It is interesting to note that God’s Law and Commandments are referred to forty-six times in Psalm 119. That averages out to a reference every 3.8 verses in what is the longest “chapter” in the Bible. The Psalmist declares that they are worthy of meditation, believing, of keeping, respect, of walking, even running in, to learn, and to be loved. He longs for and does not forget or wander from them; he entreats the Lord not to hide but rather to graciously bestow them. He declares that they impart wisdom, display wondrous things and are a delight, truth, righteousness; worth more than thousands of pieces of silver and gold. May I say that what is being referred to here is not the Levitical rules and regulations, but rather God’s Moral Law, The Ten Commandments.
We see in the New Testament that when a sinner is converted, there is an exercise of “repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21) and then justified by His blood, and shall be saved from wrath through Him (Rom 5:9). The true believer then begins the process of sanctification, exhorted and admonished to live and walk in wisdom, circumspectly, and worthily. This cannot be accomplished on our own, “but the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before, ‘This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them’” (Heb 10:15-16). Let us not forget the instruction of the Psalmist and the illumination of the New Testament when considering how we should live, as James writes, “But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.”
Gracious God, Heavenly Father, we too often forget the wonderful instruction that comes from Your Law. Please, Father, increase our faith that we would walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which we are called as You direct it and not according to our own understanding. Thank You for the gift of Your Holy Spirit to lead and guide us into all truth, for Your Word is Truth. Thank You for so great a salvation obtained by Your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, it is in His Name we pray. Amen and Amen.
Grace and Peace,
Elder Dale
The Shepherd’s Crook
