God’s Laws

Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You . . . Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.  (Psalm 119:11, 105, NASB)

Psalm 119, author unknown, is very interesting.  It’s entitled “Meditations and Prayers Relating to the Law of God.”  The author tells of his delight of learning and following God’s laws.  The psalm is a study in Hebrew poetry.  Each stanza, composed of eight verses, begins with a subsequent letter of the Hebrew alphabet, so there are 22 stanzas.  Nearly every verse mentions a synonym for God’s laws (law, precepts, testimonies, ways, statutes, etc.).  

In the brief clip above, the author proclaims, “Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.”  We have to study God’s word in order to know it, then make up our minds to follow it.  Of course, we all sin.  What’s important in scripture is that God sent His Son, Jesus, Who became sin for us, and took the punishment we all deserve.  God wants us to follow His Son, and receive the forgiveness that can be found nowhere else! 

Psalm 119:105 image.  Found at Bibliatodo, https://www.bibliatodo.com/En/christian-pictures/your-word-is-a-lamp-for-my-feet-a-light-on-my-path/

The second verse above is, “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.”  It speaks of the value of God’s word.  In context, in the time it was written, nighttime travelers had to carry a torch or some kind of lantern in order to see on paths that were often dangerous.  Today we have paved roads and headlights, and we take them for granted.  Comparing God’s word to precious light shows just how valuable it is to the author. 

We should study God’s word.  It’s important that we know His statutes so as to set an example to others.  We have to know His laws before we can follow them to avoid the charge of hypocrisy, and attract others to be Jesus-followers.  Our mission is to populate Heaven.  We can’t do that unless we know God’s laws and try to follow them.  We have to know Jesus!