God’s Law is Beautiful Because God is Beautiful
What comes to mind when you think of the law of God? Many might say “constricting.” It limits our fun and enjoyment of life. Or, slightly more positively, it’s a “necessary evil” to keep us from hurting ourselves.
Psalm 119
Today's Scripture Passage
A Few Thoughts to Consider
What comes to mind when you think of the law of God?
Many might say “constricting.” It limits our fun and enjoyment of life. Or, slightly more positively, it’s a “necessary evil” to keep us from hurting ourselves. But that’s not how the author of Psalm 119 looked at it.
Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible, consisting of 176 verses, and is a profound meditation on the beauty and importance of God's law. It’s possible Ezra wrote it after the Temple was rebuilt, but we cannot be certain. “The main focus of the psalm is the “Torah,” the graciously given “instruction” or “law” of the Lord given particularly in the first five books of the Bible (the “Books of Moses”). By extension, however, what is said here of God’s law and precepts and testimonies and statutes should be seen as referring to all that God has revealed to his people in the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings.”[1]
Structured as an acrostic poem, each section begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. “Almost every verse mentions God’s Word. Such repetition was common in the Hebrew culture. People did not have personal copies of the Scriptures to read as we do, so God’s people memorized his Word and passed it along orally. The structure of this psalm allowed for easy memorization.”[2] The first eleven verses are among the most famous and provide a neat summary of much that was written. Here, the psalmist says,
1 How happy are those whose way is blameless,
who walk according to the Lord’s instruction!
2 Happy are those who keep his decrees
and seek him with all their heart.
3 They do nothing wrong;
they walk in his ways.
4 You have commanded that your precepts
be diligently kept.
5 If only my ways were committed
to keeping your statutes!
6 Then I would not be ashamed
when I think about all your commands.
7 I will praise you with an upright heart
when I learn your righteous judgments.
8 I will keep your statutes;
never abandon me.
9 How can a young man keep his way pure?
By keeping your word.
10 I have sought you with all my heart;
don’t let me wander from your commands.
11 I have treasured your word in my heart
so that I may not sin against you.
The psalmist reveals that obedience to the law brings true freedom. When we stand blameless before God and are not walking in habitual sin, we can walk with a spring in our step, knowing that our present and future are secure.
