I will never forget your precepts,
because by them you have given me life.
There are two directions I’d like to go based on this verse, and I think both are important.
First, there is the order of events. “Remembering precepts” comes after “you have given me life.” This is a foundational order in scripture. God’s gifts come before our actions. This is very clear in Genesis 1. We can’t possibly respond to God before God has breathed that breath of life into us (Genesis 2:7). Nonetheless it is easy for us to forget.
We tend to look for ways to obligate God to do nice things for us. The fact is that this is impossible, and always have been. God’s action precedes our own. The order of the universe, which gives us the opportunity to make any choices and get any good results at all comes by God’s gift.
This is reflected in Psalm 119:1:
Blessed are those blameless in their living
Who act according to God’s instructions.
That verse also leads us to the second point, which is the value of gratitude. You may not, on first glance, see gratitude here, but there are two elements reflected. The first is memory. If you forget those who have benefited you, those who have taught you or given you a boost, it’s not just a matter of being rude. You may also forget the route to your destination.
I remember just in the last couple of days I encountered an issue, and the answer to the question came from something a professor told me in class in my freshman year of college. I both remembered that professor with gratitude, and mentioned him to the person who had asked me the question. There are other people who have taught me that I quote or mention frequently. Why? Because it’s important to remember how I’ve gotten where I am. It was not a process of figuring out all the answers for myself. Many people contributed.
i was discussing financing of education with somebody in Sunday School class. Never mind how we got there. It’s that kind of a group! I remembered my parents’ contribution to my college and graduate school expenses. I’m grateful for that contribution. Now you may think I’m just talking about them paying tuition. They did contribute. But they also made it a condition of them contributing that I would hold a part-time job through school. Both of those factors have become part of my life. I haven’t forgotten them.
Having gratitude is important. In this case, gratitude also leads me to remember good principles on which to base my life. I have been blessed through the years by that.
Psalm 119 is both a petition and a thanksgiving. Guide me Lord! Thanks!
What are you grateful for today?
(Featured image credit:Vadym Pastukh. Licensed from iStockPhoto.com,)
