S141P1 – More precious than gold: the Lord’s decrees
Psa. 19:9-11
[T]he fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
The word “righteous” can be defined as morally correct or excellent. When I was a child, my parents had many rules for us to follow. What made us clash regarding these rules was always the same thing. We children had an idea of what was good and right, and my parents had another idea of what met that standard. Of course, our version of their rules typically was molded to simply give us the result we wanted. If I was caught lying, I had an argument for why it was justified in that instance. We constantly challenged their position on what is right righteous. It is the same thing that people do to God today, and it keeps us from gaining the value found in his rules.
There is a conflict that will exist as long as we live in this order of things. God in his word tells us that following him brings freedom. That, of course, includes following his rules for life. His direction and instruction must be trusted as right and good. Mankind will argue that these rules are confining and limiting. Our sinful nature will desire to do so much that God prohibits, and we will desire not to do what He requires. The thing is, his word is truth. He is right on this as He is on everything. Those who argue their side and refuse to conform to his precepts miss out on their objective value. We are told to desire these decrees more than gold because they are worth more. Following them will bring us great spiritual riches.
We tend to make so many decisions based on what we think is best for us. The irony is that the God against whom we so often fight always knows what is best for us. The man who wants to gain the most and have the best certainly would be wise to seek after that which is righteous. He would want to follow the path that brings him his best end. If we want to be truly rich in the way that matters, we should want to follow the Lord’s precepts. They bring us to a treasure we can have no other way. They guide us from that which brings death to that which brings life. Father, help us to see your decrees for the precious guidance they are, and give us the desire to follow them every day and deny ourselves.