Church, do you delight in God’s law?
The psalmist speaks of God’s law as something more precious than gold and sweeter than honey. He doesn’t simply view God’s law as a duty. He loves it! He delights in it! He cherishes it!
But do we share his delight?
I think sometimes, in our efforts to rightly emphasize salvation by grace alone, we can develop a wrong attitude toward obedience. We know that our works cannot save us, and we rightly want to avoid legalism. But in trying to avoid one error, we can fall into another. We can begin to treat obedience as unnecessary, or worse, view God's commands as burdens rather than something good for us.
But this is not how Scripture teaches us to view God's law. Scripture describes God's law as holy and good. It gives wisdom to the simple, rejoices the heart, enlightens the eyes, and nourishes the soul. It teaches us how to love God and our neighbors. And as John reminds us, God's commandments are not burdensome.
In fact, one of the marks of a true believer is their new attitude toward God's law. Where they once loved sin and resented God's commands, you now, in Christ, love God's commands and resent your sin.
And yet, despite this change of heart, how often do we still view God's commands as burdensome? As something that's slowing us down? Or, God forbid, as though His commands are getting in the way of something we truly want?
Brothers and sisters, God's law is not in the way. God's law is the way! The psalmist delights in the path of God's commandments because they show us how to live a life that glorifies the God who has redeemed us.
So here is my exhortation to you: Delight in God's commands! Do not treat as a burden what God has graciously given for your good.
