Jason Silver

Friday, November 8th, 2019

I decided to make Psalm 119, verse 97, into the refrain of this song: "Oh, how I love your law! It is my meditation all day long."

At first glance, we might not think of "the law" as being something to love. Laws restrict our freedoms, and they prevent us from doing whatever we want without consequence. Perhaps once we consider a world without laws, in other words, a world of "lawlessness," then we can allow a begrudging appreciation. Laws keep us safe, at least when other people obey them.

However, there are some individuals I know, maybe even myself included, who bristle when they're told they may not do something. "Who are you to tell me what I can and cannot do," they might ask. They sometimes exclaim, "this is a free country, I'll do what I want, thank you very much!"

Recently I was speaking with a friend about this very topic. We were musing over the idea of freedoms. At one point I blurted out, rather more by instinct than careful reason, "Well, we cannot have freedoms without constraints, anyway."

When I consider that now, I believe I was right. If we were to choose our own freedom over the freedoms of those around us, then these others would no longer be free. There is a word for this "freedom without limits:" it's called anarchy.

Another example: watch how children prosper when given clear boundaries, or how they suffer when left to make their own rules. It is within the constraints of limitation that we can experience freedoms. Few would argue that anarchy is freedom at all.

Our father God knew that his children would need clear laws on how they should live and love. In his boundless wisdom, he has given us laws to make us more loving, selfless, forgiving, honest, trustworthy, and faithful. In fact, as I keep his laws, I become more and more like him!

So yes, Father, I DO love your law!

Amen