The Incomparable Nature of God’s Word
- Elijah McSwain
- Apr 16
- 9 min read
4/9/2025
Elijah McSwain, Sr.
Psalm 19:7-11 NKJV — 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. More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward.
Psalms 19:7-11 expresses the essence of God’s Word in the descriptive nature of the law of God, the testimony of the Lord, the statutes of the Lord, the commandment of the Lord, the fear of the Lord, and the judgments of the Lord. These six titles are synonymous for God’s Word and provides a vivid description of what His word entails in relation to its powerful effects. The law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul. The testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple. The statues 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. God’s Word is a trusted, pure, governing, unblemished, authoritative, reverent and revelatory source that projects forth the mind, will, plan, and purpose of God.
The nature of His Word has a transformative effect, a purifying effect, an enlightening effect, a reverent effect, an effect of gaining godly wisdom, a rejoicing effect and much more.
After expressing the nature of God’s Word, the psalmist expressed the desirability of the Word of God. Psalm 19:10-11 invites followers of the Lord to enjoy the rich and satisfying nature of Scripture in connection to its warning and reward. In order to grasp a better understanding of The Incomparable Nature of God’s Word, let’s first zone in on its desirability.
The Desirability of The Word of God
Psalm 19:10 advertises that Scripture is “more to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.” The Holman KJV Study Bible remarked “gold and honey were valuable commodities in the ancient world, but God’s words are even more valuable (119:103,127).” 1 In this particular section the emphasis will be on gold. Gold is typically associated with wealth, economic status, rank, being among the elite class of society, and success. In the ancient world as it is today, to possess gold was and is the mark of obtaining something of great value. Many people treasure gold because of its worth and its influential nature to be able to acquire things that a person’s heart desires in connection to its value. Therefore, gold is often sought after as a result of the position that it can put a person in, the creature comforts that comes from being wealthy, and the economic status that is obtained from possessing gold.
However, the Lord advises that there is a more precious treasure than gold. This treasure consists of His Word.
Its value is greater in worth, spiritual positioning and legal standing, it gives access to an unlimited source of riches and provides direct access to the Lord of heaven and earth.
Hence, the canon of Scripture should be sought after above gold that has the capability to be stolen, misplaced, and subject to the elements of decay and rust. Psalm 119:72 (NKJV) insinuates “the law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of coins of gold and silver.” A.F. Kilpatrick stated, “such is the law in all its parts; a treasure to be coveted; the sweetest of enjoyments when received into the heart.” 2 The Bible should be the pursuit of any man, woman, boy, or girl who desires to come into possession of the greatest treasure that reveals our Creator and Savior.
William MacDonald adds “the Bible is the most valuable material possession we have in the world.” 3
Nothing can compare to it immeasurable value. Psalm 119:127 (NKJV) also records “therefore I love Your commandments more than gold, yes, than fine gold!” Our love for the law of God, the testimony of the Lord, the statutes of the Lord, the commandment of the Lord, the fear of the Lord and the judgments of the Lord should supersede the love of anything else. Matthew 6:24 (ESV) is penned “no one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”
To place gold over Scripture is to devalue it as a divine treasure. This does not mean that we take away from the wealth and richness of God’s Word; it means that a person who holds materialism in a higher view than God’s Word does not properly comprehend its value. People devalue in their mind the worth of Scripture internally by not properly accessing the valuation that the Lord has assigned to His Word.
Proverbs 3:13-15 (NKJV) insightfully states “happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding; for her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, and her gain than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies, and all the things you may desire cannot compare with her.” Proverbs 8:10-11 (NKJV) comments to “receive instruction, and not silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold; for wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.” Proverbs 16:16 (NKJV) impresses upon the mind “how much better to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.”
What a person is able to gain from the Word of God is more significant than what he or she is able to obtain with gold. The desirability of God’s Word yields a far better return than any form of worldly riches.
T.T. Permanent wrote “in place of gold and silver and precious stones and whatever else men covet, wisdom offers “durable riches,” intellectual, moral, spiritual treasures, and offers them in and with herself in responsive love to all who love and seek her.” 4 Wisdom, knowledge, understanding, spiritual treasures, and the key to life is contained within the treasure of Scripture.
God’s Word Provides Sweet Satisfaction
The psalmist asserted that God’s Word was sweeter than the honey on the honeycomb. Bruce Hurt noted “God’s words are like honey. Honey in Near East substituted for sugar to sweeten things. God’s Word supernaturally counteracts the bitterness in our life and makes it sweet. The spiritual man has more pleasure in the precepts of the Lord than carnal men have in their evil deeds.” 5
The sweetness of God’s Word takes away bitterness by flavoring the believer’s life.
The law of the Lord removes the bitterness of being dead in sin when the soul is converted and made alive. The testimony of the Lord removes the bitterness of being unlearned in spiritual matters by cultivating wisdom in the mind of the redeemed. The statutes of the Lord removes the bitterness of a downtrodden spirit by causing the heart to rejoice. The commandment of the Lord removes the bitterness of being shut-eyed to the truth by enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord removes the bitterness of irreverence for God to possessing reverence for God. The judgment of the Lord removes the bitterness of illogical and irrational thoughts to shift our minds to the sweetness and truthfulness of God. The Bible adds sweetness to our lives by removing things that cause disdain, fruitlessness, and tartness. Thus, Scripture is sweeter than the sweetness of honey and the honeycomb.
His Word is sweetness to our soul and does our soul good. Psalm 119:103 (NKJV) says "how sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" Charles Spurgeon acknowledged David “had not only heard the words of God, but fed upon them: they affected his palate as well as his ear. God’s words are many and varied, and the whole of them make up what we call “the word”: David loved them each one, individually, and the whole of them as a whole; he tasted an indescribable sweetness in them. He expresses the fact of their sweetness, but as he cannot express the degree of their sweetness he cries, “How sweet!” Being God’s words, they were divinely sweet to God’s servant; he who put the sweetness into them had prepared the taste of His servant to discern and enjoy it.” 6
God’s Word is pleasurable and sweet to fill our palate's desire.
Job 23:12 (NKJV) mentions “I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth More than my necessary food.” As summarized by the Holman KJV Study Bible, we should prize God's way more than our own natural inclinations.” 1
The Lord has given an invitation to taste of His goodness and to treasure His Word above every material item. By delighting in the Word, we can savor the sweet nectar of divine insight and wisdom.
The Warning Given and The Reward Received in Relation to God’s Word
The last verse highlights the warning that the Bible gives in reference to wickedness and ungodliness. While also providing insight about the nature of being rewarded for living in obedience to Scripture. God’s Word warns by exposing sin, warns about vile behavior and its consequences, steers God’s people away from danger and hazardous conditions, and gives believers caution about snares, traps, schemes, and pitfalls that are set by evil men. To include non-Christians in a broader sense, the Bible informs about eternal condemnation, damnation, and eternal separation in hell, and warns the unconverted about spiritual death.
The Bible sounds the alarm for followers of God in regard to morality vs immorality, right vs wrong, righteousness vs unrighteousness, holiness vs unholiness, godliness vs ungodliness, and much more. Biblical warnings are given so that disciples of the Lord can stay clear of being entangled in sin.
The warning makes individuals consciously aware of consequences associated with living outside the will of God. Warnings are given to believers to show the reality of broken fellowship with God and the barriers that it causes. The Word is a spiritual roadmap or GPS system that navigates the spiritual landscape of human living. In warns us of calamity ahead and how to avoid it. Psalm 119:11 (NKJV) is informative of God’s Word being hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. Proverbs 6:23 (NKJV) is written “for the commandment is a lamp, and the law a light; reproofs of instruction are the way of life.”
The Word of God is able to lead our way if we would simply heed to the warning.
For the believer who is a servant of the Lord, the spiritual lights constantly flash so that we can stay the course of walking in God’s truth. Walking in God’s truth by heeding the warnings is beneficial for the spiritual state of our Christian journey. Bruce Hurt alludes to the notion “the warnings of Scripture help to protect us against temptation, sin, error, foolishness, false teachers, and every other threat to our spiritual well-being.” 5 In keeping the law of God, the testimony of the Lord, the statutes of the Lord, the fear of the Lord, the commandment of the Lord, and the judgments of the Lord there is great reward.
Careful observance to the Holy writ yields a divine reward. The great reward here and now encompasses the experience of peace, joy, faithfulness, eternal blessedness, fruitfulness, communion with God and all the other benefits that believers have in connection with God.
A.W. Pink explains that "part of that reward is deliverance from being deceived by the false appearances of things, from forming erroneous estimates, and from pursuing a foolish policy. Part of that reward is acquiring wisdom so that we choose what is good, act prudently, and follow those paths which lead to righteousness, peace, and joy. He who treasures the divine precepts in his heart, and diligently seeks to walk by their rule, will escape those evils which destroy his fellows." 5 James 1:25 NKJV implores “but he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.”
God blesses the lives of those who honor Him by honoring His Word. Thus, being rewarded is evidence of this.
The believer will ultimately experience the reward of heaven. Heaven encompasses the reward of the final state of our eternal security, the reward of everlasting life, the reward of experiencing the joys of paradise, the reward of a deeper and unhindered communion with God, the reward of a crown of life, the reward of a crown of righteousness, the reward of a crown of glory, the reward of peace and harmony, and many other gracious rewards given by the Lord. Living in obedience to God Word is not keeping His Word in a legalistic manner but keeping His Word is from a position of reverence, submission, and allegiance to God, thus, we are rewarded for living out what is instructed in Scripture.
Resources
The KJV Study Bible
Kirkpatrick, A. F. 1906. The Book of Psalms. The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
The Believer’s Bible Commentary
Perowne, T. T. 1899. The Proverbs with Introduction and Notes. The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Spurgeon, C. H. n.d. The Treasury of David: Psalms 111-119. Vol. 5. London; Edinburgh; New York: Marshall Brothers.
