October 26, 2022
Bishop, W. F. Houston, Jr.
Psalm 19:7 (AMP)
“The law of the Lord is perfect (flawless).”
As Christians, we are responsible for upholding God's laws and commandments, often emphasized in the Bible. Christians do this voluntarily because we love God and desire to earn His approval. And we believe His law to be absolute and unchangeable.

How can we be sure that His law is without flaw? Psalm 19 is where King David addresses this subject directly. In just a few verses, he goes into great depth about the completeness of the law and how it works to carry out what it proclaims.

David begins by outlining the primary justification for the perfection of the law. Verse seven cites that this practice profoundly affects one's spiritual makeup as the primary justification. It has a dramatic impact on our daily life. If a single passage in the Bible best captures the might and glory of God's message, it is this one.

"The law of the Lord is perfect (flawless), restoring and refreshing the soul;"

When God handed Moses the law, called the Torah in the Old Testament, the objective was not only to provide the Israelites with a set of guidelines to follow. The aim was to evaluate their commitment to Him and provide direction on both spiritual and practical problems. Most of the Israelites, sadly, were not successful.

Despite being delivered from the hands of a cruel Egyptian ruler and witnessing astounding miracles, many people opted not to obey the Lord. Consequently, the journey that was supposed to take them only two weeks to reach the Promised Land turned into a desert sojourn that lasted forty years.

God showed mercy and patience to His chosen people, but those who served Him were especially favored. He extended an extraordinary measure of favor to them. Their connection with the law converted their hearts, resulting in a new heart, a refreshed mind, and a yearning to get closer to God. They were convinced entirely in Him and put their faith in him. We can receive the same benefit.
David presents two arguments in Psalm 19 for the perfection of the law and its effect on those who obey it. God's word still can change souls and transform lives, even though we now live under a covenant of grace rather than the covenant of (Moses') law.

God's Law Equips Us with Wisdom

"The statutes of the Lord are reliable and trustworthy, making wise the simple." (verse 7)
The term statutes here would be better translated as "ruling." God's word is unbreakable and must be followed. It is specific and cannot be altered. It is truthful and consistent, as we see in 2 Timothy.
Many Scriptures begin by describing what is terrific about a specific biblical doctrine, followed by explaining why it is so wonderful. This approach is used by the apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 3:16, who claims that all Scripture is God's inspired, inerrant word. He then goes on to explain what it is helpful for and why.
"All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God's will, both publicly and privately—behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage];"

Scripture is excellent and profitable for:

• Establishing instruction
• For conviction
• For correction and restoration to obedience
• For training in righteousness
• What kind of impact will these things have on a person's life?

In the Lord, a person finds fulfillment in their life.

• People have all they need to accomplish the good work the Lord has for them.
  This structure, which consists of a proclamation followed by its fulfillment, is utilized throughout the Bible to illustrate why God's law is infallible while also teaching specific topics and commandments. To ensure our understanding, God explains the reasoning behind His requests instead of simply commanding us to do anything.
  Proof that God's law is flawless is given in 2 Timothy 3:16. Our fullness and readiness to carry out God's purposes in our life are the results of our submission to Him. Psalm 19:7 says that those who study God's Word are transformed from foolishness into knowledge.

The dictionary says that a precept is a well-known law or rule and the written document that states it. In the Bible, God's statutes are His laws and regulations, and the Bible is the book where He tells us about Himself. Through His word, He shows how holy and righteous He is.

Psalm 19:7 makes it clear that God's word is flawless and reliable. In verse eight, we are then told that His law is just. The principles outlined in His word are correct, fitting, and fair. When we test our faith and obey Him, we realize His goodness and the truth of His words.
They experience a calm beyond human comprehension due to realizing the truth (Philippians 4:6), and as a direct result, they experience an increase in joy. Their hearts are filled with joy due to their comprehension of His truth, which inspires them to have a greater desire to serve God.
The end effect is that they take great pleasure in following the laws.
Those who follow Christ are compelled to experience joy because they know the truth that God has revealed. True believers cannot contain their happiness when they act according to His precepts.

His Law is Holy and Unadulterated.

"The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes." (v8)

In this verse, "commandment" is synonymous with "order." Given this background, it becomes clear that the law is viewed as injunctions from the Lord. There is not a single flaw or mistake in it. Precisely as He is perfect, so too is this. Just like He, it's untainted and unadulterated.

"All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration]."
2 Timothy 3:16)

In verse seven, our emotions are filled with joy when we understand that the statutes God has established are proper. Likewise, we become more illuminated when we realize His precepts are flawless. They evolve into a state of transparency and openness. Suddenly, we can see things we could not notice because our adversary had blinded us.

God shows Himself to us through His holy word, which consists of His precepts and commands. As we obey them, we gain wisdom, our hearts are filled with joy, and our eyes are opened to the only truth we'll ever require. That is God's truth, for all truth resides in Him.
His Law is Flavorful and Satisfying to the Soul
Lastly, Psalm 19:10 teaches us that because the law of God brings sweetness into our lives, we ought to long for it with all of our hearts.
"They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb."
If you're a dessert fanatic, you likely have a go-to sweet that you can't pass up. The psalmist implores us to have a heart for God's law and the rest of God's message. It ought to be an everyday necessity because of the confidence you put in it. Obedience ought to be motivated by a deep desire to please.
The more we hunger for God's word and obey His commands, the more God will gradually make Himself known to us. We cultivate a close and personal relationship with Him that, like honey on a biscuit, becomes more delicious with each bite. We discover He is a kind and merciful Father, and His law is love and compassion. In addition to that, it is reasonable and fair. And to the degree that we have faith in Him, the greater we desire to be of service to Him. We long for Him more and more as we yearn to praise Him.
The only thing that will save us is if we obey God's commands. He is the only way for us to achieve freedom and everlasting life. When David wrote in verse eleven of Psalm 19, "And in maintaining them there is great recompense," he demonstrated that he was aware of this truth.
Do you long to obey His statutes and rules? Is doing so a priority in your day-to-day activities? If this is not the case, it may be time to reevaluate your dedication to Him. If you do not put Him first in your life or trust Him completely, now is a perfect moment to start a new relationship with Him or to renew the one you already have. Our obedience brings out tremendous blessings as well as rewards that last forever.

2 John 6 (AMP)
"And this is love: that we walk in accordance with His commandments and are guided continually by His precepts."
John 14:21 (AMP)
"The person who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who [really] loves Me; and whoever [really] loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him [I will make Myself real to him]."
John 14:15 (AMP)
"If you [really] love Me, you will keep and obey My commandments."