Today, we conclude our series on The Perfections of Scripture by looking at one final characteristic of Scripture found in Psalm 19:9, “The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether.” At first glance, “the judgments of the LORD” seems to be an odd description for the nature of Scripture. The Hebrew word for judgments is a legal word that comes from the courtroom environment, and it describes God’s Word as a collection of judicial decisions and precedents that He has made about various human situations. In other words, David is saying that the Word of God is filled with God’s precedents. He means that all God’s legal decisions about the details of human life and community are contained in Scripture.
The text goes on to say, “The judgments of the LORD are true” (v. 9). That is to say that God’s Word is dependable and trustworthy. Scripture has, like God Himself, an unchangeable moral foundation that cannot be broken. It contains permanent, legal decisions about what is and what ought to be in terms of morals. David adds, “The judgments of the LORD are truth; they are righteous altogether” (v. 9). All God’s Word collectively and every commandment individually meet the standard of perfect righteousness.
Psalm 119:142 says, “Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your law is truth.”
Psalm 119:160 says, “The sum of your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting.”
Scripture is without defect and has no moral corruption. It is radiant and piercing like the sun, and it’s completely refined without any dross. There isn’t a more trustworthy, dependable, and reliable book in existence.
It restores the soul at the moment salvation and continues giving restoration in keeping with repentance. It gives wisdom to those who are morally gullible or misled, and it produces genuine joy as we are conformed to our Creator’s design. It enlightens our eyes in the sense that it gives us a true understanding of life and eternity, and it provides a comprehensive standard of righteousness and righteous living when obeyed.
Charles Bridges writes, “The professor may read, and understand, and even externally obey the law; but the believer only loves it; and he lives in it, as if he could not live without it; To the professor it is a task imposed to satisfy conscience. To the child of God, it is food and medicine, light and comfort—yea, life from the dead.”[1]
That’s why David, in Psalm 19:10, says God’s words, “Are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold. Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.”
[1] Charles Bridges, Exposition of Psalm 119 (Banner of Truth).