Psalm 119:127

Psalm 119:127

Therefore I love your commandments

above gold, above fine gold.

Men delight in things which break God's law. Our hearts are far too foolish and for too evil to follow God completely; it is only after total transformation that any can obey Christ. The world is full of sin (1 John 2:15-17). Men wander and are careless of God and others, and on this God must act (v. 126).

At God's righteous work, the righteous rejoice. All who know Him love Him, and all that He does and says is good. Man refuses to obey God because he views God's commandments as contemptible. But God's commandments are not burdensome (1 John 5:3). They are good. And those who follow God have greater joy by them than the world does by anything else.

Because we were made to know God, there is no greater joy than loving Him and being loved by Him. If we love Him, we will obey Him (John 14:15; 1 John 5:2), and because He loves us (Rom. 8:38-39) He will allow us to do so (2 Tim. 3:17; Eph. 2:10). This brings us great joy. God's commandments then surpass all possessions and prizes. His ways are desirable.

Psalm 119:71

Psalm 119:71

It is good for me that I was afflicted,

that I might learn your statutes.

It is at times the most difficult of circumstances that brings about the greatest rewards. When can hardship be counted as good? Only when it works together for good (Rom. 8:28). It is not the affliction itself but the result effected by the affliction. Even in David's greatest struggle, he would eventually look back and see the benefit.

It is an essential practice of our faith to never waste affliction. We have full assurance that God always works for our good. Although we may not always be able to see that good, we can always trust Yahweh because He is faithful. Through suffering we can see more of him and learn to better obey Him.

This is the center of why difficulties are good for us. If an event pulls us closer to our God and His word, the pain is worth the bearing. Knowing Christ is of surpassing value (Php. 3:8). All that we do and all we endure must be aimed at Him.

Psalm 119:32

Psalm 119:32

I will run in the way of your commandments

when you enlarge my heart.

The aim of the life of a believer is to know God, and knowing God necessitates finding out who He is and what He wants. God's desire is that we obey Him; therefore, He gives us the resources to do so. Our obedience is dependent on His grace.

In order for us to obey God, the very core of our being must be expanded. Our knowledge and wisdom must grow. The source of our love and passion must overflow with yearning for the LORD.

A common mistake of modern Christianity is the mindset that thinking is noble and feeling is evil. What a tragic lie this is. The same God who created human thought established human emotions. He gave us taste so we would hunger for Him, joy so we would find our gladness in Him, and minds so we would think on Him.

With all that is in us, let us run after obedience to God (compare Heb. 12:1-2; 1 Cor. 9:24). All energy, all passion, and all hope are to be set on Him. He enlarges these that we may seek Him more. Let us do so. Let us run.

Psalm 106:7

Psalm 106:7

Our fathers, when they were in Egypt, did not consider your wondrous works;

they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love,

but rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea.

Time and time again in the Psalms, God's works are mentioned. They are contemplated much because the reason people rebel against God is because they forget His works, namely His love toward all He has made (Psalm 145:13, NIV84). When we sin, we deny God's saving work in the Gospel, forget the faithfulness of His promises, and ignore His love in creation.

The person with an obedient, humble heart meditates on God's works. He considers them (Psalm 8:3) and realizes his insignificance (Psalm 8:4). And at last, the faithful slave beholds God's love toward man (Psalm 8:5-8) and is led to heartfelt worship (Psalm 8:9).

Meditate on God's loving works, lest we forget and rebel.