O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever mine. Psalm 119:97-98.
Today your LORD (יהוה) God (אלהים) says:
My laws are the key to joy. Why? My Words are the perfect law of liberty that set you free from the curse. And a law works for everyone that keeps it.
My Words are pure, words tried and true, and they are for instruction and direction, encouragement and edification, exhortation and correction, comfort and joy, protection and deliverance, salvation and sanctification, health and wholeness, wisdom and light, love and life, but above all they are spiritual laws. They are designed to keep order, give a way that everyone can function at maximum goodness with one another, keep you in protection and proper direction, and give you successful outcomes of good health, prosperity, and peace.
Just think about traffic laws, they are designed to give protection on the highways to motorists and pedestrians and to keep chaos and confusion from reigning. Confusion and lawlessness benefit no one, but end in destruction for all. I am talking about things like keeping your vehicle in the proper direction of the flow of traffic so you are not going full speed into incoming vehicles, stopping at red signals, and not crossing streets as a pedestrian against traffic signals. You cannot drive just any way, any speed, or ignore any traffic light you want just because you are in a hurry. You are headed for destruction and it is your fault if you end there. Not because the one setting up those laws does not have your best interests in mind, but because the lawgiver does.
I explained this to the Israelites in the desert when I redeemed them from slavery in Egypt and was taking them to the abundant beautiful land I promised to them with the covenant I made with Abraham and his descendants. I instructed them that if they listened to and obeyed My Words (My Words are spiritual laws that work in the realm of the spirit and in the realm of the flesh) that blessings of all that is good would be theirs, in fact, that these magnificent blessings would chase them down and overwhelm them with goodness. Genesis 28:1-14.
But I also advised them if they refused to listen to and obey My Words, but instead walked in lawlessness (sin is lawlessness), curses would be theirs, and these curses would chase them down and destroy them. Deuteronomy 28:15-68.
First of all, I want to establish that My Words are laws, and there are tremendous benefits, spiritual and physical, for here and hereafter, in keeping them. My yoke is easy and My burden is light. You read over and over again that those are blessed who delight in My law and meditate in it night and day. Whatever they do prospers. Why? My Words are life to those who find them and health to all their flesh. There is great reward in keeping them. My laws are like insider trading secrets. You would be wise to heed them, for I know how the universe and everything in it works, and most importantly I know how you and others work within and without and what benefits you and what harms you.
When I say to love your neighbor as yourself that is not optional. It is a command. But the benefit is as you have done to others, so it comes back to you. From other people and Me.
And when I say, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” That is not optional, it is a spiritual law. And what is the benefit in that law? “And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7. And there is much more I promise on that vein, by casting the care of your burden on Me, I take care of it and show you how to get out from under it because I care for you. And that is a scripture and a law as well, in both in Old and the New Testaments.
And you see this working in the history of Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah when three enemy armies came against them to destroy them and their land, they met in My presence and cast the care on Me, and then did what I instructed them, and they had a miraculous victory. They came out better off and richer than before the enemy had come.
The same with Hezekiah when the Assyrians came against Jerusalem. He came and cast that care on Me, and I sent an angel that very night that took out 185,000 of them and the rest packed up and went home.
Every time My commandments, law, statues and ordinances are followed, then good results follow. When they are not, evil results follow. Lawlessness never gives a good result. Remember the busy intersection and traffic laws. My laws are for a reason and you should be very eager to do them if you are wise. You should see them as treasure without measure for they open new doors of blessing to you in every area of your life.
My servant David loved My Word, My Words became his songs in the house of his pilgrimage. He loved My laws. He found they were more precious to him than gold. Why? They prospered him in every way in his life. From battle strategies, to finding refuge, to running a nation.
He had no riches when he began obeying My laws and following Me. And at first it cost him everything as he ran from Saul, but even in hiding in caves as he sang My praises and kept My laws by never seeking vengeance against Saul or those who pursued him but honoring Saul as the anointed king, I prospered him. I gave him supporters, a whole company who followed him, and favor with the Philistines, which was a miracle since he had been defeating their armies when Saul had him in his army. Remember Goliath?
I later boasted of David do his descendants that “I led him in right paths, restored what was stolen, and made him king. I gave him enemy nations and he took their treasuries. He shared it with his mighty men and gave Me his treasures. And even with all he gave, at the end of his life he was still giving to Me. His delight was to build Me a magnificent house. He planned it for his son to build, and one of his final donations was 3,000 talents of gold, and in each talent there would be around 75 pounds of gold, so in value at the price of gold today he gave about 7 billion dollars’ worth of gold. And he also gave 7,000 talents of silver. And this was not near all the wealth in his house.
David was a man after My own heart and his heart was ever for Me and it made Him love My Words and laws. He kept My commandments and followed Me with all his heart, to do only that which was right in My sight. 1 Kings 14:8.
And he sang from personal experience, “The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart. The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever. The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them Your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.” Psalm 19:7-11.
By My Laws you are warned. Warned of danger ahead. Like a flashing light positioned on a roadblock warning not to continue there as a bridge is out ahead. If you read on a bottle of bleach not to drink it or it will poison you, you certainly will not drink it. And if you even took a taste you would spit it out as unpleasant to say the least. Then why would someone commit adultery even once when I tell you so many places in My Word the evil of it, the deadly nature of it? Why? You would not drive through a redlight if you saw a host of cars speeding in the distance to cross that street before the signal changes. Foolish actions bring deadly results.
Lawlessness is deadly. It is at work in the sons of disobedience. Do not join up with them. Never walk in the way of sinners.
Let Me now take you to Psalm 119, which is the longest psalm in the Book of Psalms (in Hebrew what you call the Book of Psalms is simply called “Praises”) and it is about My commandments, laws, statutes and Words—primarily how delightful, energizing, perfect, purifying, and effective they are in making you successful, healthy, prosperous, and wiser than your teachers and elders.
O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever mine. Psalm 119:97-98.
The word that is translated “law” throughout the Old Testament is the Hebrew word “Torah” (תּוֹרָה) which means “instruction, direction and law.” It is the name given for the first five books of the Bible. It is from the root “yarah” (יָרָה) which means “to throw or shoot,” and is sometimes translated “archer” meaning one who shoots and hits the mark. Following My laws (instructions) will make you skillful in hitting the bull’s eye, that is, going straight to what is successful and prosperous for your life.
You see also in this passage the word “commandments” which in Hebrew is mitsvah (מִצְוָה), which means commandment. It is from the word tsavah (צָוָה), which means to lay charge (upon), give charge (to), command, order.
Here the psalmist shares a truth that should be aware of when the devil attacks, “Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies.” Psalm 119:98. The devil works from lawlessness and you know where he is ending. Do not go there with him. He took Adam and Eve down to death and destruction by leading them into breaking just one command. Never play with lawlessness. Not even once. It can ruin your life and that of your descendants.
Dwell in the safe parameter of My law. “You are my hiding place and my shield; I wait for Your word.” Psalm 119:114.
And then I begin to sum up the foundation upon which My law rests: love, and faith in that love.
I hate those who are double-minded, but I love Your law. Psalm 119:113.
Here we see reference to the law of faith as My Spirit spoke through My servant James, “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. or that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” James 1:5-7.
Why is it that the double minded man gets nothing? What law is he breaking? The law of faith. You believe in your heart and speak with your mouth to obey that law and get the promise in the Law for which you are believing. In violation of that law, the double minded mind speaks the promise and sets it in motion by the spiritual law of having faith and speaking to the mountain or speaking the result, returning that word to Me, and then he speaks the contrary saying it is not working or it seems he will always be sick, or broke, or whatever and it must be My Will for him. He just cancelled it and drew it back to set into motion the opposite by fear.
Do NOT throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done My Will (My law), you will receive what was promised. For yet in a very little while, Jesus who is coming will come, and will not delay. But My righteous one shall live by faith; and if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him. Hebrews 10:35-38.
Why? I long to give you the blessing of the promise. But it is not based on merit or need, it is based on the law of faith to receive. Jesus did not ask people their works, reason they deserved healing, or why they needed it, He simply asked them if they had the faith to receive it.
Do not be like those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul. Hebrews 10: 39.
I rejoice at Your Word, as one who finds great spoil. I hate and despise falsehood, but I love Your law. Seven times a day I praise You, because of Your righteous ordinances. Psalm 119:162-164.
My Word is truth, which is why My laws work, lies do not bring the results they promise. Just as the devil’s lies to Eve did not result in what he promised. He could not perform his promise. It was a lie that deceived her and robbed her of her treasure of dominion authority and gave it to him.
And My laws are so powerful being the truth, that they work for unbelievers as well. Just recall the tower of Babel. The power of agreement and speaking with faith, one heart, one purpose, and all speaking the same result. But because it was not the truth, My Word could stop it. And so can you when you use My laws to take down the enemy’s towers and strongholds.
Those who love Your law have great peace, and nothing causes them to stumble. Psalm 119:165.
If you know how the laws of My Kingdom work, you cannot be taken into deception. My law is clear, enlightening the eyes. You can abide in them in secure peace. You know you will win if you just follow My Law. My Word works for everyone who will read it, believe it, speak it, and do it with faith.
How can you keep your way pure? By keeping it according to My Word. My Words are spirit and life and they cleanse you. Seek Me with all your heart and you will not wander from My commandments. They will be sweet to you. Treasure My Word in your heart and you will not sin against Me. Psalm 119:9-11.
Blessed are You, O LORD, teach me Your statutes. With my lips I have told of all the ordinances of Your mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts and regard Your ways. I delight in Your statutes; I shall not forget Your Word. Psalm 119:12-16.
And what is the foundation of all My Law? My Word. And I am My Word and I AM Love. Pure love. All My laws basically rest on the law of love. And that law will always lead you right. For love is the fulfillment of the Law.
One Word from Me will open up your destiny and that one Word is LOVE, for as you follow Me, directed you will be along the pathway of your life.
Jesus told you that because of the increase of lawlessness in the people before His return that most people’s love will grow cold. Matthew 24:12. And that caused Him to say, “But when the Son of Man returns will He find any faith on the earth?” You see, faith works by love.
For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:14. Love does no wrong to the neighbor, therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Romans 3:10.
Love one another as I have loved you. And I showed you how I love you in Jesus. I heal, forgive, serve, bless, correct, direct, and reconcile you to Me. And I give you My Word to set you free. Whom the Son, who is My Word made flesh, sets free is free indeed!
So how does perfect joy come from all this? You find that answer in the book of Hebrews speaking of Jesus, but it also applies to you, for as He is so are you in this world, and I gave you Him so you could live your life through Him, holy and blameless before Me. “You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness, THEREFORE God, your God, has anointed you with the Oil of JOY above all your companions.” Hebrews 1:9; Psalm 45:7.
Love My righteousness that I have given to you, be established in it and you will be far from terror and oppression; and hate lawlessness so much that you never allow it to pull you along its dark paths, not even to taste it one time. That was all it took with Eve, one bite of lawlessness.
Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things from your Law. Psalm 119:17.
Wonderful things are joyful things. They are extraordinary, surpassing all you can think or imagine. And you will find them in the treasures of My Words, which are all laws of the Kingdom.
I love you. My Words are not idle words, they are your life.
I have more insight than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged because I have observed Your precepts. Psalm 119:99-100.
Your statutes are my songs in the house of my pilgrimage. O LORD, I remember Your name in the night, and keep Your law. This has become mine, that I observe Your precepts. Psalm 119:54-56.
How sweet are Your Words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth! From Your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. Psalm 119:103-104.
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105.