THE ANVIL OF GOD'S WORD
Last eve I passed beside a blacksmith's door And heard the anvil sing the vesper chime; Then, looking in, I saw upon the floor Old hammers, worn with blasting years of time.
"How many anvils have you had," said I, "To wear and batter all these hammers so?" "Just one," said he; and then, with twinkling eye, "The anvil wears the hammers out, you know."
And so I thought, the anvil of God's Word For ages, skeptic blows have beat upon. Yet tho' the noise of falling blows was heard The anvil is unharmed--the hammers gone. --John Clifford
Tonight's section of Psalm 119 focuses on the endurance of the Word of God. Just as the anvil wears out the hammers that beat upon it, the Word of God withstands all and still stands.
I. The Permanence of God's Word. V89-91
A. "For ever … Thy Word is settled…" Why?
1. It is settled, it is permanent because it is the Lord's Word.
2. That may sound simple, but think with me on this.
3. God is omniscient…He knows everything, every fact, every detail.
4. His Word does not need to be updated like an encyclopedia or dictionary.
5. It is impossible for God not to know something.
(Acts 15:18) "Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world."
B. "For ever … Thy Word is settled…" Where?
1. In heaven. V89b
a. Far beyond the reach of man.
b. No one regardless of how clever they may be, will be able to change the Word of God.
c. It is settled in heaven.
d. Jesus said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." Cf Mt. 24:35
e. When all of this is gone…God's Word will remain.
2. Example of Voltaire.
a. He said, "In 50 years I'll have this book in the morgue."
b. Fifty years later, Voltaire was dead and his house was being used by the Geneva Bible Society to store Bibles.
3. In Creation. v90
a. This earth is here and is sustained by the Word of God.
b. "…God said…and there was…" Ge. 1:3
c. All of the so-called 'natural' laws do not change. Why?
d. God has established His Word.
C. "For ever … Thy Word is settled…" When?
1. From the time that It was given until this very moment in time. v91
2. People speak of 'providence' and 'laws of nature', but the Bible speaks of God.
3. Those terms are feeble attempts to avoid acknowledging God as creator.
4. However, no part of God's Word has changed from the time that God first spoke until tonight.
(Mark 4:41) "And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"
5. Why wouldn't they obey? He is the Creator!
6. Everything was settled in heaven before God ever put it into writing.
II. The Protection of God's Word. v92
A. The psalmist's personal word of testimony.
B. The Word of God gave him something to hang onto when his world was falling apart.
C. It was a rock, an anchor to hold him steady.
III. The Power of God's Word. v93-95
A. It will bring life.
1. Spiritual life comes from the Word.
2. Spiritual sustenance for that life comes from the Word.
3. Note Peter's response to Jesus when He asked if the disciples would also turn away from Him.
(John 6:67-68) "Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? {68} Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life."
B. It will bring deliverance.
1. Last week he prayed, "Lord help thou me."
2. Tonight we see an abbreviated prayer, "Save me".
3. The wicked was waiting to destroy him, but the Word of God kept him safe.
IV. The Perfection of God's Word. v 96
A. It is a matter of perspective.
1. We have seen this principle before.
2. The average person views the Bible as a very narrow book with very narrow teachings.
3. But nothing could be further from the truth.
B. "…Thy commandment is exceeding broad"
1. Broad-minded human philosophies and religions have brought us evolution, Nazism, humanism, and abortion.
2. A world without God that can offer no hope beyond the grave, no comfort for the weak, the sick, the dying, or the lost.
3. A world where people have such a disregard for life that they grieve over the tragedy of Columbine High School and wink at the millions of babies aborted each year.
C. God's Word is exceeding broad…
1. It gives us a true account of the origin of the universe.
2. It gives us an understanding of why we are here and what our purpose is.
3. It gives us the plan of salvation and reveals to us the heart of God.
4. It gives comfort to the suffering, and hope for the lost.
God's Word is permanent, It offers us protection, power, and is perfect.