The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. (Psalm 19:7-9)
After describing the heavenly bodies and the wonder of their purpose, David transitions to speaking of another way in which God’s majesty is revealed to all — His Word. The first statement — the Torah of the LORD is perfect — is to say it is without defect. The Hebrew word translated “perfect,” תמים tammim, means “whole, complete, lacking nothing.” That statement alone leads me to conclude that the Bible we have is just as it should be — God has made certain that the necessary revelation we need in order to understand Him is set before us.
In terms of revelation and illumination, in the previous verses (19:4-6), David mentions the sun which rises and sets and, because of its brilliance, affects the entire world with its light and heat. Day after day, without fail, the sun moves across the sky so that we who live below can see, can work, can grow and live. After describing the benefits of the sun, David goes on to speak of the Word of God and how, like the sun shining upon the earth, it shines a light on our path; it enlightens the eyes so that we may see how to walk and live.
In other words, David elevates the Word of God and the benefits it provides to mankind above those of the sun and the other celestial bodies, important as they are. Think of it this way, too much exposure to the sun can damage and even kill. Not so with the Word of God — we can never be overexposed to its benefits, only underexposed. The more we embrace its goodness, the more our soul is refreshed.
In short, the Word of God is perfect and eternal. Consequently, those of us who are imperfect and temporal can and should place our trust in the Almighty and His instructions and statutes. To embrace them and live by them causes us to walk upright before Him and to prosper in this world — oftentimes to the amazement of those around us. It is deep, profound and full of mysteries yet to be unveiled, and at the same time, so basic that the most simple who adhere to its tenants appear to others as wise. We may not always understand why God does what He does, how He does it and when, but we can hold fast to this conclusion: because His Torah is perfect, “the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.”
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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