“The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the LORD are firm, and all of them are righteous” (Psalm 19:8-9).
Delight. Precious. Sweet. Rejoice.
These are not words normally associated with commandments or laws of any kind. So, what is going on? Was this just hyperbole from the psalmist? Or did the people of faith actually and really delight in the law of the LORD? Find God’s commands precious and sweet? Did God’s faithful people rejoice in God’s statutes?
These were the questions we were left with from yesterday’s Verse of the Day.
The incredible answer is that the Jews – the Jews who understood the purpose of the law of God, the Ten Commandments, and the commands of the LORD – really did delight in God’s laws.
Imagine living in a world where you know that there is more to the world than what your eyes can see. You know that there is someone bigger than you controlling the universe. And you want to figure out how you fit in in the universe and how you can be found pleasing to this greater force. So you try all kinds of things. You try sacrificing some grain? How about a lamb? You try praying to the mountain gods, the river gods, the ocean gods, the moon god, the sun god.
How are you supposed to know who’s in charge? How are you supposed to know what is pleasing to such a god?
And into that chaos and confusion, God gives to the Jews his clear laws. No one has to guess anymore. No one has to ever wonder how to live the blessed life because the Creator of the heavens and the earth has spelled it out for us.
Wow! What a gift! What a privilege! No other people have God’s command the way the Jews have. God has revealed his heart and purpose to no other people.
How sweet and precious these commands are. What an absolute delight! Of course the people of God rejoice at God’s revealing of God’s purposes and will.
The laws of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever,
The decrees of the LORD are firm, and all of them are righteous.
No wonder,
“They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb.”
Did God’s people delight in the laws of the LORD?
Absolutely!
Praxis: Faith in Action 