Galatians 3:19, 22, 24 “Why then was the law given? It was added because of transgressions, until the arrival of the descendant to whom the promise has been made. 22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything and everyone under sin that the promise could be given – because of the faithfulness of Jesus Christ – to those who believe. 24 Thus the law had become our guardian until Christ, so that we could be declared righteous by faith.
Psalm 119:97-98 “O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. 98 Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, For they are ever mine.…”.
The wise Psalmist realized it was a blessing to have God’s law. Paul saw the gift of the law, leading us to the Promise of God. Kenneth Starr proclaimed those same words, “I love the law” during the Clinton impeachment hearings/investigation. Persecuted because he would not acquiesce to the political correctness or the dumbed-down lines of what is right or wrong, he stood firmly on the side of truth. But not everyone feels the same about the law.
Our natural flesh recoils at the word “law”. Images of children defying the boundaries laid out for them because they do not want their spirit to be ruled are similar to the very real rebellion we have today. Seeking freedom from control, our society is ironically controlled by our lack of control – enslaved by the very chains we were trying to break. Seemingly confining, the law is an enigmatic blessing; it imposes a righteous standard, exposes our sinfulness and need of a Savior. Without the law I would not know what is right or be able to see my sin. Lawlessness would rule and violations would escalate.
With boundaries comes freedom. Monetarily, if I stay within my budget and have leftovers, I am free to use that money toward ends not defined. Conversely, if I resent a budget and go into debt thinking I deserve that freedom, I become enslaved to the lender. Teenagers are loved when a parent tries to impede sin, but sadly, sometimes they deem that covering as a burden and remove the umbrella of protection God intended, electing a harsher road.
So it is with our souls. We want to be free, but do not understand what freedom is. In Psalms 16:6, David said, “The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.” David was hiding from Saul when he penned this Psalm, fearing for his very life. He was grateful that God spared him once again. He did not get angry with God that He permitted such circumstances, but was praising God for His Deliverance in the midst of dire times. Humility and gratitude for what good God allowed…not resentment for the pain and troubles God also allowed. God in His infinite wisdom knows what good we can reap even from the hideous things that seem of no value at all.
The law creates a vacuum – all pronounced guilty, we look to the hope that somewhere we can be excused from our guilt. The discomfort is increased when violations begin to stack up. We self-righteously try to find incidences in which we actually obeyed the law – surely there is a commandment of God’s we have not broken! We compare ourselves to a worse transgressor than ourselves, thinking that will give us the relief we long for. Or perhaps we attempt to redefine the boundaries with our new, higher wisdom, which is no different than the same tricks mankind played centuries and a millennia ago.
Cease striving, friend. God loves You and knows you could never meet His righteous requirements. I thank God for His sweet law. I thank God that He is Holy and Good. I thank God for the day when I realized I was a sinner. I used to mock the term “born again” until God found me. My spirit did not enjoy seeing how vile a creature I was, but in that moment of pain there was the greatest liberation of my soul. God did not leave me there in condemnation; while He could not excuse my sin, He convicted me and then pronounced a sentence of “not guilty”! He alone is my Righteousness. I do not deserve that grace, but it is FREE. He made the law and He fulfilled it – hallelujah! If you have not accepted this provision for your sin, friend, please do. He can set you free today!
Oh God, thank You for Your law. Thank You that You never change. Thank You that You set standards because You want to free us from sin and death – because You love us. You are so good and I worship You! Help our country to see the law as a blessing and to return to the foundation which was laid for it. Help the citizens of our country to bow their knee to Your law and be saved.