Plea for Grace

Psalm 19:7-11 CSB – 7 The instruction of the LORD is perfect, renewing one’s life; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise. 8 The precepts of the LORD are right, making the heart glad; the command of the LORD is radiant, making the eyes light up. 9 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the LORD are reliable and altogether righteous. 10  They are more desirable than gold– than an abundance of pure gold; and sweeter than honey dripping from a honeycomb. 11 In addition, your servant is warned by them, and in keeping them there is an abundant reward. (emphasis mine)

Renewal. Gaining experience and wisdom. Gladness. Cheerfulness and hope. Warning to avoid disaster. Abundant reward . . .all these (and so much more) are aspects of the sufficiency of God’s Word.

God never changes. He is perfect and righteous. However, because of my redemption in Christ, and because I have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, I can change. I can be renewed. I am not condemned to make the same mistakes and be the same person I was before. In Christ, I can obey God!

“I just wish I had known; I wish someone would have told me. . .” In Christ, and through God’s Word, I don’t have to learn everything by experience. I truly can believe that the stove is hot and I should not touch it without having to burn my fingers first. Because God’s Word is true; because God does not change; because God is sovereign — I can trust what He says.

Oftentimes, life is hard. Sometimes the hard part lasts a short time; sometimes it can be very long-term. God’s revealing of Himself and His ways through His Word, and especially His explaining that my life has purpose and He will accomplish His purpose for me (Psalm 57) gives me such hope and puts a light in my eye. This life is such a temporary blip of eternity.

So, do I approach God’s Word with an excitement to mine the treasures contained therein? Do I consider that God’s precepts and laws and statutes are intended to be sweet like honey, for my good, or do I treat God’s Word and God’s law as more of a horse pill that must be swallowed because it’s good for me but it tastes terrible? Do I accepts God’s warnings in His Word, or do I stubbornly insist on learning everything by experience?

Psalm 119:65-72 CSB – 65 LORD, you have treated your servant well, just as you promised. 66 Teach me good judgment and discernment, for I rely on your commands. 67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word. 68 You are good, and you do what is good; teach me your statutes. 69 The arrogant have smeared me with lies, but I obey your precepts with all my heart. 70 Their hearts are hard and insensitive, but I delight in your instruction. 71 It was good for me to be afflicted so that I could learn your statutes. 72 Instruction from your lips is better for me than thousands of gold and silver pieces. 

 

 

 

Psalm 19:7-11 CSB – 7 The instruction of the LORD is perfect, renewing one’s life; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise. 8 The precepts of the LORD are right, making the heart glad; the command of the LORD is radiant, making the eyes light up. 9 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the LORD are reliable and altogether righteous. 10 They are more desirable than gold — than an abundance of pure gold; and sweeter than honey dripping from a honeycomb. 11 In addition, your servant is warned by them, and in keeping them there is an abundant reward. (emphasis mine)

God’s Word is sufficient. Just as constant and dependable as the sun rising and setting each day, just as sure as the location of the stars in the night sky, God’s Word is true, and His Word is sufficient (enough to meet the needs of a situation or a proposed end, according to Webster’s dictionary). Sufficient is not just barely squeaking by, or stretching to make it be enough. Sufficient is enough to meet the need.

towrah — law, instruction, the overall comprehensive law of the Lord is tamiym — perfect, complete, whole, entire;

`eduwth — testimony (example, when a prophet said ‘thus says the Lord’) is ‘aman — sure, faithful, established, verified, true;

piqquwd —precepts, often the mandates of what to do are yashar –right, correct, straightforward;

mitsvah — commandment, the nuance of what not to do is bar –pure, clean, sincere;

mishpat —judgments, ordinances, the verdicts of God’s judgment are ’emeth — true, reliable, faithful.

Like an overlay, for want of a better description, is the fear of the Lord — that reverential awe and submission to His sovereignty; the commitment to obey God because He is God — that endures forever. I can trust God’s Word to be sufficient today because God does not change.

When I studied the myths and legends of different societies, it struck me how much “guessing” people had to do. The ancient Greeks never knew for sure if one of the gods of the weather or elements would be fighting with another god, or jealous of a human, or just in a bad mood, and that would affect how that god would react in that situation. There was no assurance; life was a series of trying hard and scheming and wishing one was in the right place at the right time. In many societies, guesses of how to “please the gods or spirits” would be based on weather patterns or food supplies or health conditions. There was not a concrete body of law or a revealed description of the gods. What the spirits wanted yesterday may not be sufficient for tomorrow . . .

Not our God. Not Jehovah. He is I AM. He has given us His Word, not simply to tell us how to live, but to reveal His character and His ways to us. He has laid out His plan of redemption, and even told us how the story ends!!!

In the next post I will focus on the results and effect of God’s Word, but for now, spend some time in gratitude for a God who would show us His ways and teach us His paths, who would guide us in His truth and teach us . . .for He is God our Savior; we do hope in him all the day long. (from Psalm 25)