GOD’S WORD – MORE PRECIOUS THAN FINE GOLD

“More to be desired are they than GOLD, Yea, than much FINE GOLD” – Psalm 19:10

GOD’S WORD IS MORE PRECIOUS THAN FINE GOLD: “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” (Psa.19: 10-11). King David, the psalmist, loved God’s Word, and likened Scripture to fine gold and sweet honey. This blessed man who had all the wealth of royalty, realized that God’s Word was to be valued far more than fine gold: “The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of coins of gold and silver”; “Therefore I love Your commandments more than gold, yes, than FINE GOLD” (Psa.119: 72, 127). We see that David made a distinction between gold and fine gold. Fine gold is the purest level of gold.

Fine gold is not typically used for jewelry, because it’s too soft for its level of purity. Gold is a soft metal. Constant or regular wear of the purest gold would result in a distortion of a piece of jewelry’s shape and size. Fine gold is, by and large, limited in use to investment-quality coins and bullion. Similarly, the Bible is not an eye-catching ornament to be worn around the neck or a book to be carried under the arm for one to look spiritual. The perfect law of the Lord is a precious, intrinsically valuable investment in the soul. While not to be kept under lock and key rarely to be looked at or touched like gold coin or bullion, Scripture is a treasure we should guard in our hearts: “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Mt.6:21; Lk.12:34). As we treasure God’s Word in our hearts – memorizing, studying, and meditating upon it – His sure testimonies will guard us and keep our way pure (Psa.119:9).

In essence, Gold must be refined to bring it to its purest form, which would still be imperfect! Gold must be processed for it to reach even a modicum of purity. Yet, there would remain microscopic levels of impurity that are beyond detection by human eyes. Not so with the commandments of God. In its original state, the Word of God was and is as pure as the mind of God itself. Like God, His commandments are without the slightest bit of error. They are free from the stain of sin, free from any corrupt tendencies. While man can approach the Word of God with an impurity of heart, and while his motives for approaching and utilizing the Word of God can be impure, the commandments themselves are free from corruption.

King Solomon learnt from his father, the pricelessness of the Wisdom in God’s Word: “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” (Pro.3: 13-15). Again, “Receive my 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….My fruit is better than gold, yes, than FINE GOLD, and my revenue than choice silver” (Pro.8: 10-11, 19). If we have a choice between the Word of God and GOLD, than much gold, and than FINE GOLD, we’ll be wise to choose the Word of God. The benefits of knowing and doing the Word of God are greater than all that money can buy.

Beloved, do you treasure God’s Word more than you treasure fine gold? Do you treasure it more than riches, wealth and prosperity? Will you give up your riches, wealth, and prosperity to mine the deep, deep caverns of God’s Word until you have replaced the desire for the temporal comforts of this life with the desire to know the Word and the God of the Word?