Sola Scriptura and Psalm 119
One thing we cannot fail to see in Psalm 119 is a love for God’s words. For instance 119:97 “Oh how I love your law!” (See also v 113). Even if we were to narrowly define Law as the 10 Commandments (which we shouldn’t), that would still shows a love for the words that God has spoken and recorded for his people.
One main point of this psalm is to strike joy in the hearts of God’s people over God’s revealed word. In v 103 he compares the Word saying that it’s sweeter than honey. It is delightful to him and to God’s people. It is a joy.
Not only a joy, but it is life-giving, v 93: “Your precepts have given me life.” So the word of God is a delight and life-giving even in the midst of trials and afflictions (92, 106, etc.).
But also the Word is useful. In v 105 it guides us on our path. The law teaches us how to please God. Or how to be obedient. But it also teaches us about God. For instance it continually shows how God’s “faithfulness endures to all generations.” The Law is not narrowly defined as a set of rules (though it is that) but it also includes the preamble (I am the LORD God who brought you out of Egypt). It includes all the past history of God’s steadfast love and faithfulness to his people. This is why the Law is a delight. This is why he can hold on and have faith in the midst of deep afflictions. For the Word of God reminds us continually of God’s faithfulness in the past which gives us hope in the present.
The above is also merely scratching the surface of the psalm. I have really only examined 4 stanzas and those not in any depth. Which brings us to what this psalm, like the book of psalms, is calling us to do.
Meditate. Psalm 1 begins by calling us to meditate. Psalm 119 further reminds us of this. First In v 92 you have the word “delight” which harkens back to Psalm 1 and second the idea of “never forgetting” which is a constant recalling to mind. It is active. Much like when God “remembers” it is not that he has forgotten but rather that he is about to act!
To meditate in ancient times is not emptying your mind; it’s filling your mind with God’s words. So in vv 35-36: turn my gaze, turn my heart, to your word. Help me turn them from worthless things. How does he do this? Meditating on the beauty of God’s word.
Practically speaking this psalm calls us to come to God’s word because it’s delightful, it’s live-giving, it’s useful and necessary for our lives. It’s also curiously absent of any alternative authority needed for our understanding of it. There is no magisterium that needs to interpret this on your behalf. In fact Psalm 119 is probably written by King David meaning the highest authority in Israel is praising God’s word for the Word stood above the king (see Duet. 17).
We see this carry over into the New Testament, which has been written about in greater length, but it’s helpful to consider, in light of Psalm 119, what 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says again. I’ll let you go look it up and come back here.
It says (if you read it or meditated and memorised it!) the same, it’s useful, it’s live-giving, and delightful because it’s a record of God speaking to us! It equips us and guides us.
The Apostle Paul, the highest authority (him being an apostle) on Earth says that our highest authority is Christ speaking by his Holy Spirit through his Word. Again, Paul speaking to a pastor and church, makes no mention of a magisterium to correctly interpret but calls on all, officers and laity, to see the glory and goodness of God’s Word. (As an aside in fact in Galatians 1:8, apostles and angels, should they diverge from the message of the gospel, are to be judged for it. Where is this message found? The Scriptures, Acts 17:11.)
May we do the same.
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