One of the weirdest things about Psalm 119 is that the psalmist is completely thrilled, happy, delighted, and blessed by God’s word, and the only word he had at the time were the books of Moses and maybe a couple others.
But he repeatedly says words that indicate he’s specifically rejoicing in God’s Law. He uses many synonyms, all of which seem to refer to the law: statutes, judgments, commandments, precepts, etc.
He seems really happy to have the Law.
My entire life in Evangelical circles I’ve been told how lucky I am to not be under the law. How the law condemns. How the only reason God gave you the law is so you would know you’re a sinner and how terrible you are.
It’s the law of sin and death. The law of condemnation. Heavy. Weighty. Yuck.
Yet the psalmist seems oblivious to this and can’t stop saying how happy he is to have the law. What’s his problem?
Or perhaps, what’s our problem?
It is possible we’re missing something. Maybe we’ve pressed a truth out of place and stretched it into heresy.
Here’s an interesting fact: in both the KJV and the ESV, the word “delight” is only used one time in the New Testament. The word “delight” is used ten times just in Psalm 119!
Do you know what the one time usage of “delight” is in the NT? It’s in Romans 7:22, “I delight in the law of God after the inward man.”
That’s so cool to me. The one time “delight” is used in the NT it’s in relation to delighting in the law; a huge point of Psalm 119.
“After the inward man” is a key too.
In Romans 7, Paul says the law stirred up sin in him. When the law said, “Don’t covet;” he wanted to covet. When the law said, “Don’t steal;” he wanted to steal.
In Romans 8 Paul does call it the law of sin and death and directly relates it to our condemnation.
But also in Romans 7, Paul says the law is holy, just, and good. In Romans 8 he calls it “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.”
There’s only one law as there is only one lawgiver. So, Paul has to be talking about the same law.
But why such divergent descriptions of the same thing? What gives?
Paul’s larger point in Romans 7 and 8 is the contrast of life in the flesh and life in the Spirit. Flesh and spirit see things differently. The main illustration in those two chapters is how they see the law of God.
When the flesh hears God’s law, it only hears condemnation. It hears “No fun, so many rules, get off my back.” It’s weighty and burdensome. Yuck. Sin and death.
When the Spirit hears God’s law, it hears righteousness, peace, holiness, and goodness. It sees guardrails of protection, a guide to keep from shipwreck.
The inward man delights in the law of God. If your flesh is hearing the law of God it’s just weight and judgment.
That’s why 1 John 5 says if you love God then God’s commands are not grievous. Rather than a weighty burden of oppression, we know they are the solid rock of truth to build life on. They lead to life.
When you read Psalm 119, are you confused? Do you not get how a person could be thrilled to have God’s law? Do God’s commandments freak you out and make you bummed out because it’ll ruin your fun?
That’s a good indication as to whether you’re in the flesh or in the Spirit. Perhaps you’re not saved; maybe you don’t have the Spirit. Or, perhaps your flesh is still hanging on to old patterns it doesn’t want to let go of.
Either way, deal with it. Know that God’s word is holy, just, and good. God who spoke those words loves you and wants the best for you. He isn’t telling you harmful things.
Learn to love God’s Word. Even more key to that, make sure you’re born again, that you’ve been made a new spiritual creation that can discern spiritual things.
Without that, you’ll never delight in the law of God.