I will praise You with uprightness of heart,
When I learn Your righteous judgments.
I will keep Your statutes;
Oh, do not forsake me utterly!—Ps 119:7-8
How good is our God that he condescends to teach us how to conduct ourselves in this world by giving us His commandments. God’s laws are good and more to be desired than fine gold. They are the “Creators Handbook for Life” and are among His very best gifts to us. They provide an escape from misery and bondage and show us how to have life abundantly both in the temporal sense and eternally. God’s commandments are not burdensome...by them I am warned and keeping them brings great reward.
I WILL praise thee when I learn Your righteous judgments. God not only gives us good gifts, but He also gives us the grace by which we are able to praise and thank Him for them. I can remember opening my bible and reading it for the first time. As I read (Genesis 1) my heart began to rejoice and fill with thanksgiving. My mind didn’t quite understand the import of what had just happened, but my heart did and it rejoiced with a whole-hearted pure joy. I had found what I had been looking for...a guide to make my way through this life. I had not yet even begun to learn His law by obeying it, but when I did, it brought my joy to a whole new level. I wanted to please Him...I wanted to know His will for me and do it. What a mercy and a blessing for us that He gives us not only the ability to learn His righteous judgments, but also the desire to want to please Him...to want to apply His word and walk in those works He prepared beforehand for us.
The next verse is my favorite because I can really identify with it. "I will keep Your statutes." “Oh, do not forsake me utterly!” A quiet resolve followed by a humble plea for help. I so understand both statements. My desire is to obey God, but as soon as the words are out of my mouth my heart cries along with the Psalmist...don’t leave me! I am weak and insufficient! I need Your help! I don’t want to even imagine what my life would be like without my God directing my path and leading my heart. He has redeemed my life from destruction and crowned me with tender mercies. To know from His word that He promises never to leave me and is the same yesterday, today and forever is a gift of grace without which I would not want to live.
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!—Psalm 103:1
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul;
The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;
8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;
9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold,
Yea, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them Your servant is warned,
And in keeping them there is great reward.
12 Who can understand his errors?
Cleanse me from secret faults.
13 Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins;
Let them not have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless,
And I shall be innocent of great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.—Psalm 19:7-14
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