THE BELIEVER’S HEARITAGE OF JOY (Pastor Tom Henry) ~ 5/1/25

“Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.” (Psalm 119:111)

When David penned these words, he did not know the ease of luxury. He had just written, “My soul is continually in my hand.” At this time in his flight from King Saul, he was not exaggerating when he said to his beloved friend Jonathan, “There is but a step between me and death.” In another place David spoke of his being “hunted as a partridge.” It was in such straits as this that he said, “Thy testimonies are my heritage forever.”

David was rejoicing in his sorrow. He had God’s testimonies, and they were the rejoicing of his heart. He was rich while in a state of poverty and homelessness. He was enthroned even though in a state of exile. How wonderful is the comfort of the Scriptures, allowing one whose heritage they are to rejoice while dwelling in caves, and while living in real fear for life. While it is true that such circumstances make the promises of God’s Word more precious, this is true only for those who have taken His testimonies as their heritage.

What kind of an estate is this heritage which David had taken? How vast it is! Surely it would be impossible to map out such a large estate, but we can, I believe, get some idea of what David held that caused his heart to rejoice. First, when he speaks of the Divine testimonies, he is thinking of a heritage of truth. What greater cause for rejoicing than to have God’s truth? Wealth of mind consists in the truth it knows. The Prophet said, “Thy words were found, and I did eat them, and they were the rejoicing of my heart.” That is, he mentally digested them. Likewise, David speaks of God’s law as being his meditation all the day; and of having superior understanding because God’s testimonies are his meditation. Clearly, he did not spend his exile moaning and feeling sorry for himself, but rather meditating (ruminating) the testimonies of God.

Surely the deist is in a state of poverty. He believes that God exists, but has not spoken. But what a treasure is ours who rejoice in God’s Word. What a gold mine! Imagine, if you will, any other book lending itself to thousands of years of digging and searching, mining its contents by eager expositors and Bible scholars. Any other volume would have been thread-bare long ago, yet with God’s testimonies the surface has barely been scratched of the depths of this infinite treasure. Is God’s Word your treasure? How does it compare to your desire for earthly treasure.

David’s heritage also included God’s covenant, called “The sure mercies of David.” God’s testament is God’s Covenant. The Holy Scriptures consist of two Testaments, or Covenants, if you will. In the Divine Covenant we have God’s sworn mercy, grace, protection, salvation. We can truly rejoice in God’s unchanging Covenant of Grace.

To add further meaning to David’s heritage, Jesus Christ, God’s Son is His greatest Testimony of all. David’s faith and hope was in his greater Son, in Him Who he called “Lord.” He is all in all. He testifies of all that God is. The Son is His testimony against sin; His testimony concerning Divine love. He is the image of the invisible God; the fullness of the Godhead; and the One by Whom God freely gives us all things.

David’s heritage, in which he was made infinitely rich, was God’s Testimonies, which consist chiefly in God’s Word, God’s Covenant, and God’s Son. Is this your heritage? You must, like David, take possession. “Thy testimonies have I taken.”