Psalm 119:11-16 (CEB)

11 I keep your word close, in my heart,
    so that I won’t sin against you.
12 You, Lord, are to be blessed!
    Teach me your statutes.
13 I will declare out loud
    all the rules you have spoken.
14 I rejoice in the content of your laws
    as if I were rejoicing over great wealth.
15 I will think about your precepts
    and examine all your paths.
16 I will delight in your statutes;
    I will not forget what you have said.


Reflection

I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone read scripture and their takeaway being, “I rejoice in the content of your laws…” That’s just probably not the typical knee-jerk reaction to rules. But I think sometimes I have had moments of awe when reading texts about God’s law, moments when I have found myself rejoicing in a new viewpoint of seeing God’s benevolence through a parent giving rules.

The 10 Commandments are an easy starting point and will be my example for today. These are 10 big rules that as easy and straightforward as they appear to be, we mess up on them constantly – maybe some of them more than others. God doesn’t hand over this list because God wants to ruin our fun, God isn’t trying to make life harder for us – quite the opposite! God is literally handing us a play-by-play on how to have a happy, healthy, filled, enriched, restful, honest life. Praise God! I’ll rejoice to that!

When we then read scripture with that perspective, with that lens seeking out the kindness of a loving parents in the content of what we are reading, we can come to a place of rejoicing too.

by Rachel Callender


For Pondering & Prayer

Think of the 10 Commandments; what’s your favorite one? The one that first comes to mind or maybe that’s easiest for you? Now think of the one you struggle with the most? With both of those, what kindness is God trying to teach you today?

Prayer: Holy God, we do not always rejoice in the content of your laws. Sometimes the confuse us. Sometimes they overwhelm us. Gift us with open eyes today that seek goodness and love at the heart of your holy Word. Amen.