"The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul..." - Psalm 19:7a

Let me ask you a question...what are the things you long for?  Is it wisdom, discernment, peace?  Everybody wants joy don't they?  How about understanding or transformation?  Next question...where does one go to find these things?  Most go to the wrong source.

Nothing can benefit us like scripture, nothing.

In Psalm 19:7-9 we have six statements regarding scripture.  Within these six statements we find six titles, six characteristics, and then six benefits of scripture.  These six statements sum up the sufficiency of the Word.  Everything we need for life to make sense is right here in scripture.  "Of the Lord" is used with each title.  Scripture are the words of the Lord.  Because of this it has a better effect on us than anything else we can read.  When we go to the word of man we go to that which truly cannot transform us.  David just sang that the heavens are an around-the-clock, global, voiceless, language which shout that God is glorious.  While the skies point to an amazing, powerful, wise, awesome Creator, they cannot transform the heart or restore the soul.  David sings that is is the law of the Lord that has the ability to restore the soul.  That is the first benefit listed regarding the Word.  And why does it have that ability?  Because it is perfect.

The word "law" looks at scripture as God's instruction for man's conduct.  God's law is our instruction manual on maximum human behavior.  If you want to enjoy life to its fullest sense that God designed it, you must follow His instruction.  He says His instruction is perfect - in the sense of completeness.  (Yes, it is flawless too, of course.)  God's Word is sweeping and complete and leaves nothing out.  The effect of this is that it restores the soul.  It transforms the inner person.  God's Word has the power to convert, to transform, to regenerate by the work of the Spirit of God through its own testimony.    

1 Peter 1:22 tells us that we are born again through the living and abiding word of God.  Paul told the saints in the church at Rome that the gospel is the power of God to salvation.  The writer to the Hebrews says that the word of God is alive, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword.  It splits open the inner man, revealing sin, producing conviction and guilt as well as converting and restoring.  The Word is the only power that can transform the inner man.  If you are looking in other places besides God's Word to change you, you are going to the wrong source.  Anything else will be ineffective and powerless to produce a vibrant, fulfilling, God-glorifying life. 

You begin spiritual life with the Word.  You must continue in the Word so it can perform it's transforming work.  Since God's Word is an instruction manual, this implies that there is action to be taken on our part.  We can read the Word till we are blue in the face, but God expects us to act on His instruction.  Letting the Word of Christ dwell in us richly revives us from the inside out.  It's also amazing how obedience brings restoration to a languishing soul!