“The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.”
(Psalm 19:7)
Because God desires to be known by His people, He has revealed Himself through the holy Scriptures—His perfect and immutable Word.
When we hear the phrase the law of the Lord, we often think of the Ten Commandments given to Moses on Mount Sinai. But in Psalm 19:7, the terms law and testimony encompass the entirety of Scripture, God’s complete revelation of Himself and His instruction to mankind. The psalmist declares that God’s Word is perfect because it originates from the infinitely pure and flawless God. It is also perfect in the sense that it is wholly complete, lacking nothing. Everything necessary for salvation, eternal life, and a godly walk has been communicated to us in His divine Word (2 Timothy 3:15, 2 Peter 1:3, Psalm 1:1-3).
To those outside the kingdom of God, His perfect Word is both necessary and sufficient for reviving the soul (Psalm 19:7). Jesus explained to Nicodemus in John 3 that “unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” The Spirit of God uses the water of the Word (Ephesians 5:26) to convict the heart of sin, reveal the need for a Savior, and bring the sinner to repentance and faith.
And for those who are redeemed, God’s Word is an infallible guide and compass for life, always pointing true. His Word is trustworthy because it is spoken by a God who cannot lie. “God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Has He said, and will He not do it?” (Numbers 23:19). We can rely on the unshakable certainty of His promises, trusting that His Word will correct and restore us whenever we stray.
Additionally, God’s perfect Word carries the promise of blessing to those who obey it—not only in this life but for generations to come. “Be careful to obey all these words that I command you, that it may go well with you and with your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in the sight of the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 12:28).
Do you find God’s perfect Word essential to your daily life? Martin Luther declared, “The soul can do without everything except the Word of God, without which none at all of its wants are provided for.”[1] If we desire to know God more fully and adore Him more deeply, we must immerse ourselves in the riches of His perfect Word.
Contemplations
- Holding Fast to the Perfect Word. Lord, Your Word is perfect, complete, lacking nothing. It revives my soul and teaches me the path of righteousness. But do I truly treasure Your Word as I should? Do I meditate on it day and night, letting it shape my thoughts, words, and actions? Strengthen my love for Scripture that I may be firmly rooted in Your truth.
- The Purity of Your Word. Father, Your Word is pure and without error, like silver refined seven times (Psalm 12:6). It is free from deceit, always trustworthy, and sufficient for all my needs. Keep my heart anchored in Your Word so that I may grow in wisdom and discernment.
- The Eternal Word. Lord, Your Word is unchanging, enduring forever (Matthew 5:18). It cannot be broken, nor will a single “jot or tittle” pass away until all is fulfilled. This is why in a world where human opinions shift like sand, I want to cling to the solid rock of Your truth. Let me not be swayed by the empty wisdom of men but stand firm on the unshakable foundation of Scripture.
- Trusting in the Sure Testimony. Father, the testimony of Your Word is sure, making wise the simple. Do I trust it fully, even when my circumstances seem uncertain? Increase my faith that I may take You at Your Word, believing that all Your promises are yes and amen in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 1:20).
- A Life Built on Scripture. Lord, Your Word is not merely to be read, but to be lived. Am I a hearer of Your Word only, or am I also a doer? Do I allow Your truth to transform my mind and shape my character? Make me like the man in Psalm 1—planted by the rivers of water, bearing fruit in its season, and prospering in all that I do because I delight in Your law.
Prayer
O God of all truth, how perfect and pure is Your holy Word! From everlasting to everlasting, it stands as a sure testimony to Your faithfulness, wisdom, and righteousness. You have spoken, and it is done; You have promised, and it will come to pass. I praise You for the inerrant, infallible, and unchanging Scriptures that reveal Your will and direct my steps.
Lord, let my heart be ever drawn to the riches of Your Word. May I hunger and thirst for it daily, delighting in its precepts, meditating on its truths, and obeying its commands. Keep me from neglecting the treasure You have placed before me. Let me not be content with surface reading, but rather lead me into deeper study, prayerful meditation, and joyful application of all that You have revealed.
Father, in a world of shifting opinions and deceptive philosophies, keep me grounded in the immovable truth of Scripture. Let me never waver in my trust in Your Word, knowing that it alone revives the soul, makes wise the simple, and guides the righteous in the path of life. Strengthen me to resist the temptation to compromise, and grant me the boldness to stand for truth in an age of confusion.
Holy Spirit, illuminate my mind as I read the Scriptures. Open my eyes to behold wondrous things in Your law. Convict me where I fall short, comfort me with Your promises, and conform me to the image of Christ as I walk according to Your Word. Make me a vessel of Your truth, that my life may reflect the beauty of Your holiness.
May Your perfect Word be my meditation by day and my song in the night. Let it be the joy of my heart, the guide of my path, and the foundation of my faith. For in Your Word, O Lord, I find life, wisdom, and salvation.
In the name of Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh,
Amen.
Further References for Psalm 19:7
Psalm 23:3, 111:7, 119:130, 93:5, 119:111; Romans 7:12; 2 Timothy 3:15; Deuteronomy 4:6.
[1] Martin Luther, Luther’s Works, Vol. 31: Career of the Reformer I, ed. Jaroslav Jan Pelikan, Hilton C. Oswald, and Helmut T. Lehmann, vol. 31 (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1999), 345.
