Good Morning “Students of The Law”. Today we are in Psalm 94.
The wicked embrace their deception and sin. They believe they plot in secret but God knows and sees ALL! They unknowingly dig for themselves a pit, and bring upon themselves Gods judgment. Gods people, followers of Jesus - sin also. When we sin, God in His mercy rebukes, and teaches from His Law - that He might protect us from the day of trouble.
“Blessed is the one you discipline, Lord, the one you teach from your law; you grant them relief from days of trouble, till a pit is dug for the wicked.” Psalms 94:12-13 NIV
Powerful stuff here. Unfortunately many Christian’s reject His Law… saying it was only meant for Israel. They might believe that to take application from “His Law” is to be “Legalistic”.
Let’s take a closer look at the word “law” found here. The Hebrew word for “law” is “Torah.” Interestingly this word, Torah does not translate as “law”; rather, Torah means “teaching.” For instance, the first five books of the Bible are referred to in Judaism as the Torah. (Although, in a greater sense, all Scripture is Torah.) While the first five books contain the Mosaic laws, they mostly contain testimonies and narratives of how God interacts with all of creation - including people. Through them, we can learn how to live in accordance with His expectation.
The time period and mechanism, may have changed - but God is unchanging so His application remains. For instance, many OT Laws were meant to distinguish The Jews from others. They were to look different and act different. That application absolutely remains for the follower of Jesus. Their sacrifices demonstrated their belief - so does ours (Romans 12:1).
In the midst of a world full of people who don’t, the Psalmist is simply exhorting us to study God’s “teaching” as revealed by His Spirit (“You…O Lord”).
Remember how Psalms started?
“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.” Psalms 1:1-2 NIV
There’s that Word again. Our delight ought to be in “The Law of The Lord.” Yes it’s the same word Law = Torah = Teaching - but now by the Holy Spirit (John 14:26).
So, the purpose of Psalm 94 is not to make us “Legalistic” as some might describe it - but instead to free us to live joyfully, and to give us “relief from the day of trouble”- through obedience to all of Scripture. It’s true, we no longer live under Mosaic Law. By Grace, through the Blood of Jesus we are now under the Law of Christ, who fulfilled The Mosaic Law. (Matthew 5:17, Galatians 6:2 w/Romans 6-10)
Israel missed it! Many were masters of obeying Gods Law but missed The Spirit and the relationship. It’s because of Israel’s sin that we too have the privilege of becoming Children of God (Romans 11:11-12).
Love you all! Dig in!
The wicked embrace their deception and sin. They believe they plot in secret but God knows and sees ALL! They unknowingly dig for themselves a pit, and bring upon themselves Gods judgment. Gods people, followers of Jesus - sin also. When we sin, God in His mercy rebukes, and teaches from His Law - that He might protect us from the day of trouble.
“Blessed is the one you discipline, Lord, the one you teach from your law; you grant them relief from days of trouble, till a pit is dug for the wicked.” Psalms 94:12-13 NIV
Powerful stuff here. Unfortunately many Christian’s reject His Law… saying it was only meant for Israel. They might believe that to take application from “His Law” is to be “Legalistic”.
Let’s take a closer look at the word “law” found here. The Hebrew word for “law” is “Torah.” Interestingly this word, Torah does not translate as “law”; rather, Torah means “teaching.” For instance, the first five books of the Bible are referred to in Judaism as the Torah. (Although, in a greater sense, all Scripture is Torah.) While the first five books contain the Mosaic laws, they mostly contain testimonies and narratives of how God interacts with all of creation - including people. Through them, we can learn how to live in accordance with His expectation.
The time period and mechanism, may have changed - but God is unchanging so His application remains. For instance, many OT Laws were meant to distinguish The Jews from others. They were to look different and act different. That application absolutely remains for the follower of Jesus. Their sacrifices demonstrated their belief - so does ours (Romans 12:1).
In the midst of a world full of people who don’t, the Psalmist is simply exhorting us to study God’s “teaching” as revealed by His Spirit (“You…O Lord”).
Remember how Psalms started?
“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.” Psalms 1:1-2 NIV
There’s that Word again. Our delight ought to be in “The Law of The Lord.” Yes it’s the same word Law = Torah = Teaching - but now by the Holy Spirit (John 14:26).
So, the purpose of Psalm 94 is not to make us “Legalistic” as some might describe it - but instead to free us to live joyfully, and to give us “relief from the day of trouble”- through obedience to all of Scripture. It’s true, we no longer live under Mosaic Law. By Grace, through the Blood of Jesus we are now under the Law of Christ, who fulfilled The Mosaic Law. (Matthew 5:17, Galatians 6:2 w/Romans 6-10)
Israel missed it! Many were masters of obeying Gods Law but missed The Spirit and the relationship. It’s because of Israel’s sin that we too have the privilege of becoming Children of God (Romans 11:11-12).
Love you all! Dig in!
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