Day 3
January 5
Psalm 119:17-24
“17 Be good to your servant while I live, that I may obey your word. 18 Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. 19 I am a stranger on earth; do not hide your commands from me. 20 My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times. 21 You rebuke the arrogant, who are accursed, those who stray from your commands. 22 Remove from me their scorn and contempt, for I keep your statutes. 23 Though rulers sit together and slander me, your servant will meditate on your decrees. 24 Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors.”
I have never been a big rules person. From bed times, to limits on sweets, to youth group games growing up (I got kicked out of a youth group flag football game for yelling about the “rules”). I don’t think I’m the only one who has this aversion. Rules make us feel restricted, confined, and limited! We want to be our creative, free thinking, fun loving selves! So why does the psalmist praise God for rules? Why does he so desperately desire commands?
There is true freedom in walking in God’s commands. God wishes to give us abundant life! He has provided His commands, laws, statutes, word, and decrees all for our benefit! It’s so often that we revert back to our younger days when rules meant no fun and that our parents were just being mean! While the whole time, they are taking care of us. Is it crazy to think the Creator of the universe and orchestrator of life would know better than me? But, we struggle to actually live believing the Bible’s commands.
In verse 19, the writer calls himself a stranger on earth. The world around us is playing by a different set of ever changing rules. It’s easy to get sucked into the comparison trap or thinking THAT’S what freedom looks like. We as humans are not to be trusted to dictate what is morally right. When we rely on ourselves is typically when things take a turn for the worse. It can feel like we are aliens in a foreign land when we choose to obey and uphold the decrees of Christ! But keep in mind verse 21, “You rebuke the arrogant, who are accursed, those who stray from your commands.”
So what? Are we supposed to become Pharisees and be the best rule keepers ever now? No, that’s not the point. Does your love for the Lord encourage your love for the Word? Does your love for the Lord challenge you to obey the things He has asked of you? It’s out of LOVE that we follow these laws. It’s a love for God that makes us want to be right with Him. It’s a trusting that HIS ways are going to be better than mine, even when the world around us is telling us to live OUR best life.
When we feel overwhelmed, in our times of struggle, it might be because we are trying to be in control. Read verse 24 over yourself and surrender fully to God.
Pastor Blake McCarty
“17 Be good to your servant while I live, that I may obey your word. 18 Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. 19 I am a stranger on earth; do not hide your commands from me. 20 My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times. 21 You rebuke the arrogant, who are accursed, those who stray from your commands. 22 Remove from me their scorn and contempt, for I keep your statutes. 23 Though rulers sit together and slander me, your servant will meditate on your decrees. 24 Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors.”
I have never been a big rules person. From bed times, to limits on sweets, to youth group games growing up (I got kicked out of a youth group flag football game for yelling about the “rules”). I don’t think I’m the only one who has this aversion. Rules make us feel restricted, confined, and limited! We want to be our creative, free thinking, fun loving selves! So why does the psalmist praise God for rules? Why does he so desperately desire commands?
There is true freedom in walking in God’s commands. God wishes to give us abundant life! He has provided His commands, laws, statutes, word, and decrees all for our benefit! It’s so often that we revert back to our younger days when rules meant no fun and that our parents were just being mean! While the whole time, they are taking care of us. Is it crazy to think the Creator of the universe and orchestrator of life would know better than me? But, we struggle to actually live believing the Bible’s commands.
In verse 19, the writer calls himself a stranger on earth. The world around us is playing by a different set of ever changing rules. It’s easy to get sucked into the comparison trap or thinking THAT’S what freedom looks like. We as humans are not to be trusted to dictate what is morally right. When we rely on ourselves is typically when things take a turn for the worse. It can feel like we are aliens in a foreign land when we choose to obey and uphold the decrees of Christ! But keep in mind verse 21, “You rebuke the arrogant, who are accursed, those who stray from your commands.”
So what? Are we supposed to become Pharisees and be the best rule keepers ever now? No, that’s not the point. Does your love for the Lord encourage your love for the Word? Does your love for the Lord challenge you to obey the things He has asked of you? It’s out of LOVE that we follow these laws. It’s a love for God that makes us want to be right with Him. It’s a trusting that HIS ways are going to be better than mine, even when the world around us is telling us to live OUR best life.
When we feel overwhelmed, in our times of struggle, it might be because we are trying to be in control. Read verse 24 over yourself and surrender fully to God.
Pastor Blake McCarty