Psalm 119 by R. F. Cottrell

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Mar 13, 1879

By R. F. Cottrell

Ps. 119.

THIS is a psalm or hymn of praise to "the law of the Lord," "his testimonies," "his ways," "precepts," "statutes," "commands," "judgments," and "word." There can be no reasonable doubt that it has direct reference to the words of the moral law given by the voice of God, the ten commandments. It is the same law which in Ps. 19:7 is declared by the Spirit to be perfect. It is "the law of thy mouth," "the testimony of thy mouth," and "the judgments of thy mouth," clearly pointing to that which was uttered by the mouth of God at Sinai.

It is not the word of David simply that speaks in praise of this law; but it is the Spirit of God itself that so highly exalts it. Listen to the words of Inspiration: "I delight in thy law;" "The law of thy mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver;" "thy word is very pure; therefore thy servant loveth it;" "I love thy commandments above gold; yea, even fine gold." Is it reasonable to suppose that a law thus exalted by the Spirit of God would ever need to be abolished? Does it need any improvement? is it not sufficiently broad? "Thy commandment is exceeding broad." Does it not reach to the very thoughts and intents of the heart? See Matt. 5:22, 28. 1 Jno. 3:15. Is it a new thing—was it not always true—that 'he that hateth his brother is a murderer'?

Every man's good sense would tell him, that a law thus lauded and exalted by God himself is good for all time; that it is perpetual and eternal. But He has spoken to this very point; so that those who would have this law abolished or changed, are left without excuse. Hear the testimony: "Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth." The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting. "All thy commandments are truth." "Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them forever." "Thy word is true from the beginning; and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever."

Does any one desire more evidence of the perpetuity of this ancient and ever-enduring law? Let him hear Jesus: "Think not that I am come to destroy the law." "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." Matt. 5:17, 18.

All those commandments are truth. What effect would it have upon truth to change it in a few jots and tittles? An apostle said of those who broke this same law, worshiping and serving the creature more than the Creator, that they "changed the truth of God into a lie." Again, the testimony is, "All thy commandments are righteousness." All includes no less than ten. Has God's everlasting righteousness been abolished? Is such a thing possible while God's word remains true? Hear his answer: "My righteousness shall not be abolished." Isa. 51:6.

Who will have the blind temerity to say that the righteousness of those ancient moral precepts, the ten commandments, has been abolished, being superceded by a better code?

"Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit. Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the Lord. For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water." Jer. 2:11-13.

It is a sad and lamentable fact, and one which constitutes one of the signs of our times, that there are multitudes, including hundreds, and perhaps thousands, of professed ministers of the gospel, who "cast away the law of the Lord," and, instead of coming to the fountain of living waters, are endeavoring to patch up broken cisterns that can hold no water. A false tradition says that the law of God has been changed; and, instead of learning the truth concerning this, they try to sustain this tradition by various contradictory arguments. And it is not uncommon for them to hold that the whole moral code, which is everywhere so highly exalted by Inspiration, has been utterly abolished.

But the word of God will stand, though all men stand against it. No weapon formed against His law shall prosper. The saddest of it is, that in contending against the law of God, it will be found at last that they are sinning against their own souls. Oh! how sad to discover, too late, their fatal mistake! Would that they might discover it now, and avert so awful a fate!

"The works of His hands are verity and judgment; all His commandments are sure. They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness." Ps. 111:7, 8.

R. F. COTTRELL.