How does Psalm 138:2 connect with John 1:1 about the Word's significance? Verse Snapshot • Psalm 138:2: “I bow down toward Your holy temple and give thanks to Your name for Your loving devotion and Your faithfulness; You have exalted Your name and Your word above all else.” • John 1:1: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Understanding “the Word” • In Psalm 138:2, “Your word” refers to every utterance God has spoken—promises, commands, revelations. • In John 1:1, “the Word” (Greek: Logos) is a title for the pre-existent Son, who is both with God and fully God. • Scripture therefore speaks of “word” in two interconnected dimensions: – The spoken/written revelation God gives. – The living, eternal Person who embodies that revelation—Jesus Christ (John 1:14). Psalm 138:2—God’s Word Magnified • David rejoices that God elevates His word “above all else,” underscoring: – Absolute reliability—every promise stands (Numbers 23:19). – Supreme authority—His word outranks human opinion (Psalm 119:89). • By pairing “Your name” and “Your word,” the verse shows God’s reputation and His revelation are inseparable; if one fails, so does the other—an impossibility (Titus 1:2). John 1:1—The Word Incarnate • John affirms that the eternal Word is fully divine. • This Word “became flesh” (John 1:14), proving: – God’s revelation is not abstract but personal. – The promises magnified in Psalm 138:2 find their ultimate fulfillment in Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20). Bringing the Texts Together • Psalm 138:2 highlights the supreme value God places on His word; John 1:1 identifies that word with the very Person of God the Son. • What God exalted in written form under the old covenant, He incarnated in Jesus under the new. • Thus: – The authority of Scripture (Psalm 138:2) and the deity of Christ (John 1:1) stand or fall together. – To honor Christ is to honor Scripture, and vice-versa (John 5:39). – God’s commitment to His word explains the incarnation; the Word who was God came to ensure every covenant promise would be kept (Luke 24:44). Practical Takeaways • Confidence—Because God magnifies His word, we can trust every page of Scripture and every promise in Christ (Isaiah 55:11). • Worship—Bowing to the Word written prepares us to bow to the Word incarnate (Philippians 2:10-11). • Obedience—Submitting to Scripture is submitting to Jesus Himself (John 14:23-24). |
    |