The law of the LORD is perfect reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart.The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring for ever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them you servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
Psalm 19.7-11
What a glorious testimony from the lips of David, the man after God’s own heart, the greatest King of Israel. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.
David, called from caring for his father’s sheep to kingship by God himself, to a throne that he was promised would last forever. A promise fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ.
David was sure of many things with such great and precious promises made to him through the prophets who were his contemporaries. He was also a man with human frailties just like us and in his case this resulted among other things in his adultery with Bathsheba, the murder of Uriah and later his numbering of the people of Israel. For each of these, and other failures he received punishment in line with the same ordinances that he extolls in this Psalm. As a result of his behaviour around Bathsheba, the child of that adultery died. His subsequent failure to address issues with his son Absalom, resulted in him being driven out of his kingdom for a period and the numbering of Israel left him with an almost impossible decision as to how things might be atoned for.
2 Samuel 24.11ff.
These results were all a consequence of the LORD’s sure and righteous ordinances and David, in spite of suffering as a result of them extolls them in this way.
He found that keeping God’s ordinances resulted in blessing; that departing from them resulted in censure and punishment but he also knew that these same ordinances ministered God’s grace and mercy for they were and are reflections of his very being.
It is a glorious truth that we are not under the law but under grace but that does not excuse us from recognising and obeying God’s ordinances which in an ever-changing world are sure and unchanging. Also in a world where sin abounds God’s ordinances are righteous and therefore show us how to live.
O LORD give me a heart which thankful for your sure and righteous ordinances. and the will to obey them.