BETTER THAN GOLD

Is the psalmist using exaggerated language as he speaks in verse 127 of God’s commandments as being “above gold, yea, above fine gold”? Was it just a momentary, emotional exclamation? In verse 14 of this psalm, he had already said, “I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches”, and in verse 72, “The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver”. To the testimony of this man we may add the words of David in Psalm 19. 10, “More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold”. But were they right? Is the Word of God so precious? A more recent writer, Murray McCheyne, wrote, “One gem from that ocean is worth all the pebbles from earthly streams”.

These testimonies lead us to a little self-examination. What value do we place upon them? What time do we devote to them? How does the time that we give to reading them compare with the time that we spend on secular literature, to the newspaper, the radio and television?

From time to time, there have been wild gold-rushes when men have risked their lives and incurred great hardship all to find gold—gold which perishes. We have, in the Word of God, far greater treasure, of heavenly origin, and which will last for ever. In the introduction to the Authorized Version of the Bible, the translators referred to the Bible in these terms: “that inestimable treasure, which excelleth all the riches of the earth”. Men have gone to the stake, to the lions, have been prepared to suffer the loss of everything, rather than give up God’s Word. Their example, their courage, their devotion, challenge our half-hearted attitude to that Word today.

Devotion to the Word brings spiritual enrichment. Was this the thought in Peter’s mind as he closed his second Epistle, “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ”, 2 Pet. 3. 18. Growth in spiritual knowledge, namely a deeper knowledge of Christ, is the enrichment which comes from a love for the Word of God. The reverse is seen in 2 Peter 1. 8, “barren … unfruitful”. Spiritual poverty!