The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward. (Psalm 19:9-11)
As the American Civil War was coming to an end, Abraham Lincoln took the oath of office a second time as President of the United States. As he neared the conclusion of his inaugural address, Lincoln quoted David with this statement: “as was said three thousand years ago so still it must be said ‘the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.’” Lincoln invoked these words in reference to the devastating affects of the war and the lessons learned. The great loss of life was hard to bear but, in the end, Lincoln acknowledged that past sins were being requited and that the ways of the LORD were righteous if not always pleasant to endure.
In spite of the lessons from the past, many people still view God’s instructions on how to live as a bunch of “Dos and don’ts” not to be taken too seriously. The rebellious take it one step farther and consider them to be unfair and restrictive bonds that are to be cast aside and trampled underfoot. In general, mankind doesn’t really consider the consequences of our actions as spelled out in Scripture, most often, because we don’t see the immediate response from Heaven. And so, we thoughtlessly continue with our errant deeds all the while filling the cup that is bound to spill over with consequences. Only then, do we step back and consider that the judgements of the LORD are righteous. In other words, God doesn’t relax His standards or negate the outcome of our actions simply because we refuse to be mindful of it.
David reminds us that we should not be as the rebellious, but should be obedient sons and daughters who receive God’s commands as beneficial instructions given to us by a loving Father. In that context, God warns His children of the inevitable consequence of doing what is right in our own eyes, meaning our Father desires that we avoid the hardship and catastrophe that is brought on by sin. Frankly, I’m not of the view that God places a curse upon those who transgress His laws necessarily; I’m of the view that willful transgression of His law results in a curse that we bring upon ourselves by our own actions. Stick your finger in the electrical socket and see what happens.
Of course on the flip side of that coin is the inherent blessing — the great reward — in obeying our Father’s Word. This is the judgment that David esteemed more than the finest gold or the purest honey. To be judged (regarded) by God as an obedient servant and to be a recipient of His truth and goodness cannot be compared to anything this world has to offer. Yes, sometimes the ramifications of misguided actions can be hard to swallow, but if we are willing to receive instruction and correction from Heaven, what goes down bitter can become sweet in our inner man. If we humble ourselves before Him, we will realize that the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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