JUL 4

Psalm 19:7-11
Memorise Psalm 19:7
“Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord”

At this point, it might seem that our keeping the commandments is just for God’s sake. Is that really the case? Did God give us these commandments just based on His whim and fancy, to impose upon us a heavy burden that we cannot bear? Or are there greater benefits that we can have from keeping them? The answer, of course, is yes! Continuing with the idea that God gave the commandments only because He loves us, we must see that in keeping them we would be blessed spiritually.

We must regard God not as a harsh dictator, but a benevolent father, who would only set rules in place for our own good. We know that good parents would tell us to do or not to do certain things because they love us and want what is best for us. Likewise, God has given us these laws only because He is the all-wise and all-knowing God, who in His perfect wisdom decreed that these ten laws would be the perfect set of rules for His creation to abide by.

We should think in the same way the Psalmist did in Psalm 19, for as he considered the many qualities of the Word of God, he understood the manifold blessings in obeying the commandments. He realized that God’s Word is instrumental in ‘converting the soul’, ‘making wise the simple’. It is effective in ‘rejoicing the heart’, ‘enlightening the eyes’. Therefore, he declares how he desires for them more than fine gold and the sweetest honeycomb. He understood that through the law, God’s people are rightly warned from sin, and that in keeping of them, there is great spiritual reward to be had. Bound therefore by God’s perfect set of rules, we should have no qualms or fears about keeping them, for we have the confidence that in keeping them we would have true happiness and fulfilment in life. There can be no better thing than to abide by the laws set down by our loving, caring and wise Father in heaven.

When we as obedient children keep God’s commandments, He is delighted in us. Yet it is for our benefit, for there can be no better place than to be in God’s pleasure and favour. Therefore the commandments are certainly useful to every child of God, for “by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward”.

Thought: Since the law is perfect, I should try my best to keep them perfectly by leaning on your grace and strength.
Prayer: Oh Lord, thank You for the perfect law that You have given us.