oldpathsda
TESTIMONIES ARE RIGHTEOUSNESS
-David Sampathkumar
"Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep his testimo- nies, who seek him with the whole heart". -Psalm 119: 1,2.
The word of God is to be studied carefully. Some times an ignored work may be having deep meaning and thought provoking truth in that.
May be several times we have come across these two verses ofPs.119: 1,2. But have we analyzed these verses, to find out, that what is the golden truth hidden in it? Ifnot let us step into it with earnest prayer. May the living God give us understanding and knowledge.
In verse 1 the psalmist says, "who walk in the law of the Lord! "In verse 2 he says, "who keep his testimonies". The Psalmist diligently differentiates the law and testimonies. Indeed both are different.
In following verses of this same chapter Ps.119 till verses 6 instead for the word law he
The law and the testimony both are different. The same Psalm 119: I Tamil. The translated version says the word law as "Vedham". The first Tamil bible was translated by the assistant ofSeganbulk the missionary one who came to Tranqubar. Since the translating assistant was a Brahmin he used most of the Sanski"itand Hindi words. The word Vedham is derived from the Sanskrit word "Vedha". You can refer the religious canonical book of Hindus they say Rig- Vedha, Yesur Vedha, Sarna Vedha and Adharvana Vedha. The word Vedha or Vedham means canon or the rule. So the Tamil translator of the bible used the proper word "Vedham" for the word law. Here the word law denotes the Ten Commandments. So we can come to the conclusion that Psalmist insists to walk in the law the Ten Commandments and keep the testimonies. There is no vast different between the idiomatic word walk and keep. So the law of God and testimony are can't be neglected in Christian life, particularly in Adventist life style.
The laws of god or the Ten Commandments are centrised in bible and other words are surrounded as testimonies in Bible. As per the verse Isa 8:20 when the apocrypha was tested there could not find any sequence of truth in it. Therefore this apocrypha became books of rejection. As we are studying about the testimonies let us see more about this testimonies.
In Psalms 119:88 the Psalmist says that "Revive me according to your loving kindness, so that I may keep the testimony of your mouth". The testimonies are from the mouth of god one who created heaven and earth by that same mouth. In this same chapter verse 24 it says, "your testimonies also are my delight. And my counselors,i. The testimony of the mouth of god is only the counselor for us. No organization policy or human philosophy can be placed in this stead. Further in this same chapter verse 144 it says, the righteousness of your testimonies is everlast- ing; give me understanding and I shall live". The phrases "The righteousness of your testimonies is everlasting";~we are very sure the righteousness of Christ or the righteousness of law of God is everlasting. The righteousness of testimonies also everlasting. It means the righteousness of Christ is closely paralleled with the righteousness of testimonies. Both are everlasting. Since the plan of salvation is started god is maintaining this system of testimony. Let us turn to our bible to Deuteronomy. There it says "so it was when Mosses had completed writing the words of this law in a book, when they were finished, that Mosses commanded the Levites, who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord saying; "Take this book of the law, and put it beside the ark of the covenant of the Lord your god, that it may be there as a witness against you"; -Deut 31 :24-26.
The word "witness" and "testimony" are same meaning. After Mosses completed writing this book of law, he commanded the Levites to put this book beside the ark of the covenant of the Lord God. Two things we must be carefully consider in these verses. The first thing this book of law written by Mosses with his own hands and the next thing ,Mosses commanded the Levites to put this book of law beside the ark of the covenant of the Lord God. What was inside of the ark of the covenant! That is the law of god the Ten Commandments which was written by God with His own hands and given to Mosses at mount Sinai. The law of god was written by His own hands, because there should not be any mistake and error of presentation in that. And also it is an everlasting righteousness. Eternal god must create the eternal things only. The removable or changeable Mosaic Law or ceremonial law was allowed to by written by the hands of Mosses the mortal man. But one thing we should not forget as per the Psalms 119: 144, the testimonies are everlasting.
The Psalmist in the same chapter of 119:99 says "I have more understanding than all my teacher's, for your testimonies are my meditation". The Historical evidences of the book Psalms never says this book of 119 is written by King David the Author of this psalms 119 is anonymous some of the anonymous Psalms are traditionally attributed t!) Ezra what ever it may be the king David also was having the meditation upon the testimonies. It can be comprehended from Psalms 51 : 16-17. In this verses it reveals that the king David has how for understand the spiritual meaning for sacrifices, these sacrifices are of~e mosaic law of ceremony, other ways it can be said the book of law kept beside the ark of covenant of god.
God expected the same spiritual meaning should be understand by the Israelites failured to practice the ceremo- nial law are the testimony with out it's sanctifying power. So they could not see Jesus Christ who was born in Bethlehem as their redeemer. The failure of meditation upon the testimonies let them to reject Christ the of Son of God.
These mosaic law are the testimonies which was kept beside the ark of covenant was fore shadowing the sacrifice and the redemption of Jesus Christ when He was crucified on the cross of Calvary. Apostle Paul in his theological dcfmition mosaic law, he says it is meant for Christ and his sacrifice upon cross. He describes this Colossians 2: 14- 16. "Having wiped out the hand writing of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers. He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. Therefore let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths".
Many of the other denomination of Christian's churches are quoting the above verses for defending the argu- ment of the law of god is crucified up on the cross. It is caused by their immature understanding the word of god or
The law and the testimony both are different. The same Psalm 119: I Tamil. The translated version says the word law as "Vedham". The first Tamil bible was translated by the assistant ofSeganbulk the missionary one who came to Tranqubar. Since the translating assistant was a Brahmin he used most of the Sanski"itand Hindi words. The word Vedham is derived from the Sanskrit word "Vedha". You can refer the religious canonical book of Hindus they say Rig- Vedha, Yesur Vedha, Sarna Vedha and Adharvana Vedha. The word Vedha or Vedham means canon or the rule. So the Tamil translator of the bible used the proper word "Vedham" for the word law. Here the word law denotes the Ten Commandments. So we can come to the conclusion that Psalmist insists to walk in the law the Ten Commandments and keep the testimonies. There is no vast different between the idiomatic word walk and keep. So the law of God and testimony are can't be neglected in Christian life, particularly in Adventist life style.
The laws of god or the Ten Commandments are centrised in bible and other words are surrounded as testimonies in Bible. As per the verse Isa 8:20 when the apocrypha was tested there could not find any sequence of truth in it. Therefore this apocrypha became books of rejection. As we are studying about the testimonies let us see more about this testimonies.
In Psalms 119:88 the Psalmist says that "Revive me according to your loving kindness, so that I may keep the testimony of your mouth". The testimonies are from the mouth of god one who created heaven and earth by that same mouth. In this same chapter verse 24 it says, "your testimonies also are my delight. And my counselors,i. The testimony of the mouth of god is only the counselor for us. No organization policy or human philosophy can be placed in this stead. Further in this same chapter verse 144 it says, the righteousness of your testimonies is everlast- ing; give me understanding and I shall live". The phrases "The righteousness of your testimonies is everlasting";~we are very sure the righteousness of Christ or the righteousness of law of God is everlasting. The righteousness of testimonies also everlasting. It means the righteousness of Christ is closely paralleled with the righteousness of testimonies. Both are everlasting. Since the plan of salvation is started god is maintaining this system of testimony. Let us turn to our bible to Deuteronomy. There it says "so it was when Mosses had completed writing the words of this law in a book, when they were finished, that Mosses commanded the Levites, who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord saying; "Take this book of the law, and put it beside the ark of the covenant of the Lord your god, that it may be there as a witness against you"; -Deut 31 :24-26.
The word "witness" and "testimony" are same meaning. After Mosses completed writing this book of law, he commanded the Levites to put this book beside the ark of the covenant of the Lord God. Two things we must be carefully consider in these verses. The first thing this book of law written by Mosses with his own hands and the next thing ,Mosses commanded the Levites to put this book of law beside the ark of the covenant of the Lord God. What was inside of the ark of the covenant! That is the law of god the Ten Commandments which was written by God with His own hands and given to Mosses at mount Sinai. The law of god was written by His own hands, because there should not be any mistake and error of presentation in that. And also it is an everlasting righteousness. Eternal god must create the eternal things only. The removable or changeable Mosaic Law or ceremonial law was allowed to by written by the hands of Mosses the mortal man. But one thing we should not forget as per the Psalms 119: 144, the testimonies are everlasting.
The Psalmist in the same chapter of 119:99 says "I have more understanding than all my teacher's, for your testimonies are my meditation". The Historical evidences of the book Psalms never says this book of 119 is written by King David the Author of this psalms 119 is anonymous some of the anonymous Psalms are traditionally attributed t!) Ezra what ever it may be the king David also was having the meditation upon the testimonies. It can be comprehended from Psalms 51 : 16-17. In this verses it reveals that the king David has how for understand the spiritual meaning for sacrifices, these sacrifices are of~e mosaic law of ceremony, other ways it can be said the book of law kept beside the ark of covenant of god.
God expected the same spiritual meaning should be understand by the Israelites failured to practice the ceremo- nial law are the testimony with out it's sanctifying power. So they could not see Jesus Christ who was born in Bethlehem as their redeemer. The failure of meditation upon the testimonies let them to reject Christ the of Son of God.
These mosaic law are the testimonies which was kept beside the ark of covenant was fore shadowing the sacrifice and the redemption of Jesus Christ when He was crucified on the cross of Calvary. Apostle Paul in his theological dcfmition mosaic law, he says it is meant for Christ and his sacrifice upon cross. He describes this Colossians 2: 14- 16. "Having wiped out the hand writing of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers. He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. Therefore let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths".
Many of the other denomination of Christian's churches are quoting the above verses for defending the argu- ment of the law of god is crucified up on the cross. It is caused by their immature understanding the word of god or
uses the other words "precepts", "statutes", "commandments". But the testimonies are differing from them. If you want to differentiate the law and testimony clearly let us refer the Isa.8:20. "To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them".
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