Melanchthon, that when he was young, he carried the Bible always about him, and did greedily read in it. The Word has a double work, to teach us, and to judge us: They that will not be taught by the Word, shall be judged by the Word: Oh let us make the Scripture familiar to us! What if it should be as in the times of Diocletian, who commanded by Proclamation the Bible to be burned; or as in Queen Mary's days, wherein it was death to have a Bible in English; by diligent conversing with Scripture, we may carry a Bible in our head.
2. A godly man shows his love to the Word, by frequent meditating in it, Psalm 119. 97. It is my meditation all the day. A pious Soul meditates of the Verity and Sanctity of the Word; he has not only a few transient thoughts, but lays his mind a steeping in the Scripture; by meditation he sucks from this sweet flower, and concocts holy truths in his mind.
3. He shows his love to the Word by delighting in it, it is his recreation, Jeremiah 15. 16. Thy words were found, and I did eat them, and thy Word was unto me the Joy and rejoicing of my heart. Never did a man take such delight in a dish that he loved, as the Prophet did in the Word: And indeed, how can a Saint choose but take great complacency in the Word, because all that ever he hopes to be worth is contained in it: Does not a son take pleasure in reading over his Father's Will and Testament, where he makes a conveyance of his Estate to him?
4. He shows his love to the Word, by hiding it, Psalm 119. 11. Thy Word have I hid in my heart: As one hides a treasure that it should not be stolen away: The Word is the Jewel, the heart is the Cabinet where it must be locked up: Many hide the Word in their memory, but not in their heart. And why would David enclose the Word in his heart? That I might be kept from sinning against thee. As one would carry an Antidote about him, when he comes near an infected place; so a godly man carries the Word in his heart as a spiritual antidote to preserve him from the infection of sin: Why have so many been poisoned with error, others with moral vice, but because they have not hid the Word as an holy antidote in their heart.
5. He shows his love to the Word by defending it: A wise man will not let his Land be taken from him, but will defend his Title. David looked upon the Word as his Land of Inheritance, Psalm 119. 111. Thy Testimonies have I taken as an Heritage for ever. And do you think he would let his Inheritance be wrested out of his hands? A godly man will not only dispute for the Word, but die for it, Revelation 6. 9. I saw under the Altar the souls of them that were slain for the Word of God.
6. He shows his love to the Word by preferring it above things most precious. 1. Above food, Job 23. 12. I have esteemed the words of his mouth, above my necessary food. 2. Above riches, Psalm 119. 72. The Law of thy mouth is better unto me, than thousands of gold and silver. 3. Above worldly honor. Memorable is the story of King Edward the Sixth, who upon the day of his Coronation, when they presented before him three Swords, signifying to him that he was Monarch of three Kingdoms, the King said, there is yet one Sword wanting; being asked, what that was? he answered, the Holy Bible, which is the sword of the Spirit, and is to be preferred before these Ensigns of Royalty.
7. He shows his love to the Word by talking of it, Psalm 119. 172. My tongue shall speak of thy Word. As a covetous man is talking of his rich purchase, so a godly man is speaking of the Word: what a treasure it is, how full of beauty and suavity; they whose mouths the Devil has gagged, who never speak of God's Word, it is a sign they never reaped any good by it.
8. He shows his love to the Word by conforming to it; the Word is his Sun-Dial, by which he sets his life, the balance in which he weighs his actions; he copies out the Word in his daily walk, 2 Timothy 4. 7. I have kept the Faith. Saint Paul kept the Doctrine of Faith, and lived the life of Faith.
Question, Why is a godly man a lover of the Word?
Answer. 1. Because of the excellency of the Word.
1. The word written is our pillar of fire to guide us: It shows us what Rocks we are to avoid; it is the card by which we sail to the new Jerusalem.
2. The word is a Spiritual Optic Glass, through which we may see our own hearts: The Glass of Nature which the Heathen had, discovered spots in their Conversation, but this Glass discovers spots in the Imagination; that Glass discovered the spots of their unrighteousness, this discovers the spots of our righteousness, Romans 7. 9. When the Commandment came, sin revived, and I died: when the word came as a Glass, all my opinion of self-righteousness died.
3. The word of God is a Sovereign comfort in distress; while we follow this Cloud, the Rock follows us, Psalm 119. 50. This is my comfort in my affliction, for thy word has quickened me. Christ is the Fountain of Living water, the word is the Golden Pipe through which it runs: what can revive at the hour of death, but the Word of Life.
2. A godly man loves the word, because of the efficacy it has had upon him, this day-star has risen in his heart, and ushered in the Sun of Righteousness.
2. A godly man loves the Word Preached; which is a Commentary upon the word written: The Scriptures are the Sovereign oils and balsams, the preaching of the word is the pouring of them out: The Scriptures are the precious spices, the preaching of the word is the beating of these spices, which causes a wonderful fragrance and delight. The word preached is the Rod of God's strength, Psalm 110. 2. and the breath of his lips, Isaiah 11. 4. What was once said of the City Thebes, that it was built by the sound of Amphion's Harp, is much more true of Soul-Conversion, it is built by the sound of the Gospel Harp; therefore the preaching of the Word is called, the power of God to Salvation, 1 Corinthians 1. 24. By this, Christ is said, (now) to speak to us from Heaven, Hebrews 12. 5. This Ministry of the word is to be preferred before the Ministry of Angels.
A godly man loves the word preached, partly from the good he has found by it; he has felt the dew fall with this Manna; and partly because of God's Institution, the Lord has appointed this Ordinance to save him; the King's Image makes the Coin go current; the stamp of Divine Authority upon the word preached, makes it an Engine conducive to men's Salvation.
Use. Let us try by this Character, whether we are godly: Are we lovers of the word?
1. Do we love the word written? What sums of money did the Martyrs give for a few leaves of the Bible? Do we make the word our familiar? As Moses had often the Rod of God in his hand, so should we have the Book of God in our hand: when we want direction, do we consult with this sacred Oracle? when we find corruptions strong, do we make use of this Sword of the Spirit to hew them down? when we are disconsolate, do we go to this Aqua vitae bottle for comfort? then we are lovers of the word! But alas, how can they say they love the Scriptures, who are seldom conversant in them? their eyes begin to be sore when they look upon a Bible: The two Testaments are hung by, like rusty Armour, which is seldom or never made use of: The Lord wrote the Law with his own finger, but though God took pains to write, men will not take pains to read; they had rather look upon a deck of Cards, than upon a Bible.
2. Do we love the word preached? Do we prize it in our judgments? Do we receive it into our hearts? Do we fear the loss of the word preached, more than the loss of peace and trading? Is it the removal of the Ark that troubles us?
Again, do we attend the Word with Reverential Devotion? when the Judge is giving his Charge upon the Bench all attend, when the word is preached, the great God is giving us his Charge, do we listen to it as to a matter of life and death? this is a good sign we love the word.
Again, do we love the Sanctity of the word? Psalm 119. 140. The word preached is to beat down sin, and advance holiness: Do we love it for its spirituality and purity? Many love the word preached only for its eloquence and notion; they come to a Sermon as to a Music-lecture, Ezekiel 33. 31. or as to a garden to pick flowers, but not to have their lusts subdued, or their hearts bettered: These are like a foolish woman which paints her face, but neglects her health.
Again, do we love the convictions of the word? Do we love the word when it comes home to our conscience, and shoots its arrows of reproof at our sins? It is the minister's duty sometimes to reprove. He that can give smooth words in the pulpit, but knows not how to reprove, is like a sword with a fine hilt, without an edge, Titus 2. 15. Rebuke them sharply: Dip the nail in oil, reprove in love, but strike the nail home. Now Christian, when the word touches upon your sin, and says, You are the man, do you love the reproof? Can you bless God that the sword of the Spirit has divided between you and your lusts? This is indeed a sign of grace, and shows you are a lover of the word.
A corrupt heart loves the comforts of the word, but not the reproofs, Amos 5. 10. They hate him that rebukes in the gate. —Igne micant oculi— Like venomous creatures, that upon the least touch spit poison, Acts 7. 54. When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and gnashed upon him with their teeth. When Stephen touched them to the quick, they were mad, and could not endure it.
Question. How shall we know that we love the reproofs of the word?
Answer. 1. When we desire to sit under a heart-searching ministry; who cares for medicine that will not work? A godly man chooses not to sit under such a ministry as will not work upon his conscience.
2. When we pray that the word may meet with our sins; if there be any traitorous lust got into our heart, we would have it found out, and execution done upon it; we would not have sin covered, but cured: we can open our breast to the bullet of the word, and say, Lord smite this sin.
3. When we are thankful for a reproof, Psalm 141. 5. Let the righteous smite me, it shall be a kindness, and let him reprove me, it shall be an excellent oil which shall not break my head.
David was glad of a reproof. Suppose a man were in the mouth of a lion, and another should shoot the lion and save the man, would not he be thankful? So, when we are in the mouth of sin, as of a lion, and the minister by a reproof shoots this sin to death, shall not we be thankful? A gracious soul rejoices when the sharp lance of the word has let out his imposthume; he wears a reproof as a jewel on his ear, Proverbs 30. 12. As an earring of gold, so is a reprover on an obedient ear. To conclude, it is convincing preaching must do the soul good; a nipping reproof prepares for comfort, as a nipping frost prepares for the sweet flowers of spring.
9. A godly man loves the Word of God. Psalm 119:97: Oh, how I love Your law.
1. A godly man loves the written Word. Chrysostom compared Scripture to a garden arranged in beautiful patterns and filled with flowers. A godly man delights to walk in this garden and refreshes his soul there. He loves every part and portion of the Word.
1. He loves the guiding part of the Word — as a guide and rule for life. The Word is like a signpost pointing us to our duty. It contains both what we are to believe and what we are to do. A godly man loves the practical wisdom of the Word.
2. A godly man loves the warning part of the Word. Scripture, like the Garden of Eden, has a tree of life within it, but also a flaming sword at its gates — this is the threatening portion of the Word. It flashes fire in the face of everyone who goes on stubbornly in wickedness. Psalm 68:21: God shall strike through the head of His enemies, of those who go on still in their trespasses. The Word gives no permission for evil. It will not let a person limp between God and sin. The true mother would not allow the child to be divided, and God will not allow the heart to be divided. The Word thunders warnings even against the mere appearance of evil. It is like that flying scroll full of curses in Zechariah 5:1.
A godly man loves the warnings of the Word because he recognizes that love lies within every warning. God does not want us to perish, and so He mercifully warns us — to frighten us away from sin. God's warnings are like marker buoys on the water, showing where the rocks lie and warning of death to those who sail too close. The warning is a bit in the mouth to keep us from galloping straight to hell. There is mercy in every warning.
3. A godly man loves the comforting part of the Word — the promises. He feeds on these as Samson walked along eating honeycomb from the lion, as Judges 14:8 says. The promises are full of sweetness and nourishment. They are our healing remedy when we are faint. They are the channels through which the water of life flows. Psalm 94:19: When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your comfort delights my soul. The promises were David's harp that drove away dark thoughts — they were the breast that fed him with divine comfort.
A godly man shows his love for the written Word in the following ways.
1. By diligently reading it. The noble Bereans searched the Scriptures daily, as Acts 17:11 says. Apollos was mighty in the Scriptures, as Acts 18:24 says. The Word is our great charter for heaven — we should be reading it over every day. The Word is its own interpreter, showing what is true and what is error. It is the field where the pearl of great price is buried — how we should dig for it! A godly man's heart is the library that holds the Word of God — it dwells richly in him, as Colossians 3:16 says. It is reported of Melanchthon that when he was young, he always carried his Bible with him and read it eagerly. The Word has a double function: to teach us and to judge us. Those who will not be taught by the Word will be judged by the Word. Let us make the Scriptures our close companion! What if times came, as in the days of Diocletian — who commanded by public decree that Bibles be burned — or as in Queen Mary's days, when it was a capital offense to possess an English Bible? By spending time regularly in Scripture, we can carry a Bible in our minds.
2. A godly man shows his love for the Word by frequently meditating on it. Psalm 119:97: It is my meditation all the day. A devout soul meditates on the truth and holiness of the Word. He does not merely pass over it with a few quick thoughts, but soaks his mind in Scripture. Through meditation he draws out the sweetness from this flower and digests holy truths deep in his mind.
3. He shows his love to the Word by taking delight in it — it is his joy. Jeremiah 15:16: Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and the rejoicing of my heart. No one ever took such delight in his favorite meal as the prophet took in the Word. How can a saint help but take great pleasure in the Word, when everything he could ever hope to inherit is written there? Does not a son delight in reading his father's will, where the father has conveyed his estate to him?
4. He shows his love for the Word by storing it in his heart. Psalm 119:11: Your word I have hidden in my heart. Just as one hides a treasure so it will not be stolen away. The Word is the jewel; the heart is the case in which it must be kept. Many hide the Word in their memory, but not in their heart. And why did David store the Word in his heart? That I might not sin against You. Just as a person would carry an antidote when entering an infected area, a godly man carries the Word in his heart as a spiritual antidote to protect him from the infection of sin. Why have so many been poisoned by false teaching, or others by moral vice? Because they have not stored the Word as a holy antidote deep in their hearts.
5. He shows his love for the Word by defending it. A wise man will not let his land be seized — he will defend his title to it. David regarded the Word as his inheritance: Psalm 119:111: Your testimonies have I taken as a heritage forever. Did David allow his inheritance to be wrested from his hands? A godly man will not only argue for the Word but die for it. Revelation 6:9: I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God.
6. He shows his love for the Word by placing it above the most prized things. 1. Above food. Job 23:12: I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food. 2. Above riches. Psalm 119:72: The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces. 3. Above worldly honor. There is a memorable story about King Edward VI: on his coronation day, three swords were presented to him, signifying that he was monarch of three kingdoms. The king said there was still one sword missing. When asked what that was, he answered: the Holy Bible — the sword of the Spirit — which is to be valued above all these emblems of royalty.
7. He shows his love for the Word by talking about it. Psalm 119:172: My tongue shall speak of Your word. Just as a greedy man talks about his profitable acquisitions, so a godly man speaks of the Word — what a treasure it is, how full of beauty and sweetness it is. Those whose mouths the devil has gagged — who never speak of God's Word — it is a sign they have never received any real benefit from it.
8. He shows his love for the Word by conforming to it. The Word is his sundial by which he sets his life, and the scale by which he weighs his actions. He patterns his daily walk on the Word. 2 Timothy 4:7: I have kept the faith. Paul kept the doctrine of faith and lived the life of faith.
Question: Why does a godly man love the Word?
Answer: 1. Because of the excellence of the Word.
1. The written Word is our pillar of fire to guide us. It shows us what dangers to avoid and is the chart by which we sail to the new Jerusalem.
2. The Word is a spiritual lens through which we can see our own hearts. The light of nature that the ancient pagans had revealed spots in their outward conduct, but this lens reveals spots in the imagination itself. That natural light revealed spots of unrighteousness, but the Word reveals spots even in our righteousness. Romans 7:9: When the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. When the Word came as a mirror, all my confidence in my own righteousness died.
3. The Word of God is a sovereign comfort in distress. While we follow this cloud, the rock follows us. Psalm 119:50: This is my comfort in my affliction, that Your word has given me life. Christ is the fountain of living water, and the Word is the golden pipe through which it flows. What else can revive us at the hour of death but the word of life?
2. A godly man loves the Word because of the power it has had in his own life — this morning star has risen in his heart and brought in the Sun of Righteousness.
2. A godly man loves the preached Word, which is a living commentary on the written Word. The Scriptures are the precious oils and healing balms; the preaching of the Word is the pouring of them out. The Scriptures are the spices; the preaching of the Word is the grinding of those spices, which releases a wonderful fragrance and delight. The preached Word is the rod of God's strength, as Psalm 110:2 says, and the breath of His lips, as Isaiah 11:4 says. What was once said of the city of Thebes — that it was built by the sound of Amphion's harp — is far more truly said of the conversion of souls: it is built by the sound of the gospel harp. This is why preaching is called the power of God to salvation in 1 Corinthians 1:24. Through preaching, Christ is said to speak to us now from heaven, as Hebrews 12:25 says. This ministry of the Word is to be valued even above the ministry of angels.
A godly man loves the preached Word — partly because of the good he has received through it, having felt the dew fall along with this manna — and partly because of God's own appointment. The Lord has ordained this as the means by which He saves His people. The king's image makes a coin acceptable currency; the stamp of divine authority on the preached Word makes it the instrument of people's salvation.
Application: Let us test ourselves by this characteristic — are we lovers of the Word?
1. Do we love the written Word? What sums of money did the martyrs pay for just a few pages of the Bible? Do we treat the Word as a close companion? Just as Moses often held the rod of God in his hand, we should often hold the book of God in ours. When we need direction, do we consult this sacred source? When we find sin strong within us, do we reach for the sword of the Spirit to cut it down? When we are discouraged, do we go to this bottle of life for comfort? If so, we are lovers of the Word. But how can those say they love the Scriptures who rarely open them? Their eyes begin to ache when they look at a Bible. The two testaments hang on the wall like rusty armor that is seldom if ever used. The Lord wrote the law with His own finger — but though God took the trouble to write, people will not take the trouble to read. They would sooner look at a deck of cards than at a Bible.
2. Do we love the preached Word? Do we value it in our minds? Do we receive it into our hearts? Do we dread the loss of gospel preaching more than the loss of peace and prosperity? Is it the removal of the ark that troubles us most?
Again, do we give the Word our reverent attention? When a judge delivers his charge from the bench, all listen carefully. When the Word is preached, the great God is delivering His charge — do we listen as if our lives depend on it? This is a good sign that we love the Word.
Again, do we love the holiness of the Word? Psalm 119:140. The preached Word is meant to bring down sin and build up holiness. Do we love it for its spiritual purity? Many love the preached Word only for its eloquence and clever ideas. They come to a sermon as to a music lecture, as Ezekiel 33:31 says, or as to a garden to pick flowers — but not to have their lusts subdued or their hearts changed. These are like a foolish woman who paints her face but neglects her health.
Again, do we love the rebukes of the Word? Do we love the Word when it comes home to our conscience and shoots its arrows of reproof at our sins? It is the minister's duty at times to rebuke. A preacher who can give only smooth words from the pulpit but does not know how to reprove is like a sword with a fine hilt but no edge. Titus 2:15: Rebuke them sharply. Dip the nail in oil — reprove in love — but drive the nail all the way in. Now, Christian, when the Word puts its finger on your sin and says, you are the man, do you welcome the reproof? Can you thank God that the sword of the Spirit has cut between you and your sinful desires? This is truly a sign of grace and shows that you are a lover of the Word.
A corrupt heart loves the comforts of the Word but not its rebukes. Amos 5:10: They hate the one who reproves at the gate. Like venomous creatures that spit poison at the slightest touch. Acts 7:54: When they heard these things they were cut to the heart and gnashed their teeth at him. When Stephen touched them to the quick, they were enraged and could not bear it.
Question: How do we know that we love the rebukes of the Word?
Answer: 1. When we seek out a ministry that searches the heart. Who wants medicine that has no effect? A godly man chooses not to sit under a ministry that makes no impression on his conscience.
2. When we pray that the Word will target our specific sins. If there is some treacherous desire that has crept into our heart, we want it exposed and dealt with. We do not want sin covered up — we want it cured. We can open our chest to the arrow of the Word and say: Lord, strike this sin.
3. When we are grateful for a reproof. Psalm 141:5: Let the righteous strike me — it is a kindness! And let him rebuke me — it is oil on my head; let my head not refuse it.
David was glad to receive a reproof. Suppose a man were in the jaws of a lion, and someone shot the lion and saved him — would he not be grateful? So, when we are in the grip of some sin like a lion, and the minister by his reproof shoots that sin dead, should we not be grateful? A gracious soul rejoices when the sharp lance of the Word has lanced his infected wound. He wears a reproof like a jewel in his ear. Proverbs 25:12: Like a gold ring, so is a wise reprover to a listening ear. In short, it is piercing, convicting preaching that does the soul good. A sharp reproof prepares for comfort, just as a biting frost prepares the ground for the sweet flowers of spring.
