Psalm 119, likely written by David, highlights the importance of a relationship with the Lawgiver, not just an adherence to His commands. With eloquent verse in acrostic form, the psalmist uses the letters of the Hebrew alphabet to describe the relationship that he has with the Lawgiver through His commandments, laws, ordinances, precepts, statutes, testimonies, ways, and words.
You may not know what all of the words in that list mean, but they each carry a different connotation. In a lawless land, the law brings order and peace. Without precepts and statutes, guidance is lacking. Commandments and ordinances may feel burdensome, yet they provide safety. Testimonies, ways, and words may sound gentler and more inviting—relational words that invite us into a greater story.
Truly, all facets of the law are for our good (Ps. 119:68). When the Lawgiver asks us to obey, it is for our guidance, strength, life, and comfort. Using just the first 80 verses of the Psalm, notice the language used to narrate the ebb and flow of relationship with God’s law. At times, the psalmist makes a definitive statement (Ps. 119:9, 30) and at other times, he seems to cry out for a reminder of his commitment (Ps. 119:5, 29, 66) or offer an appeal from a faithful servant (Ps. 119:10, 76).
Observe the phrases used to talk about the psalmist’s relationship with the law:
Walk in the path of it, observe it, keep it, guard it, store it in my heart, declare it, meditate on it, delight in it, fix my eyes on it, see it clearly, understand it, cling to it, run in it, long for it, trust it, seek it, lift up my hands to it, sing it, turn my feet to it, learn it, believe in it, treasure it, savor it, know it, hope in it...
Using this list of verbs in italics, which phrase serves as an invitation to you? Which is the biggest challenge?
These are not steppingstones along a straight-line path where one leads to another, nor is this an exhaustive list. However, these words can illustrate where we find ourselves in relationship with the law and with the Lawgiver. Now, read the same list of phrases in the context of the Lawgiver, instead of just the law.
Walk in the path of Him, observe Him, keep Him, guard Him, store it in my heart, declare Him, meditate on Him, delight in Him, fix my eyes on Him, see it clearly, understand Him, cling to Him, run in Him, long for Him, trust Him, seek Him, lift up my hands to Him, sing Him, turn my feet to Him, learn Him, believe in Him, treasure Him, savor Him, know Him, hope in Him...
Do you see the correlation between the law and the Lawgiver?
God’s law is a delight, not a burden; a relationship, not a set of rules! And these expressions of relationship with the law and the Lawgiver are all a part of our obedience.
Obedience is more than a burden we must bear. We can delight in obeying His law because it implies relationship with the Lawgiver, especially since the Lawgiver became flesh and became the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets (John 1:14; Matt. 5:17)! Are you delighting with me?
I invite you to discuss Psalm 119, sharing these questions and answers with an Iron Rose Sister. You can take turns reading sections of Psalm 119 and highlight the words you see to describe God’s law and how the psalmist interacts with it. Spend some time in prayer together over your mutual desire to delight in His word and His ways—to obey Him and invite others into a relationship with Him.