“They are more desirable than gold”

“They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.” (Ps. 19:10)

            These days, I feel the importance of field experience while watching the renovation of the main hall of our church.  Of course, the work is done by experts and I see their works.  And as I talk with them, listening to the problems of the chapel and how to repair them, I am receiving challenges and lessons from the Lord.  If I come and see once before the construction starts and then come and see after the construction is over, I'm sure I can recognize the differences, but I won’t know the process of those changes.  Even if I know, I will know through someone who knows well and it cannot be my direct experience from what I have seen, heard, and felt at the construction site.  Looking at the construction site, I realized that our church main sanctuary ceiling was almost collapsing.  It seemed even the experts had no idea that the ceiling would be so bad before tearing it off.  However, when they actually tore the ceiling, they found out that it was almost collapsing.  So they did very good job fixing it thoroughly.  I am just thankful for them.

             One of the spiritual lessons I have received through the renovation of our church is 'Experience God's Word for ourselves.'  As I open and read the Bible and meditate on the Bible, I have realized once again how important it is to live and experience the Word of God that is living and active by obeying and applying it in our lives.  This is how we can make God's Word our possession (Ps. 119:56).  If we indirectly encounter God's Word through someone, we will not experience God's Word as deeply.  This is because we are listening and learning through the person who has experienced God's Word.  Through such an indirect experience, we cannot deeply experience the Word of God.  The reason why the church has such Bible study is to let those who learn the Word of God grow up to the place where they can eat the Word of God by themselves.  We have to meditate on the Word of God ourselves and go to the place of studying and learning.  In the midst of this, we must experience the Word of God ourselves.  Then, like the psalmist, we can confess that the word of God is sweeter than honey and the drippings (19:10).

              If we look at Psalms 19:10, why did the psalmist David exhort to desire the Word of God more than gold?  Why was that?  This was because David experienced the fact that the word of God is sweeter than honey and the drippings.  I thought of David's Word experience as four processes:

              First, the Word of God gives warning to us.

                Look at Psalms 19:11 – “Moreover, by them Your servant is warned; In keeping them there is great reward.”  The Word of God draws the border for us.  Living within that boundary is a blessing.  We can enjoy true freedom when we live in the truth (Jn. 8:32).  Therefore, it is a blessing to be warned by the Word of God.

             Second, the Word of God allows us to discern our errors.

                Look at Psalms 19:12 – “Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults.”  The Word of God exposes our sins (Eph. 5:11, 13).  His Word exposes even our deep, hidden sins.  His Word, like a borderline, allows our conscience to realize that we have sinned when we cross it.  However, some of us have very hard consciences.  The reason our consciences are so hardened is because we are repeating our lives of crossing the borderline.  Then we may feel guilty in the first place because of our conscience, but gradually, the more we live a sinful life that crosses the borderline, the more we become accustomed to that life, and eventually we don't even see sin as a sin.  In other words, we lose our ability to regard sin as sin.  Therefore, it is a blessing to realize through God's Word that we have crossed the borderline.   It is a blessing to realize our sins with the Word of God.  That’s why David prayed “keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins” (Ps. 19:13).  If we live beyond the borderline, we intentionally commit sins because we like them.  Without being guilty, we will be drawn to sin by breaking the Word of God.  It is not being drawn by the Word of God but being led by sin.  Therefore, we shouldn’t disobey God's Word that gives us the borderline.  If we break the God's Word, we must realize it through His Word.  We must let God's holy Word expose our sins.  Then we will confess our sins to God and repent them.  

             Third, the Word of God restores our souls.

                Look at Psalms 19:7 -  “The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.”  When we have sinned before God beyond the boundary of God's Word, our souls are suppressed by sins and thus heavy and cannot be peaceful.  Especially when we realize the sins that we have committed through the Word of God, our souls can become discouraged and despaired by sins.  It is the Word of God that evokes our discouraged and despaired soul.  God makes us realize our transgressions through the Word of God, hold onto the Word, and confess our sins and repent.  And God makes our discouraged soul to be restored with the Word of God's hope.  Therefore, we can enjoy the grace of reconciliation and of restoration through repentance.

              Fourth and last, the Word of God makes our hearts rejoicing.

                Look at Psalms 19:8 – “The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.”  The repentant heart not only enjoys peace in its heart in the assurance of forgiveness, but also the joy that God gives.  Also, since the Word of God brightens his eyes, he will have more of the discernment of good and evil.  And he see the boundary of God's Word more clearly.  Therefore, he will never allow the sin to assert his heart again.  Rather, he makes the Word of God to claim his heart.  He is no longer the simple because of sin, but becomes wise because of the word of God (v. 7), discerning truth and falsehood, and choosing the truth to enjoy freedom in that truth.  In doing so, he rejoices because of God’s given joy.

                When I think of the Word of God that warns us, that exposes our sins, that restores our our souls, and that makes our hearts rejoicing, I remembered the hymn “Sing Them Over Again to Me”, verse 1 and the chorus: “Sing them over again to me, Wonderful words of life; Let me more of their beauty see, Wonderful words of life; Words of life and beauty, Teach me faith and duty; Beautiful words, Wonderful words, Wonderful words of life.  Beautiful words, Wonderful words, Wonderful words of life.”  I hope and pray that we all taste the Word of God.  Like David, I hope and pray that we all taste the Word of God that is sweeter than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.  Let us all desire the Word of God more than gold, yes, more than much fine gold.

Devoted to live the God’s Word-centered life,

James Kim

(Sola Scriptura!)