commandments. The ungodly laid wait for me to destroy me: but I will
consider Thy testimonies. I see that all things come to an end: but
Thy commandment is exceeding broad.

This text is of infinite importance, to you, and me, and all mankind. For
if the text is not true; if there is not a Word of God, who endures and
is settled for ever in heaven: then this world is a miserable and a mad
place; and the best thing, it seems to me, that we poor ignorant human
beings can do, is to eat and drink, for to morrow we die.

But that is not the best thing we can do; but the very worst thing. The
best thing that we can do, and the only thing worth doing is, to be good,
and do good, at all risks and all costs, trusting to the Word of God, who
endures for ever in heaven.

But who is this Word of God? I say who, not what. We often call the
Bible the Word of God: and so it is in one sense, because it tells us,
from beginning to end, about this other Word of God. It is, so to speak,
God's word or message about this Word. But it is plain that the Psalmist
is not speaking here of the Bible; for he says--

"Thy Word endureth for ever in Heaven:" and the Bible is not in heaven,
but on earth.

But in the Bible, usually, this Word of the Lord means not only the
message which God sends, but Him by whom God sends it. The Word of God,
Word of the Lord, is spoken of again and again, not as a thing, but as a
person, a living rational being, who comes to men, and speaks to them,
and teaches them; sometimes, seemingly, by actual word of mouth;
sometimes again, by putting thoughts into their minds, and words into
their mouths.

Recollect Samuel: how when he was young the Word of the Lord was
precious--that is, uncommon, and almost unknown in those days; and how
the Lord came and called Samuel, Samuel; and put a word into his mouth
against Eli. And so the Lord appeared again in Shiloh; for the Lord
revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by The Word of the Lord. In
Samuel's case, there was, it seems, an actual voice, which fell on
Samuel's ears. In the case of the later prophets, we do not read that
they usually heard any actual voice, or saw any actual appearance. It
seems that the Word of the Lord who came to them inspired their minds
with true thoughts, and inspired their lips to speak those thoughts in
noble words, often in regular poetry. But He was The Word of the Lord,
nevertheless. Again and again, we read in those gr