Blessings of Obedience

Introduction

Heart­-fellowship with God is enjoyed by a love for God’s Word through which God communes with the soul by His Holy Spirit (CIT). So our psalmist delights in the fact that those who walk in wholehearted obedience to the Law, or the Word of God, are blessed (vv. 1­3). This prompted him to become more obedient to God’s commands so that he might follow His ways (vv. 4­6). Then this man of integrity gave thanks that he could learn more about God’s statutes (vv. 7­8).

Lovers of God's holy words are blessed, because they are preserved from defilement (verse 1), because they are becoming holy in their actions (verses 2 and 3), and are led to follow after God in integrity (verse 2). This holy walk is to be desired because God commands it (verse 4); therefore the devout soul prays for it (verse 5), knowing that his or her assistance and encouragement depend upon obtaining it (verse 6). In hope and expectation of these prayers being answered, the prayer’s heart is full of thankfulness (verse 7), and is fixed in solemn resolve not to miss the blessing if the Lord will give enabling grace (verse 8). [Spurgeon, Charles. Treasury of David. Vol. 2. McLean, VA: Macdonald Publishing. p. 138.]

I. THE BLAMELESS OF GOD ARE BLESSED, 1: 1­3.

Aleph.

The Psalmist is enraptured with the Word of God because the highest ideal of blessedness comes from being transformed by it. He has gazed on the beauties of the perfect law and exclaims what we find in verse 1.

"How blessed are those whose way is blameless,

Who walk in the law of the LORD."

Verse 1 begins, as does Psalm 1, with the pronouncement of a blessing upon the undefiled [blameless or "upright"] who are then defined as those who "walk in the law of the LORD!" Blessedness comes because of the grace of God that comes upon one who lives according to God’s Word. Blessed are those who walk through life submitted to God’s revelation (Deut. 28:4). [Notice that the holy life is a walk, or a steady progress, a maintained advance, a determined endurance.]

The word, "blessed," is the plural of fullness mean overflowing with fullness which signifies "happy" [or better "happy, happy" or overflowing happiness] to some. It is a high degree of blessedness. Blameless literally is "complete, or having integrity." This is what will happen to those who make the Word of God the center of their life.

If you want to be blessed or happy, walk in [according to, or keep] the Word of God. Let it be a delight to you. Unlike the television shows or movies you watch that often leave you so empty, time spent in the Word of God will bring sustained satisfaction to your soul. [Courson, Jon: Jon Courson's Application Commentary : Vol 2: Psalms ­Malachi. Nashville, TN : Thomas Nelson, 2006, S. 148.] "In that day" you will realize just how eternally blessed you have become.

This blessing does not come upon us because of grim duty or because of legalistic, external performance. Therefore verse 2 immediately adds, "How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, Who seek Him with all their heart!"

The word "testimonies" is derived from a legal term meaning "witness." It refers to God’s precepts which bear witness against sin and on behalf of holiness. We are to observe ["keep, preserve, protect"] God’s testimonies with all our heart. God’s blessings comes from a combination of external obedience and internal affection. We are not only to seek God’s will, but we seek God Himself with all that we are, or with our "whole heart" (2 Kgs 23:8; Ps 111:1). Thus the Great Commandment states, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might" (Deut. 6:5). Such seeking after God is to be the habit or practice of our life.

A benefit of seeking God is found in verse 3. "They also do no unrighteousness; They walk in His ways."

Men of integrity are here described both by what they don’t practice and what they do practice. They do not practice wrong but instead live as God’s Word requires.

If we walk in God’s ways, sin will be banished from our lives. Notice it says God’s ways, not man’s or our own ways. Now, our ways may not yet be God’s ways, but if we press on by faith in God’s Word the Spirit of God will enable us to walk in God’s ways. Remember, sin will keep us from the Bible or the Bible will keep us from sin.

II. THE BLAMELESS BECOME BLESSED IN HIS WAYS, 1: 4­6.

This whole­hearted seeking after God is to be grounded in His revelation as verse 4 discloses. "You have ordained Your precepts, that we should keep them diligently."

Note that the psalmist addresses God directly in prayer as he affirms the divine will. From verse 4 on[, except for verse 115,] the Psalm is addressed to the Lord. God’s command is "to keep" [‘preserve, protect’] His "precepts diligently." The word diligently means "greatly, exceedingly, mightily." We are to go after God’s Word without reserve or totally. There is no accidental keeping of God Word. We must strive to keep His precepts in all places, with all integrity, and toward all men. The God who commanded light to shine out of darkness [Gen. 1:2­3] has commanded us to live by His Word that His light might enter and chase out our darkness also.

Since this is God’s will, the psalmist immediately turns to intercession for himself in verse 5. "Oh that my ways may be established to keep Your statutes!"

God must give us the desire for obedience. God must place it within our new man, within our inner being. For our natural ways are opposed to the way of God. This psalmist later will pray, "Incline my heart to Your testimonies" (v. 36). "My ways" are my normal mode of acting. "To keep" is to observe for the purpose of obeying. Statues are God’s permanent enactments. Without such a heart­rending cry to God for help our Christian life becomes shipwrecked on the rocks, reefs, or sand barges of this world unable to sail in the empowering of God’s Spirit.

[A driver who ignores traffic signals is an accident looking for a place to happen. Anyone cheating on red or stopping absentmindedly on green is a danger to himself and others. Although a series of red lights can be a pain when you're eager to get to your destination, an accident can bring even greater pain.

Last year I was happily surprised when a traffic signal was finally installed on a corner that had been especially frustrating to me. It turned a daily ordeal into an orderly and predictable way of getting onto a busy street. Waiting occasionally at a red light is now almost a pleasure ­ at least at that intersection of bad memories.

The Scriptures too have some "red lights" that should control our lives as Christians. They are the prohibitions against envy, pride, hatred, irreverence, lust, and selfishness. When the Holy Spirit alerts us to their presence, we should immediately hit the brakes.

Likewise, as we move into the heavy traffic of daily living, we must quickly respond by obeying the "green" signals of kindness, humility, love, worship, and purity. God's stops and starts are designed to help us. The signals of Scripture are meant for our protection, correction, and direction. We should be as fearful of ignoring a command of Scripture as we are of running a red light. [ M.R.D. II, Our Daily Bread ]]

If only obedience to God’s Word was my natural bent. If only my natural bent was not toward rebellion against His authority. But I can’t keep God’s commandments in my own power, by my own will [Rom. 7]. It’s against my nature. I can only keep the law of God supernaturally, through the power of the Holy Spirit [Rom. 8:1f.] Walking in the flesh will only lead to misery. But walking in Spirit will allow the Spirit of God to work in me, transforming. "Oh, that my ways were directed to keep Your statutes!" Through the working of the Spirit ­they are!

Verse 6 gives a result of establishing our ways according to God’s Word. "Then I shall not be ashamed when I look upon all Your commandments."

Once a commitment has been determined to live life by God’s Word then we can live unashamedly before God. One reason we don’t look diligently and deeply into the Word of God is because we see ourselves as we are in God’s light and are ashamed of our actions.

Looking means to set or follow as a goal indicating a desire to be transformed through it [Alexander, Joseph. Commentary on Psalms. Kregel Publications: Grand Rapids, MI. 1991. p. 491].

Calvin taught that the law of God is like a mirror [Jas. 1:22]. When we look in a mirror, we see ourselves as we really are. The law shows us our sin and our disobedience. This is meant to lead us not to despair but to repentance. The law is ultimately designed to drive us to Christ and His salvation. At the same time, when we do the will of God our shame is lifted. The law [commandments or decrees] no longer condemns. Conscience no longer accuses. Rather than being angered in shame, we are ready for worship.

III. THE BLAMELESS RESOLVE TO OBTAIN THE BLESSING, 1:7­8.

The journey from commitment in prayer to recovered praise is not difficult. As we are transformed by God’s Word we become expressive of our thankfulness to God. Thus the psalmist is ready to proclaim in verse 7, "I shall give thanks/praise to You with uprightness of heart, when I learn Your righteous judgments."

Learning means not only the act of but the consequences of one’s learning. [Alexander, p 491]. In other words, instruction in God’s Word is the way to become a person of praise. Perhaps you feel somewhat limited or deficient in your ability to praise. I encourage you to do what the psalmist does here. That is, learn the language of praise by repeating the phrases in the psalms. If you do this, the Book of Psalms will become a wonderful part of your devotional life. Practice the language of praise—and, eventually, as you pray these things, you’ll become fluent in the expressing your worship. [Courson, S. 148.]

We must learn to praise, so that we may praise, and then praise when we have learned [Spurgeon, p. 145]. Praise also is great preparation for opening yourself up to God and His Word.

Verse 8 is a calm commitment to God to keep His Word and an admission that God must enable one to do it. "I shall keep Your statutes; Do not forsake me utterly!

Such worship also includes a promise (vow): "I will keep Your statutes." [Statues comes from a Hebrew word meaning "to hew, cut, engrave, inscribe," indicating something indelibly prescribed or enacted.] But vows are only kept by grace. Thus this verse concludes: "Oh, do not forsake me utterly!" Never leave me to my own strength, nor to my own head and heart. Resolve and dependency go hand in hand. In CLOSING

In Closing

How does the Word of God bless us? The Word of God blesses us with spiritual growth. It keeps us undefiled in our walk as we seek Him with our heart (vv. 1–2). It guards us from iniquity (v. 3). It defends us from shame (v. 6). Moreover, it leads us to praise and worship as God fulfills His Word in us (vv. 7–8). [Williams, Donald; Ogilvie, Lloyd: The Preacher's Commentary Series, Vol. 14 : Psalms 73­150. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1989, S. 344]. Let us hold fast the truth of God for without it we are undone having neither strength, nor wisdom, nor integrity.

Will you seek Him through His Word? Seeking God means so much more than reading or even studying the Bible. It means hearing God’s voice in His Word, loving Him and wanting to delight His heart and please Him. It means a wholehearted surrender to Him that refuses to permit any rival to enter. [Wiersbe, Warren. The Bible Exposition Commentary. Job­Song of Solomon. David Cook. 2004. Colorado Springs CO. p. 311]. Will you surrender to Him, to His great love and hope for you right now?