The law shall not depart from your mouth

The longest chapter in the Bible is Psalm 119. One hundred and seventy six verses in a love song. A love song not to the character of God, or even the works of God. It is a love song to His word. It could only have been written by one who found no fault with the word of God. A man who accepted his own weakness and God’s supremacy. David, the man after God’s heart. It extols the laws, statutes, precepts, commands, edicts, decrees, in the word of God. And it clarifies why a loving God gave us His laws. So that we will not be put to shame or sin against God, we will rejoice in great riches, lives will be preserved, we will walk about in freedom, etc. etc.

Appreciating the laws of God begins with the recognition that beyond the commands of ‘thou shalt not’ are the first, second and eternally great commands against which there are no laws. ‘Thou shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. And thou shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

Love is the eternal prescription for order, peace, sound mind, health and joy. It is the eternal motivator to do good and receive good. The eternal value undergirding all leadership activities. The eternal principle that holds all of creation together as a coherent whole for everyone created to enjoy its loveliness. God explains that love was His motivation in creation, and his motivation for the salvation plan. Eternity is designed to function only with love.

Those who accept the love of God through Christ are those who keep His law by the power of their love for Him and His world. What a different world it would be if we all loved enough to give of our best, forgive, show mercy, and create with love. And we could do all of this with no whip of law!