God's Law | | The Christmas Conspiracy | | V&FT | | E-Mail
The Modern World is at war with disciplined rationality. A man like Abraham, governed by God's Law, rational, orderly, who by his planning and self-sacrifice is able to house hundreds of homeless people and train them to be competent and productive covenant-keepers (Genesis 12:5; 13:2,14), is no longer the cultural hero. Growing numbers of people accuse self-governing, well-disciplined, law-abiding, Triune God-worshiping Patriarchs of being "in their head" and "not in touch with their feelings." The trendy phrase used by the MTV generation is "anal retentive weenie."
The modern hero is the vagabond, the motorcyclist unshackled by family or mundane work, "in touch with his feelings," and able to expose the "self-righteous hypocrisy" of an Abraham by an impromptu poem, sung in defiant tones.
"Feelings." Undergirding this idea seems to be a belief that all human beings by nature have certain "feelings," and if we acted in terms of these "feelings," they would "free" us — free us, that is, from being self-governing, well-disciplined, law-abiding, rational, orderly, Triune God-worshiping Patriarchs to become — I guess? — undisciplined, lawless, irrational, disorderly, self-worshiping hedonists — which, not surprisingly, leads us to "freedom" under the totalitarian rule of a socialist dictatorship. This whole idea is a throwback to pagan "chaos" theories (Mardi Gras, Bacchanalia, Saturnalia, etc.).[1]
There is no dichotomy between "head" and "feelings" in Christian theology. Thus there is no such distinction in a Godly Patriarch. Or anybody, for that matter: for out of the heart, or core of one's being, flow the issues of life (Luke 6:45), for it is in the heart that we think (Proverbs 23:7; Matthew 9:4), reason (Mark 2:6-8), deliberate (Luke 3:15), ponder (Luke 2:19), understand (Matthew 13:15; Ephesians 4:18), and conspire (Luke 1:51). There is no Biblical distinction between "mind" and "heart"; the two are used interchangeably (Hebrews 8:10 + 10:16). The important matter is not whether you are "in your head" or "in touch with your feelings," but whether you are obedient to God, or whether you are rebellious, asserting your own autonomy, being your own god. We are to have "the mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:6). We are to be in touch with God's feelings. We must approach man holistically and theologically, not academically and psychologically. And we must see man as created in the Image of God, who will not see personal fulfillment apart from God's Law.
This is done in Psalm 119. Here we see disciplined emotions. Here we see how a Godly man "feels" about life. Here is a picture of a man "in touch with" reality.
Psalm 119:2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
Psalm 119:10-11 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. {11} Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Psalm 119:34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
Psalm 119:69 The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.
Psalm 119:111-112 Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart. {112} I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end.
Psalm 119:129 Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them.
Psalm 119:167 My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly.
Does God's Law appeal to your heart?
Do you feel an attraction to Godliness: love,
joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness, temperance: — those things
commanded by God's Law?
Do you feel repulsed and disturbed by lawlessness? When you hear about the escalating murder, violence, adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, contentions jealousies, angry outbursts, selfish ambitions, heresies, envying and greed, drunkenness and addiction, and parties in our world, do you grieve? (Galatians 5:19-23). If you do not think God's thoughts after Him, and feel God's feelings after Him, you are suppressing the truth created within you, perhaps to gain favor with your friends by being "politically correct."
You are not truly "in touch with your feelings" unless you are in touch with God's Law.
Psalm 119:136 Rivers of water run down from my eyes, because men do not keep Your law.
Psalm 119:53 Indignation has taken hold of me because of the wicked, who forsake Your law.
Psalm 119:158 I see the treacherous, and am disgusted, because they do not keep Your word.[2]
Studying God's Law Appeals to My Heart, Not Just My Mind
Psalm 119:14 I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.
Psalm 119:16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.
Psalm 119:20 My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times.
Psalm 119:24 Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors.
Psalm 119:31 I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O LORD, put me not to shame.
Psalm 119:34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
Psalm 119:35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.
Psalm 119:40 Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.
Psalm 119:47 And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.
Psalm 119:52 I remembered thy judgments of old, O LORD; and have comforted myself.
Psalm 119:54-55 Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage. {55} I have remembered thy name, O LORD, in the night, and have kept thy law.
Psalm 119:81 My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.
Psalm 119:97 O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
Psalm 119:103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Psalm 119:111 Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.
Psalm 119:113 I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love.
Psalm 119:119 Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross: therefore I love thy testimonies.
Psalm 119:120 My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments.
Psalm 119:131 I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments.
Psalm 119:143 Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delights.
Psalm 119:167 My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly.
Psalm 119:174 I have longed for thy salvation, O LORD; and thy law is my delight.
1. To know God's Law
Psalm 119:12 Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.
Psalm 119:18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.
Psalm 119:26-27 I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes. {27} Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.
Psalm 119:33-34 Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end. {34} Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
Psalm 119:64 The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes.
Psalm 119:66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.
Psalm 119:68 Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.
Psalm 119:73 Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.
Psalm 119:108 Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgments.
Psalm 119:124-125 Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes. {125} I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies.
Psalm 119:144 The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live.
Psalm 119:169 TAU. Let my cry come near before thee, O LORD: give me understanding according to thy word.
2. To Keep God's Law
Psalm 119:5 O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!
Psalm 119:10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
Psalm 119:29 Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.
Psalm 119:32 I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.
Psalm 119:34-36 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. {35} Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight. {36} Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.
Psalm 119:132-135 Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name. {133} Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me. {134} Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts. {135} Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes.
3. That I will bear rich fruit
Psalm 119:13 With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.
Psalm 119:42 So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word.
Psalm 119:43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.
Psalm 119:46 I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.
Deuteronomy 4:9 Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons;
Deuteronomy 6:6-9 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: {7} And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. {8} And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. {9} And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
Deuteronomy 11:18-21 Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. {19} And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. {20} And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates: {21} That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth.
1. God Gave Us His Law
Psalm 119:62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.
Psalm 119:164 Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments.
2. He Guides us
Psalm 119:102 I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.
Psalm 119:171 My lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes.
The Law is a pattern of Reconstruction for my Daily Life
Psalm 119:128 Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.
The Law is a pattern of Reconstruction for my nation
Psalm 119:23 Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.
Psalm 119:46 I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.
Psalm 119:161 Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.
The Law is a pattern of Reconstruction for scholars
Psalm 119:99-100 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. {100} I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts. the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.
1. The Purpose of my Salvation is to obey God's Law
Psalm 119:17 Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word.
Psalm 119:77 Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight.
Psalm 119:88 Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.
Psalm 119:116-117 Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope. {117} Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually.
Psalm 119:134 Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts.
Psalm 119:145-46 I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O LORD: I will keep thy statutes.
Psalm 119:175 Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy judgments help me.
2. There are many advantages to obedience
Psalm 119:9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
Psalm 119:45 And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.
3. Salvation = "save" "heal" "protect" "make whole" "place into a wide open space"
Psalm 119:25 My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.
Psalm 119:28 My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.
Psalm 119:37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.
Psalm 119:40-41 Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness. {41} Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word.
Psalm 119:50 This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.
Psalm 119:52 I remembered thy judgments of old, O LORD; and have comforted myself.
Psalm 119:54 Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.
Psalm 119:62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.
Psalm 119:88 Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.
Psalm 119:93 I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.
Psalm 119:144 The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live.
Psalm 119:149 Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness: O LORD, quicken me according to thy judgment.
Psalm 119:156 Great are thy tender mercies, O LORD: quicken me according to thy judgments.
Psalm 119:175 Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy judgments help me.
4. God's Law Strengthens Me to Give My Life for Others.
Irresponsible drifters are more honored in our world than are men of substance and virtue. Those who care about Christian heritage, tradition, and God's Law are despised and ridiculed. I can't imagine someone who doesn't get emotional over God's Law ever risking his life for the Kingdom. He seeks to be honored with ephemeral values and short-lived trends; the applause of the here-today, gone-tomorrow; the tinsel and glitter of a plastic empire. And if God called him to stand alone for truth, he wouldn't be able to buck the pressure of a generation that honors such transitory men and shallow ideas.
Psalm 119:6 Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.
Psalm 119:22-24 Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies. {23} Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes. {24} Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors.
Psalm 119:42 So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word.
Psalm 119:46 I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.
Psalm 119:78 Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts.
Psalm 119:92 Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.
Psalm 119:98-100 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. {99} I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. {100} I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.
Psalm 119:153 Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law.
Psalm 119:161 Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.
1. People also accuse the author of this Bible study of being "anal retentive," "in his head" and "not in touch with his feelings" even though he is only attempting to be a self-governing, well-disciplined, law-abiding, rational, orderly, Triune God-worshiping Patriarch — and doing so only inconsistently and feebly. One can only imagine the scorn he would receive if he were successful. May God help this poor wretch.
- Oh, that my head were waters,
And my eyes a fountain of tears,
That I might weep day and night
For the slain of the daughter of my people!
{2} Oh, that I had in the wilderness
A lodging place for travelers;
That I might leave my people,
And go from them!
For they are all adulterers,
An assembly of treacherous men.
{3} "And like their bow they have bent their tongues for lies.
They are not valiant for the truth on the earth.
For they proceed from evil to evil,
And they do not know Me," says the LORD.Jeremiah 9:1-3
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