Loving the Law of God

Psalm 19:7-11 “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. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.”

Following the rules:

Do we normally think of rules, laws, as a good thing?

Most think of rules and laws as limits to our choices, restrictions on our freedoms, torments our consciences.

We have a sense of what is fair, bur only for ourselves.

Rules are fine, until we find ourselves on the wrong side.

Rules are for our own good, like boundaries, where you can enjoy everything in the fence.

The Christian and the Law of God.

For Christians, there is a tension because of an improper understanding of the law.

Trying to earn our own right standing before God by perfect obedience - which no one can do - legalism.

Eph 2:8-9 We are saved by grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ, not by works of the law.

The law no longer applies to Christians. Some reject the law of God altogether: antinomian (easy-believism).

“Jesus is the end of the law” - (Rom 10:4) - as long as I believe in Him, it doesn’t matter how I live.

“End” means fulfillment or perfection. Jesus has not set the law aside, but he has kept it completely for us, showing us how we are to live as we follow him.

In Christ we are a new creation, saved for good works Eph 2:10.

The Law of God is Good, and is for our good as we follow Christ.

The Law that God has given to His covenant people:

10 Commandments: No other Gods; No idols, images, representing God; Do not take the Lord’s name in vain; Honor the Sabbath day; Honor your father and mother; Do not murder; Do not commit adultery; Do not steal; Do not lie; Do not covet.

All of God’s Word is His revealed will, His command for us to hear and obey.

Dt 29:29 “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.

The Right Use of the Law (3 uses).

Civil: The 10 Commandments, giving basic social guidelines, restrains the sinful through the fear of shame and punishment. Every just society is based upon the principles of God’s law. The law shows God’s righteous expectation and our need for a savior.

Instructive/Pedagogical: The law of God shows us the perfect righteousness of God and human sinfulness.

Just because we cannot keep the law does not mean that there is a problem with the law, the problem lies in us, and the law shows us we are desperate for help.

The law highlights our weakness so that we might seek the strength found in Christ. Jesus kept the law perfectly, yet died in the place of sinners, so that he would take the wrath of God for us, and, in exchange, give His righteousness to those who put their hope and faith in him. Shows me how, in Christ, I may live for God’s glory.

Normative: For those who believe in Christ, the law shows us what is pleasing to our Father, whom we want to serve. This is the highest function of the law, to serve as an instrument for the people of God to give Him honor and glory.

Learning to Love God’s Law - Psalm 119:97 - Curious!?!

Remember that in Christ the law shows us the heart of God.

The law reveals His will, His purpose, and His righteousness - and drives us deeper in our dependency upon His grace in Christ.

Anything that reveals the goodness, the glory, and the will of God - I will love!

Remember that in Christ the law guards our hearts from sin.

Psalm 19:7-9.

Law is perfect - reviving the soul.

Perfect - complete. Revive - to turn back, return, restore - Psalm 23.

Testimony is sure - making wise the simple.

The surety, or reliability of God’s law - his word does not change.

Precepts are right - rejoicing (make glad) the heart.

The uprightness of God’s law actually gladdens the heart. Like tuning an instrument - if all our hearts are tuned to God’s word - there is joy and gladness.

Commandments are pure, enlightening the eyes.

Purity - clarity - as light enabling us to see and understand the world.

Fear (the reverence for God’s Word) is clean (not polluted, mixed) - enduring forever.

Rules are true - and righteous.

The psalmist calls God’s Word “a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Ps. 119:105).

The imagery here suggests a person walking on a narrow path on a moonless night, groping in the dark to find the correct way. A wrong turn could result in a fall from a precipice or tripping into painful brambles. But the law serves as a lamp to show us where we should place our feet as we walk. It shows us how not to stray into the way of destruction. The light that shines from the law reveals the snares that have been set in our pathway by the enemy and gives us the wisdom to avoid them.

Remember that in Christ the law shows us how to please God and live for Jesus.

Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). His commands show us God’s will for our lives.

Delighting in God’s Law

God’s law is not meant as a cage to keep you from joy, but as a means by which, in Christ, we can know real pleasure forevermore.

Wilhelmus à Brakel:

We love God’s law because God is good and his law reveals his goodness to us. Spend time in His Word, delighting in it. Read it over and over again, and search out in the Word of God all that is comprehended under the law. Meditate and reflect continually upon the law until it be clear to you and you acquire a habitual inclination toward the law.

Secondly, hold the law before you as being the will of God; approve of it, love it, obediently subject yourself to it, and behave yourself according to this rule, and keep it in view as a carpenter does his blueprint.

Thirdly, examine yourself daily by means of this law, and ascertain which commandment you have transgressed and which commandment you have observed; this will humble you. You will thereby become more careful in the future, it will cause you to pray for the guidance of the Spirit, and Jesus will become all the more precious to you.