The Journey of Faith: Loving God Instead of the World
"But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3:18)
Loving God Separates from the Worldly Teaching
Christianity is not about adherence to the teaching of a denominational sect. It is conformity to the person that God is. As the father begets the son, even so, the son becomes the father. People err in their teaching; God never does. Fellowship and discipleship are vital elements in Christian growth. However, relationships between brethren can never replace the intimacy that a saint is to share with God, his redeemer.
Psalm 119 involves movements and growth in the writer's spiritual development. In the beginning, he has already become aware of the value of God's word. He recognizes the supreme importance of submission to God's will and conformity to His law in eight stanzas. He is not primarily concerned with knowledge but obeying the One who wrote it. "You have commanded us to keep Your precepts diligently" verse four. There's a cry in verse five for him to be better, "O that my ways were directed to keep Your statutes!"
To Love God is to Separate from the World
He is aware of the ultimate goal of those blessed, to "...keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart," verse two. When he puts himself in the place of seeking after God, he says, "Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all Your commandments." God, who has given everything (His Son) for His beloved ones, is worthy of their total respect and love. Then, from stanza fourteen to the end, the author introduces a new element in his spiritual growth for nine stanzas or movements. The element that is essential to every child of God is separation from the world.
To Choose the Tree of Life is to Love God
God's word, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" verse 105, made him aware of a very subtle foe. Therefore, he states his pain in verse 107, "I am exceedingly afflicted; Revive me (restore my soul with by imparting Your life), O LORD, according to Your word." In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were given two choices, the Tree of Life (The life of God, beyond biological life) or the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. When a person chooses Christ by the grace of God, they have imparted His resurrection Life in them.
In this life, the assumption is that we are in control or continually seeking it, as the author says, "My life is continually in my hand, yet I do not forget Your law" verse 109. The saints become aware of living for themselves, but our life truly belongs to God. The world continuously temps us back to self-fulfillment and empty living. "The wicked have laid a snare for me, yet I have not gone astray from Your precepts" verse 110.
Love the Natural or Live by Faith
The subtlety of the world's temptations is aided by the reality that we are born into it and naturally part of it. The saint is separated to God, who is Holy and set apart as the creator of the created, further as good and hating evil, while the world hates God and clings to self-adoration, idolatry, and pride. Therefore in verse 118, we read, "You have rejected all those who wander from Your statutes, for their deceitfulness is useless." The world's people deceive themselves by thinking they mean well and are good while loving the evil way of lying, cheating, stealing, or some other sin.
Ultimately, Love God or Idolize the World
He continues in verse 128, "Therefore I esteem right all [Your] precepts concerning everything, I hate every false~ way." When comparing the way of the world with the way of God's word, he can raise the moral bar to where it belongs. In one way, the writer faces disobedience because of the course of the world. Therefore, in verse 134, he asks, "Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep Your precepts." His request is not for release from oppression for personal pleasure but to be obedient to God. He follows with his exceedingly deep concern for the world, "Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not Your law" verse 135. His sorrow is two-fold as those who disobey God experience the loss of the One who means everything; therefore, their loss could not be more significant. Secondly, God, who is love and the source of love, experiences rejection like no other, which gives our author rivers of tears.
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