“My soul [Hebrew, nephesh, living being, whole person] breaketh for the longing that it hath unto Thy judgments at all times” (Psalm 119:20 KJV). Sounds like the modern phrase, This breaks my heart, which means such an intense desire or conflict, it would do damage to our whole person, if the LORD does not intervene, like an addiction to God and His Word. “With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from Thy commandments” (119:10). OT Israel may not have had the NT covenanted Indwelling of the Holy Spirit, but the LORD placed no limit with their contact with His Word. It achieved the same goal — oneness with God manifested in obedience to our LORD. “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success” (Joshua 1:8). Father, may we under Your New Covenant receive all the blessings of Your Indwelling Holy Spirit to inspire us to obey You and be drawn ever more closely to You. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Obedience to God
Prime Directive
“Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be My people” (Jeremiah 7:23 KJV). Sure, we must first choose God to obey Him, but by our outward obedience, God understands, if “there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not” (2Corinthians 8:12). Likewise, holiness is separating ourself to Him, and worship is our acknowledgment of who He is to us. “Be ye holy” (Leviticus 20:7; 1Peter 1:15, 16) is a command to be obeyed; and, “worship God” (Revelation 19:10; 22:9) is likewise a command to be obeyed. Obedience is the essential act of exercising our Moral Agency of doing what God created us to do — obeying Him. Lest we think obedience is the grudging relationship of tyrant to slave; this is altogether contrary to what God originally envisioned. “But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put My law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be My people” (Jeremiah 31:33). God is not our overbearing Master, but our protective Husband. “And it shall be at that day, saith the LORD, that thou shalt call Me Ishi [my husband]; and shalt call Me no more Baali [my lord]” (Hosea 2:16). Yahweh has always had much higher and deeper intentions for us from the beginning. LORD, bring about Your designs for us. Glorify Your name. And, do return quickly, Lord Jesus. Amen.