Key verse: Psalm 119 v142. Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your law is truth.
In Hebrew the word translated “truth” is “emeth” which has the root meaning of “stability”.
Psalm 57 verses 2 and 3.
“I will cry out to God Most High,
To God who performs all things for me.
He shall send from heaven and save me,
He reproaches the one who would swallow me up.
God shall send forth His mercy and His truth.”
This Psalm of David was composed when he was in grave danger hiding out in a cave from Saul and his army. David understandably calls out to God for help. He asks for “mercy” which is the undeserved blessing stemming from the love of an all-powerful God to one in a position of much weakness. He does not demand this help as though he had a right to it but he begs for it in humility.
But he also asks for “truth”. Why? By helping David God would be showing important aspects of His character: stability; constancy; love; and dependability. Saving David would be an unforgettable demonstration of these aspects of God’s character. Thus, we can say that the concept of “God’s truth” encompasses His revelation of Himself to mankind.
Psalm 117.
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! Laud Him all you, people! For His merciful kindness is great towards us.
And the truth of the Lord endures forever.
Praise the Lord!”
The Psalmist gives exalted praise to God and calls on all people to do the same. He gives thanks to God for His “merciful kindness”; that is. His faithfulness to His people.
He also thanks God for His “truth”. Clearly this is an eternal aspect of God’s dealings with mankind. It encompasses the absolute consistency of His redemptive kindness to mankind and his unchanging approach.
“Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your law is truth.”
The Psalmist correctly points out that God’s “righteousness” (His uprightness and His justice) are eternal and not some passing mood.
But he also says that His “law” is “truth”. God’s instructions for our living contain promises which are truly delivered. His desire for us is true freedom and that is found by following His instructions. The will of God for us is in his “law” (His commandments). The concept of “God’s truth therefore encompasses His consistent teaching and in the deliverance of promises.
Psalm 25 vs 4 and 5
“Show me Your ways, O Lord;
Teach me Your paths.
Lead me in Your truth and teach me.
For You are the God of my salvation;
And on You I wait all the day.”
This is a psalm of David. Here, as a disciple he is seeking instruction. He wants God to enter more fully into his life. He wants to know the ways of the Lord, i.e. how he should conduct himself. He wants to conform to the character of God. His motivation arises from his love for the “God of (his) salvation”: the One with whom all his expectations are bound up.
Obviously, David is asking for teaching but he also asks to be lead in God’s “truth”. David is expressing his faith that anything coming from God is eternally accurate, a blessing and stable. Again, the concept of “truth” is used to describe aspects of God’s character and revelation of Himself.
Psalm 25 v10
“All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth,
To such as keep His covenants and His testimonies”.
David teaches us here that as God is essentially good and upright, He teaches sinners in the ways of justice and salvation. But, of course, the most important quality we need to learn is humility. We have a responsibility to be teachable. Far from being left to endure an unpleasant life, those who obey receive God’s “mercy” and life is filled with tokens of God’s steadfast love and faithfulness.
The concept of “God’s truth” here encompasses the absolute certainty that following God’s instructions for our lives will unfailingly bring benefits.
In Psalm 119 we see the concept of “God’s truth” in part reflects the pattern of life which is expected of us. In this psalm this is referred to frequently but in a number of different ways.
The most frequently used Hebrew term (39 times) is “dabar” translated as “His Word”. This is the most general term for God’s instructions.
V11. “Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You”.
25 times the word “Torah” is used. This generally refers to the law set down in the Pentateuch.
V44. “So shall I keep Your law continually, Forever and ever.”
Also used 25 times is the term “judgments” (in Hebrew “mishpat”) which implies a legal verdict, a binding law or a judicial judgment. V7 “I will praise You with uprightness of heart, When I learn Your righteous judgments.”
22 times the term “testimonies” is used (in Hebrew “edah”). The idea here is based on the statement of a witness. V2 “Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with a whole heart!”
Also 22 times the term “commandments” is used. In Hebrew this is “mitsvah”. It suggests a command; a distinctive authoritative order. V166 “Lord, I hope for Your salvation, And I do Your commands”.
Used 21 times is the term “statutes” (in Hebrew “choqqim”) suggesting things inscribed in an enacted law. V8 “I will keep Your statures”.
Also used 21 times is the term “precepts” (in Hebrew “piqqadim”). This term implies an injunction or requirement. V69 “But I will keep Your precepts with my whole heart.”
Finally, used 11 times is the term “ways” (in Hebrew “derek”). This is used to describe the pattern of life required of us by God’s law. V30 “I have chosen the way of truth”.
Understanding of the benefits of walking in God’s truth.
Psalm 26 vv1-5 Let us now look at the happy situation of the person or nation which walks in God’s truth”.
“Vindicate me, O Lord,
For I have walked in my integrity.
I have also trusted in the Lord;
I shall not slip.
Examine me, O Lord, and prove me;
Try my mind and my heart.
For Your loving kindness is before my eyes,
And I have walked in Your truth.
I have not sat with idolatrous mortals
Nor will I go in with hypocrites.
I have hated the assembly of evildoers,
And will not sit with the wicked.”
Jeremiah 33 v6
“Behold I will bring it (Judah) health and healing; I will heal them and reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth.”
These are the words of Jehovah. Judah and Jerusalem in their idolatry and rebellion were without peace or health. This verse shows the power of God to respond to Jeremiah’s prayer for restoration. Joy, prosperity and rebuilding are promised but also “truth”; a renewed understanding of the benefits of walking in God’s truth.
It seems that David had been unjustly accused by ungodly men of being untrue to Jehovah and this Psalm is his answer to God. David argues that he has walked in accordance with God’s truth (i.e. with moral integrity). He states that he consistently walked in reverence and dependency on God. He was able to do this because he always kept in mind God’s loyal love for him. Because he walked in God’s way, he knew God’s mercy. And because he recognised God’s mercy, he could walk in God’s truth.
Psalm 15 vv1 and 2.
“Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle?
Who may dwell in Your holy hill?
He who walks uprightly,
And works righteousness,
And speaks the truth in his heart…. “
In this Psalm, David asks the question: who is righteous enough to approach God? The answer of course is no-one except Yeshua. But because of Yeshua forgiven sinners can do so. But for David the answer is “He who speaks the truth in his heart”. This is of course a comparative righteousness for no-one is innocent before God. Those acceptable to God will generally walk with integrity and moral soundness. That person is careful to maintain a conscience that is void of offence to God. He or she has God’s truth (the acceptable mode of behaviour) in his heart rejecting wicked thoughts and ways.
Psalm 51 vv1-6
“Have mercy upon me, O God,
According to Your lovingkindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
Blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity.
And cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my transgressions,
And my sin is always before me.
Against You, and You alone, have I sinned,
And done this evil in Your sight –
That You may be found just when You speak
And blameless when you judge.
Behold I was brought forth iniquity,
And in sin my mother conceived me.
Behold You desire truth in the inward parts,
And in the inner part You will make me know wisdom.”
David wrote this Psalm after Nathan had pointed out his transgressions over Uriah the Hittite and Bathsheba. David admits his sin and sinful disposition. He acknowledges that God hates sin and loves faithfulness in a person’s inner being. Here “truth” describes the desire to walk in God’s ways and the desire to hate the wickedness which God hates. The “inward parts” of a person indicates something clouded over, difficult for anyone but God to see. The Lord’s penetrating gaze searches out the innermost recesses of a person’s mind and heart.
Let us now look at the great blessings in life which come to those who walk in “God’s truth”.
Psalm 119 list 14 such blessings.
Peace: v165 “Great peace have those who love Your law,
And nothing causes them to stumble.”
Power to resist sin: v3 “They also do no iniquity. They walk in His ways.”
Joy: v16 “I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.”
Understanding: v99 “I have more understanding than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation.”
Strength: v28 “My soul melts with heaviness; Strengthen me according to Your word.”
Freedom: v45 “And I will walk at liberty, For I seek Your precepts.”
Hope: v114 “You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word.”
Comfort in suffering: v50 “This is my comfort in my affliction, For Your word has given me life.”
No shame: v46 “I will speak of Your testimonies before kings, and will not be ashamed.”
Reverence for God: v120 “My flesh trembles for fear of You, and I am afraid of Your judgments”
A thankful heart: v62 “At midnight I will rise to give You thanks, Because of Your righteous judgments.”
A worshipful heart: v164 “Seven times a day I praise You, because of Your righteous judgment.”
A clean life: v104 “Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore, I hate every false way.”
Personal Revival: v159 “Consider how I love Your precepts; Revive me, O Lord, according to Your lovingkindness.”
Let us now look at what happens to a society where God’s truth (reverence for God) is absent.
Isaiah 59 vv12-15
“For our transgressions are multiplied before you,
And our sins testify against us;
For our transgressions are before us,
And as for our iniquities, we know them.
In transgressions and lying against the Lord,
And departing from our God,
Speaking oppression and revolt,
Conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.
Justice is turned back.
And righteousness stands afar off;
For truth has fallen in the street
And equity cannot enter.”
Isaiah points out that where there is no reverence for God’s instructions, there is no justice and righteousness. There is no truth or equity. Isaiah has a serious for his society. It is rotten to the core and riddled with lies, dishonesty, injustice, malice and violence. The nation’s sin and transgression are an obstacle to God’s blessing and deliverance.
The presence of iniquity eliminates righteousness and the upright are in danger.
Hosea 4 vs 1-3
“Hear the word of the Lord,
You children of Israel,
For the Lord brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land.
“There is no truth or mercy
Or knowledge of God in the land,
By swearing and lying,
Killing and stealing and committing adultery.
They break all restraint
With bloodshed upon bloodshed.
Therefore, the land will mourn;
And everyone who dwells there will waste away
With the beasts of the field
And the birds of the air;
Even the fish of the sea will be taken away.
Hosea explains that disregard for God’s truth (i.e., sin) plays havoc with humanity and nature. As we have seen elsewhere reference to God’s truth is often associated with God’s mercy. Mercy we can define as the loyal love for those in an inferior position and part of God’s truth. The “knowledge of God” here refers to God’s authority. Real faith in God finds expression in loving obedience and delight in His law. Hosea sees the loss of reverence for God in Israel leading to the breakdown in law and order and even the “land will mourn” i.e., there is a negative impact on the natural world.