Thus Saith the Lord

“Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.”

Psalm 119:128

“To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.”

Isaiah 8:20

“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it. In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst.”

Amos 8:11-13

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”

II Timothy 4:3-4

Introduction:

  1. We are currently studying “The Battle for the Bible,” but do we fully appreciate what our Bibles say?
  2. Do you know your Bible well enough to teach children and grandchildren at all times (Psalm 78:1-8)?
  3. Every father in every home should address every issue with these words, “What does the Bible say?”
  4. Do you know your Bible enough to answer certain words of truth to anyone (Pr 22:17-21; I Pet 3:15)?
  5. When Jesus was tempted by the devil himself, Jesus answered each time, “It is written” (Matt 4:1-11).
  6. This statement, declaring powerful dependence on God’s holy words occurs 80 times in the Bible.
  7. The title of this study, “Thus saith the Lord,” occurs 413 times in the Bible. What does the Bible say?
  8. David spoke over and over about his great burden and desire and need to keep God’s words (Ps 119:2,4,5,8,17,33,34,44,57,60,63,69,83,100,101,106,115,129,134,136,145,146). What about you?

Our world exalts compromise, political correctness, and vague confusion.

  1. Everyone has a right to his own opinion – there is no truth. Consider talk shows, panel discussions, chat rooms, open forums, free debates, sharing, committees, classrooms, etc.
  2. Consider Promise Keepers, State of the Union address, newspaper editorials, etc., etc.
  3. Let us agree to disagree and honor differences are the answers when disagreements arise.
  4. Politics and religion are two subjects not to be discussed, because it might lead to arguments.
  5. Euphemisms are used instead of plain, definitive, and bold words that defend absolutes.
  6. The worthless pagan insanity of the American Indians and others are protected as valuable.
  7. I address the men primarily, because God has chosen them to be the leaders of marriages and families (Ps 78:1-8; Joel 1:1-3; I John 2:14; Eph 6:4; I Cor 14:35; I Tim 4:7; II Tim 3:6).

The Bible is the written record of what God has declared on all subjects.

  1. God has His secret will that He will do, and He has revealed what we are to do (Deut 29:29).
  2. We are to esteem every precept regarding every subject to be absolutely correct and right.
  3. Scripture is inspired by God to make the man of God perfect in all ways (II Tim 3:14-17).
  4. The prophets and apostles who wrote were moved by God’s Spirit (II Peter 1:16-21).
  5. Without the Bible as our Creator and Saviour’s revealed will, we are hopelessly lost forever.

The Bible is absolutely and dogmatically the only source of truth in the world.

  1. Statements or opinions contradicting Scripture prove darkness (Is 8:20; I Tim 6:3-5,20-21).
  2. A godly man, even the sweet psalmist, hated every contrary idea (Psalm 119:98-100,128).
  3. Paul’s spiritual opinion of men is “Let God be true, but every man a liar” (Romans 3:4).
  4. God mocks all scholars and ridicules their wisdom (Job 5:12-13; I Cor 1:19-20; 3:19-20).
  5. “Thus saith the Lord” (413 times) and “It is written” (80 times) declare this great dogmatism.

We must build our lives and thoughts on what God has spoken in the Bible.

  1. You choose daily to build on the rock of scripture or the sand of humanistic devil worship.
  2. Jesus warned authoritatively of the grave danger of disregarding His words (Matt 7:24-27).
  3. Someone has said, “God said it; I believe it; that settles it.” This is the perfect life of faith.
  4. A poor man with a Bible is far superior to a rich man with educated conceit (Prov 28:11).
  5. Consider Elihu’s confidence and boldness in the presence of four wise men (Job 32:1-22).
  6. Can we be as confident as the three Hebrew men before Nebuchadnezzar (Dan 3:17-18)?
  7. Remember that Jesus used Scripture when confronted by Satan personally (Luk 4:4,8,12).
  8. If we modify our attitudes, as if God is too extreme, we have chosen Eve and apostasy.

The Bible is a great gift we should esteem highly and not be ashamed of at all.

  1. It was the great treasure of Israel and envy of other nations (Deut 4:1-10; Psalm 147:19-20).
  2. We should be prepared to give the words of truth to those that ask (Pr 22:17-21; I Pet 3:15).
  3. David considered them a very precious heritage (Ps 19:7-11; 78:1-8; 119:14,111,127,162).
  4. David wanted to learn God’s precepts and teach them unashamedly before kings (Ps 119:46).

We should oppose any attempt to compromise or dilute Bible authority.

  1. Are you politically correct? Or Scripturally correct? Or socially correct? Or all three? You cannot be all three, because they are mutually exclusive. You should be Scripturally correct!
  2. Preaching the inspired scriptures corrects the perilous times apostasy (II Tim 3:1-17; 4:1-5).
  3. Are the following issues difficult for you? Do you consider them open to discussion?
    1. What about creation? God has spoken in Genesis 1:1; John 1:3; Heb 11:3.
    2. What about capital punishment? God has spoken in Genesis 9:6 and Exodus 21:12.
    3. What about child training? God has spoken in Prov 22:15; 23:13-14; and 29:15.
    4. What about abortion? God has spoken in Exodus 21:22-25 and Luke 1:41.
    5. What about wine? God has spoken in Deut 14:26 and Ps 104:14-15.
    6. What about children working? God has spoken in Lam 3:27 and I Kings 11:28.
    7. What about comedies? God has spoken in Eccl 7:2-6 and Ephesians 5:3-8.
    8. What about submissive wives? God has spoken in Ephesians 5:22,33 and Titus 2:5.
    9. What about sodomy? God has spoken in Deut 23:17-18 and Rom 1:24-27.
    10. What about slavery? God has spoken in Exodus 21:1-11 and 21:20-21.
    11. What about animal rights? God has spoken in Genesis 1:26-28 and Ex 12:3-10.
    12. What about birth control? God has spoken in Matthew 4:7 and I Cor 7:32.
    13. What about speaking evil of rulers? God has spoken in II Peter 2:10-12 and Jude 1:8-10.
    14. What about honoring parents? God has spoken in Deut 27:16; Proverbs 30:17.
    15. What about paying taxes? God has spoken in Matt 22:15-22; Rom 13:6-7.
    16. What about anger? God has spoken in Prov 16:32 and Jas 1:19-20.
    17. What about speech? God has spoken in Eccl 10:12 and Colossians 4:6.
    18. What about the basis for marriage? God has spoken in Proverbs 31:30 and I Cor 7:39.
    19. What about labor unions? God has spoken in Eccl 10:7 and Titus 2:9-10.
    20. What about holidays? God has spoken in De 12:29-32 and II Cor 6:14-17.
    21. What about musical instruments? God has spoken in Eph 5:19 and Hebrews 9:10.
    22. What about baptism? God has spoken in Acts 8:37; John 3:23; I Pet 3:21.
    23. What about talkative women? God has spoken in Proverbs 12:4 and I Peter 3:3-4.
    24. And there are about a million more that you should learn to condemn from scripture.
  4. Can you decisively identify a false premise in the opinions of men that contradict the Bible?
    1. “The human body was designed to live 120 years.” But God said 73 (Psalm 90:10)!
    2. “Man was created to be a vegetarian.” But God approved meat (Gen 9:3; Deut 14:26).
    3. “He was acquitted due to insanity.” God said to put them to death (Ex 21:12; II Pet 2:12).
  5. Can you see through euphemisms to identify the sin that is being covered by society?
    1. Is it having an affair or making love? Or is it committing adultery (Heb 13:4)?
    2. Is it a one-night stand, casual sex, or partying? Or being a whoremonger (Heb 13:4)?
    3. Is it homosexuality? Or is it sodomy and vile affections against nature (Rom 1:24-27)?
    4. Is it alcoholism? Or is it drunkenness and being a drunkard (I Cor 6:10; Gal 5:21)?
    5. Is it an attention-deficit-syndrome? Or is it a spoiled brat needing a beating (Pr 29:15)?
  6. Can you read the published drivel and twaddle of men and see the rebellion against God?
    1. Does it anger you when you read the hallucinations and opinions of men against truth?
    2. Can you cut through their ignorant rantings and smoke to see the anti-God issue at stake?
    3. When they say a telescope revealed the location of the big bang, do you laugh heartily?
  7. Can you read a passage and submissively and eagerly grasp its full implications for you?
    1. Do you pass over Sarah’s “lord” as a joke, as a formal old English form of address, or as a Neanderthal anachronism? Or do you tremble that you do not reverence your husband?
    2. Do the words “form of godliness but denying the power thereof” merely give you a reason to rant against the carnal Christianity of Rick Warren? Or do they convict you?

The application is two: esteem God’s word as David, and keep them as well.

  1. Consider that the primary emphasis of Psalm 119 is in the keeping of God’s scriptures.
  2. Paul warned Jews that boasting in the law without obedience was foolish (Rom 2:17-25).

Conclusion:

  1. You must read the Bible every day and absorb its history, doctrine, judgments, and commandments.
  2. You must meditate on it and/or memorize it to be hid in your heart for communicating and obedience.
  3. You must systematically apply it to everything you read and hear to learn its honest application.
  4. Every father and grandfather should address every issue with this: What does the Bible say?
  5. It is a terrible shame when men do not grow and become the teachers they should be (Heb 5:12-14).