Good Law
Gimel
Be good to your servant while I live,
that I may obey your word.
Open my eyes that I may see
wonderful things in your law.
I am a stranger on earth;
do not hide your commands from me.
My soul is consumed with longing
for your laws at all times.
You rebuke the arrogant, who are accursed,
those who stray from your commands.
Remove from me their scorn and contempt,
for I keep your statutes.
Though rulers sit together and slander me,
your servant will meditate on your decrees.
Your statutes are my delight;
they are my counselors.
Psalm 119:17-24
God’s laws have a pretty bad reputation these days. Perceived as oppressive, alien, misogynistic, unnecessarily restrictive and homophobic, even most Christians feel a need to apologise for God’s laws.
The Psalmist doesn’t. He delights in the law of God. His soul is consumed with longing for them. What does the Psalmist see that sometimes we don’t?
Well, let’s think about it. Where do we start? Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength and love your neighbour as yourself. That doesn’t sound so bad. Surely, there is something we can get behind.
What about all the rest though? Well, first, let’s recognise that actually, all of God’s laws fit under the two overarching categories of loving God and loving people. Do not steal - is that not a good and right way of loving fellow humans? Do not make idols or worship false gods - this is loving to the God who made us.
What about so many of the other laws or commands of God? Why does God care about who we have sex with or what we wear, what words we speak or how hard we work?
Could it be that God knows us better than we know ourselves? Isn’t it interesting that our culture seems to at the same time as rejecting God’s laws, feel completely out of balance in terms of work and sex. Could God’s ways, instead of being repressive, actually be helpful?
The more I consider and reflect on God’s laws and ways, and Christ’s perfect obedience to God’s commands. I’m convinced that His ways are higher and greater than our ways and that the best thing I can do is to meditate on His laws and delight in His commands.
For Today:
Pray: Praise the Father that He is good and has given us His good laws to live by. Give thanks for Jesus Christ who delighted in God’s laws. Ask God for His Holy Spirit to help you and others to meditate on and delight in God’s laws.
Be good to your servant while I live,
that I may obey your word.
Open my eyes that I may see
wonderful things in your law.
I am a stranger on earth;
do not hide your commands from me.
My soul is consumed with longing
for your laws at all times.
You rebuke the arrogant, who are accursed,
those who stray from your commands.
Remove from me their scorn and contempt,
for I keep your statutes.
Though rulers sit together and slander me,
your servant will meditate on your decrees.
Your statutes are my delight;
they are my counselors.
Psalm 119:17-24
God’s laws have a pretty bad reputation these days. Perceived as oppressive, alien, misogynistic, unnecessarily restrictive and homophobic, even most Christians feel a need to apologise for God’s laws.
The Psalmist doesn’t. He delights in the law of God. His soul is consumed with longing for them. What does the Psalmist see that sometimes we don’t?
Well, let’s think about it. Where do we start? Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength and love your neighbour as yourself. That doesn’t sound so bad. Surely, there is something we can get behind.
What about all the rest though? Well, first, let’s recognise that actually, all of God’s laws fit under the two overarching categories of loving God and loving people. Do not steal - is that not a good and right way of loving fellow humans? Do not make idols or worship false gods - this is loving to the God who made us.
What about so many of the other laws or commands of God? Why does God care about who we have sex with or what we wear, what words we speak or how hard we work?
Could it be that God knows us better than we know ourselves? Isn’t it interesting that our culture seems to at the same time as rejecting God’s laws, feel completely out of balance in terms of work and sex. Could God’s ways, instead of being repressive, actually be helpful?
The more I consider and reflect on God’s laws and ways, and Christ’s perfect obedience to God’s commands. I’m convinced that His ways are higher and greater than our ways and that the best thing I can do is to meditate on His laws and delight in His commands.
For Today:
- Do you feel you need to defend or apologise for God’s laws/commands?
- Do you struggle with some of His laws/commands?
- How could you meditate and delight in His laws today/this week?
Pray: Praise the Father that He is good and has given us His good laws to live by. Give thanks for Jesus Christ who delighted in God’s laws. Ask God for His Holy Spirit to help you and others to meditate on and delight in God’s laws.
Posted in Psalms
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