Keep the Law

Seems like a little thing and easy to understand, yes. But as I read this morning, there is a bit more to it than just keeping the law.

“⁷The one who keeps the law is a son with understanding,

but a companion of gluttons shames his father.”

“⁴Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,

but those who keep the law strive against them.”

— Proverbs 28:7 & 4 (ESV)

I know, the above verses are in reverse order, first verse seven then verse four. I was led to this passage through verse seven, but I see verse four as an extension in my study and learning. You see, we are to keep the law to be thought of well by our father and family, and in doing so, we are showing the wicked that there is this better way.

I know that in the short there seems to be very slow movement forward and there is a tendency to seek a more speedy gain. I struggle with seeing all of the, what appears to be, prosperity of those around me. It seems as though it comes easily and in great amount for others when I am seemingly struggling to make ends meet. There is a real drive to go outside the law to get to what others have and experience that seeming prosperity for myself. But, I am not seeing all that there is. I may not see that those who “fell into prosperity” may actually have been struggling and working hard for the past 20 years and this is the reward for their faithfulness. I have to remember that.

It is in the law that we find understanding and fight against evil. We are in with the LORD and He will provide when the time is right. Ours is to simply obey and follow His guidance through this world. We are to keep the law and that is where we will find the prosperity that keeps us free. Yes, we may feel the struggle that comes with being without, but were we meant to have that now or even at all if it keeps us from the Father. You see, it is in the LORD that we find peace and it is manifest through our keeping of the law.

What is your viewpoint on the law? Do you believe that we have to break it to get the prosperity we want and that it is okay to do so? What if we found our prosperity in the LORD and that is manifest from our keeping of the law?

Deliver Me

It is okay and expected to ask for deliverance. The LORD is here for me and I have to know that it is okay for me to ask Him for deliverance when I find myself in a tough spot. It is okay plead with Him.

“¹⁵³Look on my affliction and deliver me,

for I do not forget your law.”

— Psalm 119:153 (ESV)

Here we see that the psalmist finds himself in a position of hardship. He reminds the LORD of his devotion to His Law. He pleads for deliverance from the hardship. We see that the psalmist is open with the LORD and asks for something in return.

I know it looks like the ask is looking for some reciprocation for the devotion. I am not sure that is the case, but the as man, the thought that giving to and receiving back is part of it. I know that the LORD does not require anything of me to give to me, He loves me unconditionally. It is hard to fully understand on my part. And therefore I feel it necessary to remind Him of the devotion I have to Him so that He will not forget my need and provide for it.

“⁷Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” – Matthew 7:7 (ESV)

It is fully okay for us to ask, and as you can see in the above verse, Jesus even states that when you ask, you will receive. We have established our relationship with the LORD and as such we have the ability to seek from Him relief.

“11But Moses implored the LORD his God and said, “O LORD, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand?…12Turn from your burning anger and relent from this disaster against your people…14And the LORD relented from the disaster that he had spoken of bringing on his people.” – Exodus 32:11-14 (ESV)

Moses reminded the LORD of His promise and pleaded with Him to relent, and the LORD let up on the impending destruction. We see that Moses asked and he received. The LORD heard the petition of man and provided.

In these cases the LORD responds and/or responded to the petitions of those who follow Him. As I have given myself to the LORD, He gives Himself to me. His giving is that of love, care, protection, comfort, and deliverance. Ask and you will receive. Seek deliverance and it shall be given.

What is your view of deliverance? Do you just expect it to happen? What if you understood that it is okay and expected that you ask for deliverance from your affliction from the LORD?

I Love Your Law!

You know, I used to try and tell myself that rules were in place to keep me down and not allow for free expression or freedom in general. Boy was I wrong and I now find myself embracing the rules as they keep order and give direction. Yes, there are some elements of rules that may not seem to make any sense, but those are the ones that I have just not found the application of and have to respect in the mean time.

“⁹⁷Oh how I love your law!

It is my meditation all the day.”

— Psalm 119:97 (ESV)

God’s Law supersedes the rules of the world. In fact, they are the rules we should be following in the world and less so those that are of the world. The rules of the world, I am more and more realizing are based in the rules for the single individual that would like for me to do things their way regardless of my life, circumstances, and overall goals and purpose. God’s Law gives us direction and guides us in finding and living our goals and purpose and are based on my needs and what He has planned for me and not what I want. Regardless of what my circumstances are or where I am in my life, I am provided the way through thanks to the Law of the LORD I find in His Word.

For the above reason, I love and embrace the Law. Not the law of man and this world, although I am bound to follow those laws as long as they are not contrary to the Law of the LORD. I am even a bit of a “rule follower” in that I have and will go out of my way to do things by the rules even when no one is looking.

With the Law of the LORD, I am able to move forward daily from where I am, knowing that His Word gives me the path through. I love knowing that the answers to my path are found in His Word. I read, study, and meditate on His Word daily to know and understand. Where I am impatient, I also know I have to wait for the LORD to provide for me in His time.

In the rest of the passage where the above verse is found, Psalm 119:97-104 we see more of how God’s Word and Law lead us and what we have to be thankful. Wisdom, understanding, restraint, dedication, and goodness. I encourage the reading and study of God’s Word to receive all of this.

It is hard to find the good in God’s Law when we do not know it fully. Where we are always in a place of learning from the LORD, we can rely on the truth that comes from His Word and Law. We can find our guidance and protection from the rules He has in place for us. We are to meditate on His Word and Law daily to know and understand what He has in store for us. And when we do, I believe that you will come to Love the Law as the psalmist indicates and does and as I do also.

What is your thoughts on rules and the Law? Are they there to restrict you? What if you were to look at the Law of the LORD and guiding and directing and not restricting, I wonder if you would come to love the Law as well?

Blessed Walking in the Law of the LORD

Again I find benefits to the Law of the LORD. This morning I am in Psalm 119 and I see that I am blessed through the Word of God.

“¹Blessed are those whose way is blameless,

who walk in the law of the LORD!”

— Psalm 119:1 (ESV)

In the above verse I see that I am blessed as I walk in the law of the LORD. Walking the way that is blameless. As the example of Jesus who was himself blameless.

I have to be careful in taking this verse and other too far. See what is written in that the way is blameless, not me. I am to “walk” in the law of the LORD, I am NOT the law of the LORD. It is easy for me to presume that I am somehow above all because I happen to be following the example of Christ. It is easy to act better than I am as I am seen as walking in the law of the LORD. The reality is that no matter what, I am a sinner as is everyone else and am no better than anyone.

I am no better, but I am saved. I have accepted Christ as my savior and I choose to walk in His way. I choose to abide by the law of the LORD. I choose to walk the narrow path. I choose to follow Christ. With my choosing, I have been blessed to know God. I have been blessed to call Him Father. I have been blessed to see the narrow path. I have been blessed to know that my lasting home is in heaven co-heirs with Jesus. I am blessed walking in the Law of the LORD!

Where are you walking? Are you walking your own path and hoping for some elevation to greatness? What if you were to accept Jesus as your savior and walk in the Law of the LORD to realize the blessing that comes with the blameless way?

Keep the Law of the LORD in Your Heart

It is one thing to know something and something else to commit it to your very being. The second is where I find my learning this morning in God’s Word. I continue my study of the word “law” and in this study I have found that it is important to read, study, know, and understand the Law of the LORD. We have to commit it to memory to use in our daily walk with Him and in the carrying out of His plan for our lives.

I see on social media a number of people that are defending their position on things and using God’s Word in their rhetoric. Yet when they are presented more context as to the verse or passage they are using, their arguments fall apart. These people may have read, studied, know, and understand the Law of the LORD, yet they have not committed the Law to their being and only use it to get what they want as opposed to what God plans.

I know, when I am doing my study I will post a single verse and to the first time visitor to my posts it may seem as though I am cherry picking verses. You are entitled to your opinion, yet I encourage you to read many of them and dig into God’s Word for yourself. I am a sinner just like you and will get it wrong.

“⁸I delight to do your will, O my God;

your law is within my heart.”

— Psalm 40:8 (ESV)

The above verse is found in a passage titled, “My Help and My Deliverer” in my ESV Bible. Yes, it is only one verse, yet again I encourage you to seek out God’s Word for yourself. I have been in the passage and studied this verse before and what I got from it I wrote in the margin of my bible, “God is in your heart.” And this morning I see more than that, God is in my heart indeed, but I have to allow Him to be there and along with Him is His Word and Law.

The Law of the LORD is more than just words on a page or in a book. It is the very culture that I am to live out in this world to carry me to heaven. Actions don’t do it, it is the condition of my heart that God is looking to. He will determine my righteousness from the condition of my heart that leads to the following of His Law, not necessarily the actions that I perform. Oh, the actions are important, as they will demonstrate to the world the condition of my heart. But those actions are not what get me anywhere as they are simply an extension of my heart and the application of God and His Law to my life and those actions. I can follow the law to avoid discipline, but when I have God’s Law in my heart, I follow His Law because of discipline.

God is indeed in my heart. It is up to me to allow Him to be there and also His Law. I live the Law of the LORD and not just read, study, know, and understand. I keep the Law of the LORD in my heart to guide me into actions that bring glory to Him and show the world that He is in my heart and my life always.

Where to you keep the law of the LORD? Are you storing it up in your mind to use to avoid discipline? What if you keep the Law of the LORD in your heart to guide you in you actions to bring glory to Him ans show the world that He is in your heart and your life?

The Law of the LORD is…

Many things.

This morning I continue my study of the word “law”. I am in Psalm 19 which is titled, “The Law of the LORD is Perfect” in my ESV Bible. As I read the passage, I find that the Law of the LORD is much more than just perfect. I know, what could be more than perfect, that is what I was thinking as well, until reading and meditating.

“⁷The law of the LORD is perfect,

reviving the soul;

the testimony of the LORD is sure,

making wise the simple;

⁸the precepts of the LORD are right,

rejoicing the heart;

the commandment of the LORD is pure,

enlightening the eyes;

⁹the fear of the LORD is clean,

enduring forever;

the rules of the LORD are true,

and righteous altogether.”

— Psalm 19:7-9 (ESV)

We have the “law”, “testimony”, “precepts”, “commandments”, “fear”, and “rules” of the LORD and each are independently described/defined as “perfect”, “sure”, “right”, “pure”, “clean”, and/or “true”. As I reviewed this passage and looked for understanding, I had a unique observation. One can substitute “Word” or “Law” in any position. In that substitution, there is no loss in truth. Whereas it does not seem to work with any of the others. Oh, yes the substitution can be made, but the value of the phrase loses some impact.

The Law of the LORD is the Word of the LORD and therefore both have impact in all scenarios. We can use the Law and Word interchangeably wherever we might be and there is no loss as to the meaning. The Word of the LORD and the Law of the LORD are the same that are referred to in our reading, learning, understanding, and knowing as we traverse this world.

Don’t get me wrong, all of the words used are valuable and teach us as to the breadth of God. Those other than the Word and Law, where they have impact, are not as universal to me. They are specific in their use.

I see that the Law of the LORD can be used in all scenarios to guide and direct me. I see that the Law of the LORD is “perfect”, “sure”, “right”, “pure”, “clean”, and “true”. I see that the Law of the LORD is many things and all things to me.

What is your view of the Law of the LORD? Are you looking to it as one thing? What if you were to see it as “perfect”, “sure”, “right”, “pure”, “clean”, and “true”, in short as many things?

Meditate on the Instruction of the LORD

“²but his delight is in the law of the LORD,

and on his law he meditates day and night.”

— Psalm 1:2 (ESV)

I have studied he above verse on numerous occasions and as is usual God has led me to something new. We are to delight in the law and we are to meditate on this law. But what I see this morning in this verse is the definition of the law in this context. You see, the law of the LORD here is “instruction” as noted in the meanings or definitions found in my ESV Bible. In my Christian Standard Bible (CSB) the verse says, “his delight is in the LORD’s instruction”.

In 2 Timothy 3:16, Paul provides Timothy with the same as relates to scripture or Law of the LORD.

“¹⁶All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,” – 2 Timothy 3:16 (ESV)

God’s Word is not just the law that we are to follow, it is the instruction book as to how to carry ourselves through this world. Whether it be The Ten Commandments, how to pray, how to engage with the Word of God, or how and when to worship, God’s Law is there to guide us and instruct us through it all.

I know that I knew this. I study God’s Word to learn how to approach this world and work my way through it as God intends. Where I know that I am a sinner and have much more to learn, I also know that God is leading me to be better and more like Him every day. This is only possible through the instruction that I receive as I read, study, know, and understand His Word.

What is your view of God’s Word? Do you see it as the law? What if you were to see it as instruction on how to carry out your life here in this world?

Understand the Law

It is important to read God’s Law and to be refreshed in it on a regular basis. We cannot follow the law if we have not read or heard it read. The excuse of ignorance is not an acceptable reason to go against the Law of God. As important as it is to read God’s Law, it is just as important, if not more, to understand it.

“⁷Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. ⁸They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.” – Nehemiah 8:7-8 (ESV)

The passage above is part of the passage titled “Ezra Reads the Law” in my English Standard Version (ESV) Bible. We can see the parallel to the regular reading of God’s Law every seven years. God’s Law is to be shared with or regularly consumed by the people, whether that is reading aloud to them or they read to themselves. But to go along with that reading, there needs to be understanding. And for that, we need help.

You see, I am only one person and am influenced by all the things around me. Those influences will direct me to seeing things in my reading. Some of them good and some not so good, but I am influences by them none the less. I study daily the Word of God and yet, my understanding may not be complete or accurate.

There are plenty of resources that can and do direct me to understanding. I have different versions of God’s Law, physical and online commentaries, and books and periodicals that can guide me. But, I cannot stop there. I have to seek out others and discuss my understanding with them to confirm my understanding and gain correction and training where needed.

I/we are in need of not just reading/hearing of God’s Law, we need to understand it. Understanding is where we gain the proper application of God’s Law to our lives. I have to for sure dive into God’s Law and use all the written resources available, but I also need to meet with others to gain understanding of God’s Law and It’s application in my life and worship of Him.

What is your approach to God’s Law? Are you reading/hearing it and stopping there? What if you were to read/hear it and then dig into it with ALL resources to understand and apply It to your life?

Meditate of God’s Law

“⁸This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” – Joshua 1:8 (ESV)

God is speaking to Joshua directly here. Moses has died and Joshua has been tasked with leading the people into the promised land. A big task, yes, but God will be with them and here He is telling them how to go about thing. They are to follow the Law as it is written and not deviate. The thing is, as noted in Deuteronomy, they did not have everything written in books to read and take with them, there was reliance on the passing of Law down from person to person and generation to generation. As such, God has given the command to no only read and know the Law, but to “meditate on it day and night”.

This is the command to us and not just the Israelite people. We have to not only read, know, and understand the Word of God, we are to “meditate on it day and night” to ensure that we are living it out daily. It is easy for us to read God’s Word as we have bibles readily available, in many different version and even electronically. We even carry it with us (in the form of apps on our phones). Yet, do we really know and understand His Word. Do we “meditate on it day and night”?

I have on my desk a stack of Bible Verses for memorization. This is my start to meditation. They are right in front of me and I see them and reference them throughout the day. I am not just looking at God’s Word in the mornings as I have my time to study, I am reviewing His Word all day even if for just a moment to read through the verses in front of me. See the last part of verse eight above to see that we will find success in when we are in the Word of God and following His Law carefully. In my interactions with others I have God’s Word and the example of Jesus at top of mind leading to efficient and effective interactions.

Just having the information of God’s Word available is great, as we do have more access today than was available in biblical times. Yet that information is essentially useless in our day to day walk with Christ if we are not keeping it at the forefront of our minds and actions. We have to read, know, and understand God’s Word and then we “meditate on it day and night”.

What is your approach to God’s Law? Are you one that has the information available and then seeks to look it up to determine your next move? What if you were to read, know, understand, and “meditate on it day and night” and live it out always?

All the Words of This Law

Words are important and selecting the right words to convey a message is vital to the message itself. God’s Word is a great example of this and my study today is no exception. I am still in the study of the word “law” and that law is God’s Word. Today I am focused on the words in the scripture I was led to.

“¹²Assemble the people, men, women, and little ones, and the sojourner within your towns, that they may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, and be careful to do all the words of this law, ¹³and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, as long as you live in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess.” – Deuteronomy 31:12-13 (ESV)

Both of the verses above are part of my learning this morning. First, I see in verse 12 to “all the words of this law”. When I read it this morning I was struck by “this law” and specifically the word “this”. I had not really read it in the pas when I have been in this passage. I even went to two other versions of the Bible and found the same words “this law” in each of them. God’s Word is indicating here in the passage related to the reading of the law is the law that is to be followed. Not the law of man, but the law of God. It is “this” law that we are to live a life in that will guide us to righteousness.

Now before we get off track here, two things. 1) No, reading and doing God’s Law does not make us righteous. It is a guide to righteousness. Righteousness is in our heart and deemed by God, not the acts we perform. 2) “This law” is all of God’s Word and not just the “laws” found in the old testament. Those before the New Covenant are to some degree still valid, yet we look to the New Covenant to see how the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus led to His example to us as to the application of God’s Law in our lives.

Now, the second thing I found this morning as I was studying the verses above was the phrase “be careful to do all the words” found in verse 12. I know, this is part of the first phrase/words with addition of the words “be careful to do”. I went again to two other versions of the Bible and found that in this case, there are different words used. The New International Version (NIV) has the phrase as “follow carefully all the words”. And that helped me to understand it more intensely. You see, we are to read, know, and understand God’s Word and we are to follow it carefully in our actions and use them as our guide to righteousness.

Again, performing the actions and following God’s Word does not make us righteous, it is His Word on our hearts and deemed by God. But, here’s the thing. God provides us with His Law and we are to read it and know it and understand it. When we do, we will follow it and that will lead us closer to Him and subsequently can/will lead us to righteousness. This is where the first part of verse 12 and verse 13 come together. Notice those who are to read, know, and understand “this law”. It is ALL. Not just those in the church or those we like or those who are far from God, but all of us even the children.

I found the following in my NIV commentary on verse 12 as relates to the reading, knowing and understanding of God’s Word. “There were not books, Bibles, Newstands to spread God’s word, so the people had to rely on word of mouth and an accurate memory. Memorization was an important part of worship because if everyone knew the law, ignorance would be no excuse for breaking it. To fulfill God’s purpose in our lives, we need the content and substance of His Word in our heard and minds.” This commentary reiterates both of the things I mentioned above. First, “this law”, everyone was responsible to read, know, and understand God’s Law. And second, we “follow carefully” all of the law and ignorance is not an excuse.

We start learning God’s Law as children and as we grow older, we continue to learn, know, and understand God’s Law and the application it has in our lives. We are to read His Word regularly, commit it to memory and “be careful to do all the words of this law” daily.

What is your take on God’s Law? Are you pleading ignorance as an excuse to not upholding “this law”? What if your were to regularly read, know, and understand God’s Law and are “careful to do all the words of this law”?