Reflections
(by J. Kim)
“Blessed
are they who follow the law of the Lord.”
Our psalmist is in prayer asking for many
things. He asks, "Open my eyes, that I may
consider the wonders of your law." We may
not think of the law as wonderful, but rather
may consider it restrictive and harsh, but if
we learn to do His will, we find that we are
liberated, set free from the sin that drags
us down. We choose life instead of death.
The Lord reveals to us very clearly how to
live a life that is "happy" and full of peace.
"Happy are those who observe God's
decrees, who seek the Lord with all their
heart."
However, with man's sinful nature, we are
likely to fall far short. God never intended
to justify anyone through the Law of Moses.
Rather, the law shows us where we are sinful.
Fortunately for us, God sent his son among us
to
redeem us from those
sins
If
we are not sure where sin lurks in our lives,
then our prayer becomes the words of the
psalmist, “Give me discernment, that I may
observe your law and keep it with all my heart.”
then our prayer becomes the words of the
psalmist, “Give me discernment, that I may
observe your law and keep it with all my heart.”
The
closer we walk with the Lord, the brighter
He shines his goodness into the darkest corners
of our minds and hearts. And it's exactly the
purity of our innermost thoughts and motives
that matters most to the Lord. Even the Scribes
and Pharisees were good at following the law
with their actions. The Gospel asks us to delve
further than that, and make following the law
about the condition of our inner selves.
He shines his goodness into the darkest corners
of our minds and hearts. And it's exactly the
purity of our innermost thoughts and motives
that matters most to the Lord. Even the Scribes
and Pharisees were good at following the law
with their actions. The Gospel asks us to delve
further than that, and make following the law
about the condition of our inner selves.
(Matthew
5: 17-37)
Amen
Discussion Questions for Reflection
1. Our psalmist affirms that those who walk in the law of the Lord, those who
observe His decrees, will be happy and blessed. Based on your own experience,
how does our Savior lift you back up and restore you when you stumble?
2. The Psalm's verses petition the Lord to instruct us in the way of His
statutes.
Tell of how you receive guidance and discernment from the Lord that will help you
observe His law and keep it with all your heart.
Tell of how you receive guidance and discernment from the Lord that will help you
observe His law and keep it with all your heart.
Indeed it is through discernment I opened my eyes and I came to see my weakness and my utter dependency on my Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
ReplyDeleteBlessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
ReplyDeleteAs life - the religious life - is represented under the image of a journey, the expression here is equivalent to saying, "Blessed are those who in the journey of life - in their religious course - are pure, sincere, uncontaminated."
The whole psalm is designed to illustrate this thought, by showing what the influence of a sincere and conscientious attachment to the principles of the law or word of God in the various circumstances of life must be.
Who walk in the law of the Lord - Who habitually obey his law. This constitutes sincerity, uprightness, perfection in a man's life, for the law of the Lord is the only just rule of human conduct.
These are the lessons for us in this great psalm. The Word of God is sufficient to make us wise, train us in righteousness, and equip us for every good work (2 Timothy 3:15–17). The Scriptures are a reflection of God’s nature, and from them we learn that we can trust His character and His plan and purposes for mankind, even when those plans include affliction and persecution. Blessed indeed are we if our delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law we meditate day and night (Psalm 1:2).
“How do we receive guidance and discernment from the Lord?” When faced with choice, I fall back on the 10 commandments, and especially the 2 commandments…..”Love God, and love your neighbor.” Hard to go wrong with that. When faced with a more difficult choice,… PRAY, and consult with your spouse, family and close friends………... people that have good moral standards and are people that you respect and would value their advice. You may not always be right, but you will certainly be right most of the time.
ReplyDelete