Psalm 19 -- We Won't Like It, But ...

This chapter has something in it that I imagine most people don’t want to admit, don’t like, and that probably grates on them, but it’s something that each person must come to understand and accept in his own heart if he is to come to a full understanding of God:

“The teachings of the Lord are perfect ...

The rules of the Lord can be trusted …

The orders of the Lord are right…

The commands of the Lord are pure …

The judgments of the Lord are true; they are completely right.”

See what I mean?  I’ll  bet that most people will wince at the words rules, orders, and commands, not wanting anyone to tell them what to do … I was that way.  I know.  Most also won’t like the judgments of the Lord, either, because they don’t want to be judged because they know they’ll fall far short.

Yet until we surrender our will, effectively say, “Okay, I give!  You win, God!” we’ll be holding on to something that opposes God’s will.  The bad thing is that most people will see that as total DEFEAT when God is giving them total VICTORY and they just can’t see it.  There’s just a little too much rebel in us for our own good, and it’s called sin.

Even if we don’t like it, we still need to admit to God that He’s always right and we’re not.  It’s the only way to break through the pride we harbor in our hearts.  It’s nothing to do with self-esteem.  It’s instead self-worship.  It’s idolatry, and we can’t allow it in ourselves, for it amounts to putting ourselves ahead of God.

David included a little prayer at the end:  “I hope my words and my thoughts please You.”  In other words, “I hope they match up.”  If what we think and what we say are materially different, then we’re most likely looking at something David mentioned in verse 13:  “Forgive me for my secret sins.”

Father, I know now that You are completely right in everything – I have no defense that I can raise if my thoughts, words, or actions run counter to Your Word.  I still hate it when I find myself having to admit that I don’t like something You’ve commanded, for that means that my heart isn’t in sync with Yours.  Help me to change that, Father, for knowing it is one thing.  Doing it is quite another.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford