Please don't give up on me!

Joyful are the people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord. Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths. You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully. Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees! Then I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with your commands. As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should! I will obey your decrees. Please don't give up on me! Psalm 119: 1-8 NLT

So begins the longest psalm. We will be spending quite sometime in Psalm 119 and be very familiar with its thoughts by the final verse.

Today we begin with God's instructions. It is so hard for me as a Christian to read these from a Hebrew point of view. When the psalmist wrote these words, God's instructions were God's law and the very life of the believing community. The ten commandments and all the instructions of Exodus, Numbers, Leviticus and Deuteronomy were meant to be followed to the letter in order to remain blessed in the land.

This was a big challenge as you can hear from the psalmist: Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees! Then I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with your commands. As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should! I will obey your decrees. Please don't give up on me! Perhaps they weren't following the commandments. There were times of shame when they fell short of the law. It almost seems as if they are still trying to learn and know by heart all of God's commands.

As a Christian, I hear Jesus' commandment: Love the lord your God with all you have and your neighbor as yourself. I want to say it is easier. In some ways it is easier because it is only one, maybe two sentences compared to several biblical books! Then there is the interpretation of these words. Even when Jesus spoke them, they were challenged. But who is my neighbor? And even when you figure that out, is it really so easy to do all that loving? Perhaps not.

Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees! Then I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with your commands. As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should! I will obey your decrees. Please don't give up on me! In Jesus' name. Amen.

Copyright 2012 Amelia G. Sims