June 23, 2008 Ration

Psalm 119:160

“The sum of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting.”

The sum of something is the total value of all its parts collectively - all of them, not just some of them. “Some” does not equal “sum.” If you desire, artist, to know and understand and enjoy the full pleasures of truth, then the word of God must be read and considered in its entirety. “The sum of Your word is truth…”

In a song, every measure must be worked. Every note must be sounded. We cannot play only the parts that are easy, nor only the parts that we like to hear. While these themes are true to the song indeed, the song's full glory will only be known and enjoyed when the full work is played with its full orchestration, and when its composer conducts it.

Each material part of a painting, with its own purpose and properties, makes up a portion of the painting. The canvas, paint, oil, ink, blood, or whatever other material is being used, plus the skill, consideration, articulation, and discipline of the artist are all pieces on their own that when put together add up to a sum total, which is, the painting – the work of art.

The Psalmist has read God’s word with all of its testimonies, promises, accounts of blessings, accounts of horror, warnings, wisdom, revelations, and after 159 verses of recalling what he has heard about God through His word, he says to the Lord, “The sum of your word is truth…” When all of God’s word is considered, which includes all of its hardest parts, it adds up to this: TRUTH.

Artists, consider some of what the Psalmist affirms in his poem regarding the truth about God and His word, and about himself:

Vs. 67-68 “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word. You are good and do good; teach me Your statutes.”
Vs. 71 “It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn Your statutes.”
Vs. 72 “The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.”
Vs. 73 “Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.”
Vs. 75 “I know, O Lord, that Your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.”
Vs. 89-90 “Forever, O Lord, Your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. Your faithfulness endures to all generations: You have established the earth and it stands fast.”
Vs, 104 “Through Your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.”
Vs. 130 “The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.”
Vs. 18 “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Your law.”
Vs. 36 “Incline my heart to Your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!”

In your artistry, enjoy the truth. Express the truth. Commend the truth. Share the truth. To enjoy the fullness of truth, artists, we must know and deal with the full counsel of God’s word, yes, even its hardest parts, as its sum is the truth. The Psalmist did not fear to find the truth, he feared not finding it.

Jason Harms

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