His Word is Pure

God — his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is pure. He is a shield to all who take refuge in him. – Psalm 18.30, CSB

I naturally jump to a conclusion when I read the word “pure” as meaning having no impurities or imperfections. And I do believe that this is true about God’s word. I believe that everything that proceeds out of the mouth of God is pure, having no imperfections or hint of contamination of any kind. But this word in the Hebrew language is different. Young’s Literal Translation words Psalm 18.30 this way: “The saying of Jehovah is tried“(emphasis added). The word “pure” here in Psalm 18.30 means to smelt, refine, or test. It means that God’s word has stood the test and proven to be true.

Have you found the words and sayings of God to be trustworthy and proven? With the large number of people who approach the word of God with skepticism and a desire to disprove it, even trying to destroy it, God’s word stands proven.

Early in the history of Christianity, Clement of Alexandria wrote, “Many martyrs are daily burned, crucified, and beheaded before our eyes.” For many years Christianity was outlawed by the Roman government. From the time of Trajan (reigned 98-117) until Constantine (c. 300), virtually every one of the Roman emperors was opposed to Christianity. It is true that not all of them actively tried to suppress it, but few of them encouraged Christianity in any way. Many of their efforts were directed toward destroying the Bible. Of Diocletian (284-316), the ruler immediately preceding Constantine, Eusebius, the historian said, “royal edicts were published everywhere, commanding that the churches be leveled to the ground and the Scriptures destroyed by fire” (Church History, Book VIII, Ch. 1). Diocletian went on to say that if one had a copy of the Scriptures and did not surrender it to be burned, if it were discovered, he would be killed. Furthermore, if any other should know of one who had a copy of the Scriptures, and did not report it, he also would be killed. During this time many, many copies of the Bible were burned, copies laboriously written in longhand. Of this period. the historian Newman said, “Multitudes . . . hastened to deny the faith and to surrender their copies of the Scriptures; many more bore the most horrible tortures and refused with their latest breath to surrender the Scriptures or in any way to compromise themselves” (Newman, Church History, p. 169). After this edict had been in force for two years, Diocletian boasted, “I have completely exterminated the Christian writings from the face of the earth!” (Rimmer, Seven Wonders of the Wonderful Word, p. 15). –

“The Indestructibility of the Bible.” Truthmagazine.com, 2025, truthmagazine.com/archives/volume19/TM019211.html. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.

But did he? Constantine, who became a follower of Christ, succeeded Diocletian as ruler of the Roman Empire. He requested that copies of the Scriptures be made available for all of the churches, even offering a substantial reward for a copy. It’s recorded that within 25 hours, 50 copies of the Bible were brought to him. Diocletian’s boast about having “completely exterminated the Christian writings from the face of the earth” simply was not true. His final boast was a lie. He had failed.

How do you approach God’s word? How do you treat it? Is it simply an owner’s manual that you look through to find the right verse to fix the problem? Is it a book of fables, stories with a teachable purpose to help encourage or to make a point? Is it an outdated list of dos and don’ts that needs to catch up with the times? Is it a book of doctrines and theology that lacks a deep and intimate relationship with the God you read about? If so, then you’re missing out. When it’s simply an owner’s manual or a storybook, it gets treated like any other owner’s manual or storybook in your home. It gets used when needed but forgotten when not. If you see it as outdated, then you look to other things that seem more current but have not been tried and tested. When you view it as a book of doctrine and theology, while forgetting the intimate invitation of its Author to know and walk with him, you become caught up in the intricacies of what it says while missing out on the intimacy it offers. But when you approach God’s word as expressing the very heart and mind of our Creator, revealing to us who he is, what he does, and what he wants from us, you approach it with a beautiful passion and holy reverence. 

Your words were found, and I ate them. Your words became a delight to me and the joy of my heart, for I bear your name, LORD God of Armies. – Jeremiah 15.16, CSB

How I love your instruction! It is my meditation all day long. – Psalm 119.97, CSB

God’s word becomes something so much more than information to be learned when we gaze upon the beauty and wonder of God, for we cannot know God without his Holy Spirit revealing himself to us through his word. And as we daily “devour” God’s word, our desire and love for God increases. And because our desire and love for God increases, we grow in our desire to live lives that are honoring to him. And when we apply his tried and pure word to our lives, we see the blessings and benefits that come with obedience. We trust God and obey his commands. We continue to walk in faithfulness to what he says because we love him and know that he will come through. We receive encouragement during trying times and conviction when we are in sin. We are instructed in the ways of God and learn how to walk like Jesus as we walk with Jesus.

So, let’s get back to the simplicity of it all. 

God’s word is pure. God’s word is tried and true. God’s word has stood the test of time. And God has given us his word that we might know and love him more. 

Thank you, God, for your word, which is tested and tried. Your words are trustworthy and proven. Thank you for wanting us to know you. Please reveal yourself to us more and more, so that we might love you well.