God's laws: bUrDenSOME rules or sweet gift from a loving father? |

November 16, 2009

God's laws: bUrDenSOME rules or sweet gift from a loving father?

Psalm 119:73-112

Susan McFaddin

Central Truth

If we delight in learning God's Word and putting His ways before our ways, we will gain wisdom and turn away from evil.

Your words are sweeter
in my mouth than honey!
Your precepts give me discernment.
Therefore I hate all deceitful actions.
(Psalm 119:103-104)

Yodh

73 Your hands have made and fashioned me;
    give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.
74 Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice,
    because I have hoped in your word.
75 I know, O LORD, that your rules are righteous,
    and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
76 Let your steadfast love comfort me
    according to your promise to your servant.
77 Let your mercy come to me, that I may live;
    for your law is my delight.
78 Let the insolent be put to shame,
    because they have wronged me with falsehood;
    as for me, I will meditate on your precepts.
79 Let those who fear you turn to me,
    that they may know your testimonies.
80 May my heart be blameless in your statutes,
    that I may not be put to shame!

Kaph

81 My soul longs for your salvation;
    I hope in your word.
82 My eyes long for your promise;
    I ask, “When will you comfort me?”
83 For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke,
    yet I have not forgotten your statutes.
84 How long must your servant endure?^{1

119:84
Hebrew How many are the days of your servant?}
    When will you judge those who persecute me?
85 The insolent have dug pitfalls for me;
    they do not live according to your law.
86 All your commandments are sure;
    they persecute me with falsehood; help me!
87 They have almost made an end of me on earth,
    but I have not forsaken your precepts.
88 In your steadfast love give me life,
    that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth.

Lamedh

89 Forever, O LORD, your word
    is firmly fixed in the heavens.
90 Your faithfulness endures to all generations;
    you have established the earth, and it stands fast.
91 By your appointment they stand this day,
    for all things are your servants.
92 If your law had not been my delight,
    I would have perished in my affliction.
93 I will never forget your precepts,
    for by them you have given me life.
94 I am yours; save me,
    for I have sought your precepts.
95 The wicked lie in wait to destroy me,
    but I consider your testimonies.
96 I have seen a limit to all perfection,
    but your commandment is exceedingly broad.

Mem

97 Oh how I love your law!
    It is my meditation all the day.
98 Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,
    for it is ever with me.
99 I have more understanding than all my teachers,
    for your testimonies are my meditation.
100 I understand more than the aged,^{2

119:100
Or the elders}
    for I keep your precepts.
101 I hold back my feet from every evil way,
    in order to keep your word.
102 I do not turn aside from your rules,
    for you have taught me.
103 How sweet are your words to my taste,
    sweeter than honey to my mouth!
104 Through your precepts I get understanding;
    therefore I hate every false way.

Nun

105 Your word is a lamp to my feet
    and a light to my path.
106 I have sworn an oath and confirmed it,
    to keep your righteous rules.
107 I am severely afflicted;
    give me life, O LORD, according to your word!
108 Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O LORD,
    and teach me your rules.
109 I hold my life in my hand continually,
    but I do not forget your law.
110 The wicked have laid a snare for me,
    but I do not stray from your precepts.
111 Your testimonies are my heritage forever,
    for they are the joy of my heart.
112 I incline my heart to perform your statutes
    forever, to the end.^{3

119:112
Or statutes; the reward is eternal}

Footnotes

[1] 119:84 Hebrew How many are the days of your servant?
[2] 119:100 Or the elders
[3] 119:112 Or statutes; the reward is eternal

Note to all the Amy Grant fans out there who are silently rebuking me for not choosing verse 105 as the key verse, I apologize. Go dig up that 1986 Collection cassette and play Thy Word as your theme song for today! Now let's get started.

Two summers ago, I sat on the floor at Young Life camp with nine precious teenagers. One challenge that night was to help them understand--and to grasp more fully for myself--the beautiful provision God’s laws give us.

It’s easy to mistakenly view the Bible as a big set of rules given to prevent us from doing the things our flesh tells us will bring happiness. We forget that God created joy and loves us so much that He sent His Son so we may “have life, and may have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)

God’s statutes are not intended to hold us captive; on the contrary, they are a sweet provision from a loving Father given for our protection. God knows that without boundaries we will stray from the safe path and bring harm to ourselves through destructive decisions. He graciously gives us a set of guidelines to follow so that we can live freely and fully, avoid the painful repercussions of sin, and experience the abundant joy and blessings He intends for us. If we truly comprehend the sweetness of God's Word, then we, like the psalmist, will delight in the law (119:77), meditate on it all day (119:97), hate wrong (119:104), and find joy in His statutes (119:111).

I'll never forget that night at camp when one of my Young Life girls sat up with big bright eyes and said, "Oh! I get it! God's not trying to stop me from having fun, He wants to keep me from making mistakes so that my life will be more fun!"

I hope and pray that you and I will delight in that provision today.

1. Do you see God's Word as being delightful and sweeter than honey? Why?

2. What might prevent you from delighting in His law?

3. What was a circumstance in your life when you were protected or rewarded for obeying God's statutes, and what was a circumstance when you chose not to obey and suffered the consequences?