January 6, 2020 -- Psalm 119:88 -- What are the red letter words of the Living God?

In your steadfast love give me life,

that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth.

Psalm 119:88 English Standard Version

Have you ever seen the way in which a young child learns language? The child will imitate mom and dad. Trying out words. Touching mom’s mouth as mom speaks. Marveling at how this language flows from her. His little voice box, tongue, and lips trying to form new vowel sounds and the sharp pronunciation required to aid the listener’s comprehension.

Here the psalm writer is praying a vow to the Living God: according to Your great love revive me. The previous seven verses have indicated how much the writer has wrestled against enemies within and outside himself. Now he is praying for renewed strength, the life of God’s Spirit energizing every part of his being. As this happens he will be able to face the Living God. He will look to the mouth of God and observe and listen, seeking to understand the richness of God’s testimonies so that he will be able to imitate what God requires, speaking God’s word after Him, putting into practice what God declares to be the right path of living.

Several times over the last week or so people have brought up the issue of red letter bibles. These are bibles which print Jesus’ words in red letters. I was challenged and asked: “Do you not think these words, printed in red, are particularly important?” My response is: “No, I do not.” Please note, you are reading a response that can easily be interpreted by any reader as shrill or defensive. It is not. Imagine we are chatting over a cup of coffee (or other appropriate liquid libation) and I am comfortably seated next to you answering this question a mutual friend has just asked.

Here’s why I don’t think “red-letter” sections of the bible are particularly important—the whole bible is the testimony from God’s mouth. If you are going to use “red letters” then the whole bible is useful for teaching, correction and training in righteousness. The whole bible is the testimony from God’s mouth—so says the psalmist in verse 88 of Psalm 119. This means, by the logic used of the printers of red letter bibles, that the whole Bible, being the testimony of God, should actually be printed in red letters. There is a temptation among contemporary Christians to neglect the Old Testament. This is to our detriment. In the Old Testament we learn of God. We realize His will and His ways. We understand why Jesus had to be fully obedient—in all things and in every way—so that He could be the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world. The work of the Spirit is made known to us; how the Holy Spirit moved in men and women so that they were able to keep the testimony of God. So when we read in Acts 2 the Spirit of God descended on the believers and was like a tongue of fire on their heads, we realize the significance of this—how Old Testament prophecies, testimonies of God, have been fulfilled.

Thank You, Faithful Father, for the gift of the Bible. Thank You for Your testimonies, recorded by men as they were carried along by Your Spirit. Thank You for the glory we read on each and every page. Thank You that the rich teaching of the Old Testament fully informs us Who Jesus Is, so that the New Testament is beautifully off-set and Jesus Himself is proved to be greater than all the prophets and teachers, kings and priests who came before Him. In fact, the Old Testament shows us Jesus is the Prophet, the Priest and the King longed for by Your people Israel, and in fact, the Desire of all Nations. Triune God, thank You for your testimonies. Revive us according to Your Word that we may keep the testimonies of Your mouth. Amen.