Psalm 119:77 – That I May Live
Let your compassion come to me that I may live
for your instruction is my meditation.
I’ve been writing about God’s compassion. Follow the trail back for a couple of verses for more on that. Today I’ve been meditating on the importance of God’s instructions for life. It turns out I was meditating on that even though I forgot which verse I was on and had to look it up again this evening.
I read this as a Christian. As such I recognize that we often jump past ethical concerns in scripture. As soon as someone talks about the rules, we tend to shout works. At the same time, in my experience, we’ll be pushing certain “works” as necessary. “If you aren’t doing _____ you’re not really saved.”
Unfortunately, we don’t get much teaching that combines God’s compassion and love for us along with God’s wisdom, represented in the things he lays out for us to do. The only thing that will create holy people is God’s grace. Grace creates action. Note that action is not equal to grace. Grace does not require action as a trigger, or a prerequisite.
So here we have two things, God’s compassion coming on the Psalmist, and meditation on God’s instruction. Let’s look at another passage from Deuteronomy.
Look! I have put before you today life and good, death and evil.
Deuteronomy 30:15 (author’s translation)
We can’t forget that God has the way to life, that God’s instructions are of great value.
When I fail to spend time with God in prayer or in Bible study, I pay for it. I pay in time spent worrying, in distractions, in decisions poorly made. No, I am not concerned that I’m losing my salvation when these things happen, but I am still losing out on the peace, joy, and comfort God offers. I’m designed to need those things. My life is better for them.
Now I can also lose something if I forget God’s instruction that tells me that God loves me, cares for me, and knows my weaknesses. Knowing those weaknesses, God still loves me. His compassion comes on me. I can doubt God, but God remains faithful.
If you find yourself feeling depressed today, remember that you are loved by your Creator with an everlasting, unquenchable love.
