Happy and Blessed - Pt. 5

My soul clings to the dust; give me life according to your word! When I told of my ways, you answered me; teach me your statutes! Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works. My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word! Put false ways far from me and graciously teach me your law! I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your rules before me. I cling to your testimonies, O Lord; let me not be put to shame! I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart! (Psalm 119:25-32 ESV).

 

Not enough time in the day? That seems to be the plight of many today. It feels as if there is so much more to get done than before the pandemic. That has caused its own set of anxieties and stress. As finite human beings, we cannot know everything. But because we are made in the image and likeness of God, our deepest desire is to seek and to know the truth about things. For this reason we humbly seek the will of God. His will is perfect and is revealed in his precepts. This is why our greatest effort as Christians is not only to know God’s decrees, his precepts and commands, but to pursue them, to live them out in our daily lives.

 

You’ve probably noticed in our reading today that the psalmist uses several words to describe God’s law. The writer of Psalm 119 uses “law,” “ways,” “decrees,” “precepts,” “statutes,” “commands,” and “word” to refer to the same thing. At first glance, the legal associations of these terms might make God’s Word seem like a heavy set of do’s and don’ts weighing on all our actions. But that’s not how the psalmist views God’s Word. In this prayer for deeper understanding of God’s precepts, the psalmist connects God’s Word with God’s “wonderful deeds.” Specifically, the psalmist may be thinking of God’s “mighty hand and . . . outstretched arm” in freeing Israel from slavery in Egypt and bringing them into the promised land (cf. Deuteronomy 26:8-9).

 

Generally, the psalmist is referring to all of God’s mighty deeds on behalf of his people throughout history. It’s obvious that in meditating on God’s Word the psalmist isn’t taking on a heavy yoke of shoulds and should nots. Rather, God’s Word crowds his mind with memories of God’s faithfulness to his people and to the psalmist personally.

That’s what God’s Word does for us too. It teaches us about God’s deep love for us and his power to save us. Such knowledge allows God’s Word to work in our hearts to increase our love for him and to nourish our desire to serve him in gratitude.

 

Knowing this allows us to increase our ability to cope with the stressors of life. We have plenty of time to get it all done… after all, we are eternally destined. Do what you can do and God will give you both strength and time to see the wisdom in scheduling according to His priority of life for you.