Psalm 119 Focus On God's Word Pt. 11 How To Respect God's Commandments.

Psalm 119:1-5  ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. 2)  Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. 3)  They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways. 4)  Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently. 5)  O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes! 

The first five verses of this eight verse section show us the path to true happiness and blessing from God lies in obeying His Word and seeking Him with all of our being. 

The texts show us how our lives can be transformed as we learn God's law, judgments, statutes, precepts and testimonies. 

The living truth of God's Word will help us avoid sinning. It will cause us to run to the Father to confess and forsake sin, when we do fail Him. 

Respecting God's commandments

Psalm 119:6  Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments. 

We learned about respecting the commandments of God in such a way that our public and private spiritual duties are impacted for His glory and for our good. 

The word "respect" means to pay attention to God's commandments, to recognize His moral authority as Creator of all things. 

God knows that we are weak, feeble creatures. Our flesh is weak even when our spirit is willing to obey Him. God gave us clear instruction of how to be cleansed when we do sin. We must simply do as God tells us and we will receive fresh cleansing.

God is really getting at what is the true desire of our heart. Our true desire should be to obey His commandments, even though we cannot perfectly obey them. 

One day, we will be fitted to perfectly obey them, when we are taken to heaven. But until then, a desire to obey His commands must fill our hearts and we must obey as consistently as we can. When we fail, we do as God says to do and seek forgiveness. 

Respect God's commands by accepting them for our benefit.

Romans 7:12  Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. 

The moral law of God is good for us. It teaches us the distinction between what is holy and good and right and what is evil, depraved and defiling. 

It is good for God to tell us these things in His law. We can discipline ourselves to do those things which God says to do, and to avoid that which God says not to do. This is so simple that a child can understand it. God says "Yes, do this" about many things. He also says "No, do not do this" about many things.

Why did God give us such detailed, yet simple commands? Because they are good for us when we respect them, obey them and live them out in our choices. 

We can pursue holiness by respecting the moral law of God. Those commandments reflect His holiness and obeying them means we can reflect His holiness into a sin darkened world. 

The word "just" means that which God says is right and does no harm to others. 

The word "good" sums up the beautiful impact of God's moral law. His law is an absolutely good moral standard. We need this in a crazy culture that says you must embrace rebellion and perversion. 

A new heart and new spirit is required.

Ezekiel 11:19,20  And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: 20)  That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God. 

God intends to give each believer a new spirit and He does this when we are born again (2 Corinthians 5:17; Titus 3:4-6). The regenerating work of the Holy Spirit creates that new man in Christ. Our soul is given spiritual life.

The idea of removing a stony heart refers to our rebellion against God. Our heart becomes hardened and calloused when we commit sin and rebel against God. 

The new birth changes that and our heart of stone is replaced with a heart of flesh, that is a heart tender toward God. 

What is God's purpose in giving us a new heart and a new spirit? So that we might walk according to His moral law, keeping His commandments, and following His statutes.

Thus, when we speak of having respect to the commandments of God, we are speaking about all of His moral law. 

We cannot perfectly live by it because we still have our old nature that wants to sin and our flesh that is weak and subject to lust. But, respecting His commands should be our overriding desire.

We have a new desire to obey all of God's commands.

James 2:10  For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 

The authority of the law of God is lost if men think that they can pick and choose which parts they will obey or reject. 

The same God who said "Thou shalt not kill" also said "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy." (See Exodus 20:13; 20:8). 

Many Christians would never think of committing murder, yet many give no thought to treating the Lord's day as a holy day dedicated to God.  Many believers go about doing what they want to do instead of obeying what God commands. 

Each of God's commands are like links in a chain. Cutting a link severs the chain. This is what James spoke of. 

Some people thought that they were right before God because they were willing to obey some of His commands. Yet, breaking one commandment is like as transgressing them all. 

Respecting God's commands so we can be holy.

1 Peter 1:15-16  But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16)  Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 

"He that seeketh not to please God in all things, seeketh not to please God in anything."  One of the Puritan pastors wrote this sobering reflection and I think it is worthy for our consideration. 

Through our conversion to Christ, God gives us grace and a new desire to observe all His commandments. Grace gives us a desire to please our Father. The new heart and new spirit received from God are ready and willing to obey. 

1 John 5:2-3  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 3)  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 

There is no commandment to which any new creature in Christ is not suited to obey. John tells us that it is not some backbreaking, onerous task God gives us, to keep His commandments. 

In fact, respecting and keeping His commandments is a display of our love for God. Keeping His commands is a joyful duty, not some terrible task.

Respect God's commandments with a renewed mind. 

Romans 12:1-2  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2)  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 

Paul taught that believers must be overwhelmed by the pure mercy received from God. He withholds His divine wrath for our sins and instead, pours out grace upon us. 

Since this is so, we are to present our physical body as a living sacrifice to God. That is, to use Paul's terms; we must mortify the deeds of our flesh and have no confidence in it. 

Instead of pursuing sin, we choose to pursue holiness which is acceptable to the Father and considering the full scope of our salvation, this is a most reasonable expectation for any child of God. 

We are not to follow after the world, being immersed in a corrupt, wicked, self absorbed, self conceited culture. Instead, we must be transformed by the renewing of our minds. 

This comes from taking the Word of God into our heart, soul and mind. His living truth changes us from the inside out. 

A renewed mind searches the scripture in order to determine what the good, acceptable and perfect will of God is. God's will is easily discerned. 

He says do not commit adultery, and that is His will. Our duty is obedience by not committing adultery. Even more, we seek to avoid any situation where there might be an opportunity to commit this sin.  This is how a believer lives according to His will. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

Psalm 139:23-24  Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24)  And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. 

This is where Psalm 119 leads the believer in Christ. To a point where we recognize the authority of His Word and a willingness to submit to His commands. 

At the end of Psalm 139, the Psalmist asks Jehovah to search him and to examine his heart. He wanted God to show him any wicked way that he had, so that he could confess and forsake it. Then, he prayed for Jehovah's mighty help to lead him on the straight and narrow way that leads to eternal life.

A man or woman who is not born again, is not fitted for this undertaking. Indeed, that person will not have much interest in respecting the commandments of God. 

A true believer in Christ will take all of these truths to heart, and seek God's help. He will strive to have a renewed mind each day and strength sufficient to respect His commands. This leads to lasting happiness and enjoying the blessings from God. This leads to a closer communion with Christ. 

May the Spirit of God help us grow in our faith to the point where we delight in respecting the commandments of God.

Bob