i will keep your law continually, forever and ever. psalm 119:44
our views of laws are tainted by the lens of our lived western experience. we view laws as the prevention of action that affects others. we obey the law set forth by the government, so we don’t get in trouble by those who enforce the law with negative consequences. to His people, God’s law in the torah was much more than that.
God’s laws to the israelites protected them and kept them set apart from those around them worshipping pagan gods. The mosaic laws protected their physical bodies, their relationship to each other and most importantly covenant relationship with God.
how could the psalmist speak of the laws with such rejoicing if this wasn’t the case?
the law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure,
making wise the simple;
the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the Lord is clean,
enduring forever;
the rules of the Lord are true,
and righteous altogether. [psalm 19:7-9]
now, we allow the torah to inform what we know to be true in the new testament of God’s self-sacrificing love for us that he would give his Son to be made right with Him. that’s what we rejoice in here and now.
how else can you rejoice in the Lord today?
~ natalie schmidt