Psalm 119:21-24
(21) Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed,
which do err from thy commandments.
Those
who err (stray, mistake, transgress) from God's Word are not left unpunished.
This standard was given at the very beginning of the law. We see the choice to
follow God's law given to Adam, but he chose to err. Again and again, we see
examples in Scripture, warning us to follow God's laws. "But
it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy
God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command
thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake
thee:" (Deuteronomy 28:15)
For
the new testament believer, we are not exempt. "Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep
my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our
abode with him." (John 14:23) As believers, we are still responsible
to keep God's Word: "If ye love me,
keep my commandments." (John 14:15)
(22) Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I
have kept thy testimonies.
When
we keep God's testimonies, He will not hold us in reproach of contempt.
There
are blessings for all who will keep God's Words and His testimonies:
"Ye have not left your
brethren these many days unto this day, but have kept the charge of the
commandment of the Lord your God. And now the Lord your God hath given rest
unto your brethren, as he promised them: therefore now return ye, and get you unto
your tents, and unto the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of
the Lord gave you on the other side Jordan." (Joshua 22:3-4)
"I was also upright
before him, and have kept myself from mine iniquity. Therefore the Lord hath
recompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness in his
eye sight." (2 Samuel 22:24-25)
"Concerning the works of
men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.
Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not." (Psalm 17:4-5)
"If ye keep my
commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's
commandments, and abide in his love." (John 15:10)
According
to these verses, the benefits to keeping God's laws are:
-
God's promises fulfilled
-
God cleansing us and seeing us as righteous and clean
-
God holding our footsteps
-
Abiding in God's love
If
we do our part, God will do more than His part back to us. With these promises,
why do we hesitate to keep God's commandments?
(23) Princes also did sit and speak against me:
but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.
In
difficult outward circumstances (accusation, murmuring against, etc.) how do we
respond? Do we let ourselves get crushed by the enemy's attacks? or do we
meditate in God's Words? What comfort do we find in God's Word? Can we bring it
to our mind to meditate on it at any time? How important it is to hide God's
Words in our heart so that we can meditate on it.
(24) Thy testimonies also are my delight and my
counsellors.
Going back to verse 20, "My soul
breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times." Do we long for and delight in
God's Words? Can we truly say that "This is my delight."
Above
that: who - or what - counsels us?
"All scripture is given
by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be
perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
"According as his divine
power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness,
through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby
are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might
be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the
world through lust." (2 Peter 1:3-4)
God
has given us all the things we need for counsel in any decision. But we don't
gain it immediately because we're Christians. As Psalm 119 has been reiterating,
we must seek God and His Word and then apply it.
