David goes from things that speak of God without words to the words of God Himself.
The instruction of the Lord is perfect, renewing one's life. The testimony of the Lord is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise. The precepts of the Lord are right, making the heart glad. The command of the Lord is radiant, making the eyes light up. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the Lord are reliable and altogether righteous. They are more desirable than gold and sweeter than honey, which comes from the honeycomb. In addition, Your servant is warned by them. There is great reward in keeping them. (vs. 7-11)
Once we grasp that God, our Creator, is real based upon the overwhelming evidence of an ordered and vast universe, listening to His words makes a lot of sense. What doesn't fit the paradigm is doing our own thing. That is almost ridiculous when you compare your own knowledge of life and what it is about with that of the mind that not only thought up the universe, but also thought you into being. Can you really imagine standing in the presence of God and telling Him what you are going to do with your life? Can you imagine schooling Him on how things ought to work? Like a two-year-old telling her mother what to do....although I have seen that in Target on more than one occasion.
"In the beginning was the Word (logos) and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created. Life was in Him. And that life was the light of men." John 1.
Jesus is the spoken (logos) Word of God come to life in a man. Language made flesh so that we could see God's words as clearly as we the creation His words spoke into being. We saw Christ's radiance, wisdom, precepts and His testimony. John and the other disciples said they "handled" the Word. Touched Him. And His commands are radiant. Can't get over that phrase in this psalm. He gives us an "Aha" moment. Love one another as I have loved you. Love the Lord your God with all your heart. Follow me. These, some of His commands. "...and the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, the Father will send in My name will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you."
Commands are just orders if there is not love to motivate and power to activate them. God provided for even that when He decided to dwell within believers so that we are empowered to do what we are commanded. We then become the embodiment of His Word. We are the fragrance of Christ to a lost world. We are a letter written to everyone, not on tablets or with ink but by the Spirit of the Living God...His Word written on tablets that are hearts of flesh. (2Corinthians 3)
In this way, there are two witnesses to the power of God for the unbeliever to observe. The silent created universe and the evidence of His Word re-creating me and you. Both are there for all to see and wonder at. We should be mining the depths of His words as vigorously as we would mine for gold, for they are sweeter than honey, making our lives rich, our souls fat and our eyes shine with the joy of new wine.
The instruction of the Lord is perfect, renewing one's life. The testimony of the Lord is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise. The precepts of the Lord are right, making the heart glad. The command of the Lord is radiant, making the eyes light up. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the Lord are reliable and altogether righteous. They are more desirable than gold and sweeter than honey, which comes from the honeycomb. In addition, Your servant is warned by them. There is great reward in keeping them. (vs. 7-11)
Once we grasp that God, our Creator, is real based upon the overwhelming evidence of an ordered and vast universe, listening to His words makes a lot of sense. What doesn't fit the paradigm is doing our own thing. That is almost ridiculous when you compare your own knowledge of life and what it is about with that of the mind that not only thought up the universe, but also thought you into being. Can you really imagine standing in the presence of God and telling Him what you are going to do with your life? Can you imagine schooling Him on how things ought to work? Like a two-year-old telling her mother what to do....although I have seen that in Target on more than one occasion.
"In the beginning was the Word (logos) and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created. Life was in Him. And that life was the light of men." John 1.
Jesus is the spoken (logos) Word of God come to life in a man. Language made flesh so that we could see God's words as clearly as we the creation His words spoke into being. We saw Christ's radiance, wisdom, precepts and His testimony. John and the other disciples said they "handled" the Word. Touched Him. And His commands are radiant. Can't get over that phrase in this psalm. He gives us an "Aha" moment. Love one another as I have loved you. Love the Lord your God with all your heart. Follow me. These, some of His commands. "...and the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, the Father will send in My name will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you."
Commands are just orders if there is not love to motivate and power to activate them. God provided for even that when He decided to dwell within believers so that we are empowered to do what we are commanded. We then become the embodiment of His Word. We are the fragrance of Christ to a lost world. We are a letter written to everyone, not on tablets or with ink but by the Spirit of the Living God...His Word written on tablets that are hearts of flesh. (2Corinthians 3)
In this way, there are two witnesses to the power of God for the unbeliever to observe. The silent created universe and the evidence of His Word re-creating me and you. Both are there for all to see and wonder at. We should be mining the depths of His words as vigorously as we would mine for gold, for they are sweeter than honey, making our lives rich, our souls fat and our eyes shine with the joy of new wine.
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