Seeking the Spirit's Teaching

Scripture:
Help me understand
the meaning of your precepts
so that I can meditate on your wonders.
Psalm 119:27

Observation: The psalmist desires a deeper understanding of the Lord's precepts and laws. Five times he asks for teaching, instruction, and understanding of God's word. In verse 27 we see one of his goals for such learning ... so he may meditate on the Lord's wonders.

This implies that there is a deeper meaning to the laws and precepts and commands of the word beyond their simple definitions. While all of these teachings have instructions and procedures, obedience to those procedures would not produce meditative contemplation on the wonders of the Lord. Instead, that wonder is found through a deeper revelation of the Lord himself, found within the instructions. This revelation includes ... unconditional love for everyone, a desire to both provide basic essentials and immense blessings, a purpose founded in relationship with the creator of the universe, both mercy and justice for the persecuted and persecutors, and personal joy available to everyone every day.

Application: It is this level of understanding of God's laws that confounds non-believers and new believers alike. I have seen the endless debates about commandments ... which ones don't apply anymore, which apply to Jews but not Christians, etc. Jesus himself called out the issues with such debates. Later prophets pointed out the futility of procedural compliance and how it missed the point of the entire law (seek justice, love mercy, walk humbly with the Lord).

This is how I want to consider all the laws and precepts ... that they reveal God's love, and his overall desire for relationship with me, which is achieved through my behavior that both honors and trusts in him as my Lord, savior, master, and God. It is in that context and mindset that meditating on all his wonders can truly guide me to discovery, to joy, to inner peace, and to true worship.

Prayer: Lord, I thank you for your instructions, for they do not exist as a burden but as a guidepost to know you better. There can be no greater honor than the creator of the universe desiring that I get to know him. In that spirit, and by your Spirit, may I walk humbly with you every day, my Lord and my God. Amen.