Psalm 119 is one of the premier chapters of the Bible. In it, we find 176 verses of absolute truth concerning God’s word. This chapter is the longest in the Bible and is divided into 22 divisions of eight verses each. I read this chapter often because it magnifies so vividly the importance of the scriptures. The entire chapter exalts, magnifies and promotes the perfection of the word. Only five verses make no mention of the word of God, and seven verses make two references. Psalm 138:2 speaks of the preeminent place that the scriptures hold in the work of God: “I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy loving kindness and thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.” That seems to me a highly exalted and dominant position. The words used in Psalm 119 to identify the word of God are: word, law, testimonies, precepts, statutes, commandments and judgments.
Each of these words identify a different character of the same topic: “The word of God.” These seven words define the complete truth of the scriptures: seven being the number of completion, and being God’s number.
God has preserved his word throughout all the generations by inspiration, and it is inerrant and infallible. Second Timothy 3:16 tells us where the scriptures came from, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17. That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”
Also, Psalm 12:6, 7 leaves no doubt, except to the skeptic as to the preservation of the scriptures, “The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. 7. Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.”
Some of the modern versions change verse seven to read “Thou shalt keep us O Lord.”, and separate it from verse 6, therefore totally removing the truth of preservation that these verses are meant to convey. Psalm 12:6, 7 are joined together as Siamese twins and cannot be separated without doing irreparable damage to the doctrine of scriptural preservation. Verse 6 is speaking of the purity of God’s word and then verse 7 continues that truth, and speaks of how God will preserve that purity of his word. He does preserve us, but verse 7 is not talking about that; it is talking about the word of God, plain and simple.
Jesus said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” They are preserved, or settled, and we still have them today, according to Psalm 119:89 “Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.”
And then finally, Peter said in 1 Peter 1:23, 25 “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever. 25. But the word of the Lord endureth forever.” His word is alive, it is incorruptible, it abides and endures forever, and I have a copy of it that I study and preach out of every week!!!!