In :102 of Psalm 119, the writer recalls: “I have not turned aside from Your ordinances, for You Yourself have taught me.” We observe in this verse the intimate connection between God and His word. To the Psalmist, “Your ordinances” equate to “You Yourself” teaching. He considered God’s word as personal instruction from God Himself. You can sense in his expression, “You Yourself have taught me” what a privilege he considered this to be.

We should too. We should consider it our greatest privilege to hear every day from God Himself in His word. And it is in His word that we should look for that intimate, personal instruction from God. Too many try to substitute other subjective “experiences” for the firm foundation of scripture, but those cannot match the unequaled value of the word of God, wherein the Holy Spirit of God teaches us.

It is as the old hymn says:

“How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, is laid for your faith in His excellent word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said, to you who for refuge to Jesus hath fled?”

It is of the instruction of God’s word, found in the holy scriptures, that we can affirm with the Psalmist: “You Yourself have taught me”!