Rules Sweeter than Honey

Scripture

 Psalm 19:7-14

⁷ The law of the Lord is perfect,
    reviving the soul;
the decrees of the Lord are sure,
    making wise the simple;
⁸ the precepts of the Lord are right,
    rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is clear,
    enlightening the eyes;
⁹ the fear of the Lord is pure,
    enduring forever;
the ordinances of the Lord are true
    and righteous altogether.
¹⁰ More to be desired are they than gold,
    even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey,
    and drippings of the honeycomb.

¹¹ Moreover by them is your servant warned;
    in keeping them there is great reward.
¹² But who can detect their errors?
    Clear me from hidden faults.
¹³ Keep back your servant also from the insolent;
    do not let them have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless,
    and innocent of great transgression.

¹⁴ Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
    be acceptable to you,
    O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.  (NRSV)

Devotion

 People don't tend to like it when you give them rules.  We chafe at what we see as an unfair or unnecessary limit on our freedom.  And yet, it you ever see a who is used to living in a family with few to no rules, we quickly see how necessary you are.  For all their supposed freedom, such children who don't have rules to follow become nervous, easily agitated, and insecure.  And they often get hurt.  But when you begin to give them clear boundaries and show them that there consequences for certain actions, they become calmer, happier, and healthier.

 Whether we are 8, 18 or 80, rules and boundaries provide us with structure.  They give us guidance.  They keep us safe.  

Christians are often tempted to think of the instructions in the Torah (the first 5 books of the Bible) as oppressive laws meant to trip us up.  One of the things I appreciate about our Jewish cousins in faith is that they see those same instructions as an incredible gift.  As Psalm 19 explains, God's rules are for our benefit.  When we trust in them and take them seriously, those instructions open our eyes, enlighten our minds, revive our souls.  When we follow those rules, our hearts are filled with the joy that comes from being in right, healthy, and loving relationships with God and one another. That is why Psalm 19 describes God's commandments as being more precious than gold and sweeter than honey dripping straight form the honeycomb.

I will be the first to admit that the Torah has a lot of rules.  But at their basic level, all of them--from the 10 Commandments to the rules dictating how to react when someone wrongs you or how to treat refugees--boil down to two basic instructions:  

1. Love God with all that we are and all that we have.
2. Love others as we love ourselves.

These two basic rules are linked.  For we do not truly love God if we refuse to show love to others.  And we are unable to truly love others with the justice, mercy, and kindness that God expects us to love them with if we do not first love God. 

If can commit to staying within the boundaries of loving God and loving one another, then everything else begins to fall into place.  It doesn't just get easier to follow basic rules like "do not steal."  It also makes it easier to understand how God's instructions to the ancient Hebrews can be applied and followed in our modern context.  For instance, how might the Torah's rules aimed at showing love to others by protecting them from the spread of  leprosy and other infections help us discern what we should do in relation to COVID?   How might the command to honor God by giving everyone and everything--even the land itself--a designated time to rest change the expectations we have for ourselves and others?  The possibilities for building a better life based on God's rules are endless.

This week, let's commit to doing our best to understand and follow the God's rules.  Let's do that not because we have to (after all, Christ is ready to forgive us when step over God's lines), but because we want to. Because we see the value in God's rules, and we understand that the structure, guidance, and protection they provide us as a precious gift.  And as we do our best follow God's rules, may our hearts swell with joy in knowing that God loves us enough to teach us how to live in right relationship with God and one another. 

 

Prayer

 Teach us your ways, O God, and cleanse us from our hidden faults.  As we do our best to follow your instructions, may the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable to you, our Rock and our Redeemer.  Amen.