I Will Not Forget Thy Word

By Eddy Craft

"I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word" (Psalm 119:16).

The importance of the Word of God is seen in various ways. In this lesson we want to look at a few of them. The Psalmist declares the importance of God's Word by saying that he would not forget it! If it was unimportant to him, why did he make such a bold declaration? Why is the Word of God important to us?

It tells man what to do to be saved and to keep saved.

Romans 1:16 - "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."

John 8:31-32 -- "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

1 Peter 1:22 -- "Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:"

James 1:21 - "Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls."

It serves as a lamp for our steps.

Psalm 119:105 -- "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."

Psalm 37:23 -- "The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way."

The word of God will keep one from walking in darkness and is the only source that can provide Divine guidance.

It is an aid to us when tempted to sin.

Psalm 119:11 "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." When Jesus was tempted, He used the Word of God to put Satan to flight. The Word of God is the seed of the kingdom.

Luke 8:11 -- "Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God." The seed sown in our hearts will help to keep us from sinning. That is why the Devil wants to take the Word from our hearts.

Luke 8:12 -- "Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved."

It reminds us of the need to serve.

Galatians 6:10 "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith."

Romans 12:1 -- "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."

We will either serve God or the Devil. Joshua made this clear.

Joshua 24:15 -- "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." When one becomes a Christian he no longer serves sin.

It is the standard by which we are to live and it will be the standard by which we will be judged.

John 2:48 -- "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day."

Revelation 20:12-13 -- "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works."

WHAT WILL WE DO WITH THE WORD OF GOD?