All Day Long

Psalm 119:97 "Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long."

This verse evokes a lot of responses in me. At first reading, I had to make sure that I put the emphasis on YOUR law, because the policies, regulations and laws of man that are not based on the truth can be stifling. Sure we should obey the laws of the land and be subject to the regulations and stipulations of the government, but when the emphasis is put on His Law, oh indeed I do love it. I love His truth, His precepts, His wisdom, His commands and His Word. We should try to use all these words when we talk about the Bible, because they describe the purpose and function of HIS law.

In the second part of this verse a phrase jumped out at me that seemed almost out of place. Usually when I use the words, 'all day long', I am rarely referring to something that I love. 'All day long' is what I say when I was delayed or had to wait or somebody didn't follow through or there was an ordeal that had to be survived. I am most likely to use the phrase 'all day long' positively when saying that we got to stay somewhere wonderful longer, or when spending time with friends and/or family that we immensely enjoy. You know, those special long day experiences that are so fulfilling.

Let's put these two phrases together now and make a teachable point about this verse. When you love the Word, and oh so much, you want to be in it as much as possible. As much as time will allow. When we use the term love, it must be used with sincerity. Do I love the Word as much when it inspires me as when it convicts me? Do I appreciate the truth as much when it gives me direction and guidance as when it limits me or reels me in? The Psalmist in the following 7 verses in this section tells us why he loves it so much. Let me give you a list of reasons to love the Law.

1. His commands make us wiser
2. Meditating on it gives us great insight
3. Obeying it gives us understanding
4. Following it keeps our paths straight
5. Not departing from it draws us closer to Him
6. It is sweeter than honey
7. It compels us to hate what is wrong

Like the Psalmist, that is why I love The Word. It is wonderful and precious. Full of everything we need to know to inform us what to do and why. I encourage you to be hungry for it to pursue it and to fall in love with it. To the degree that 'all day long' to meditate on it would be a good thing. The prospect of actually meditating on the truth all day long is daunting at first. I suggest that you start by trying to consider it multiple times in one day. Just begin by thinking about the Lord more often and what He would say or counsel or do. Then, let everything that happens in your life remind you of His truth and the consideration of His ways. This will build the relationship of love quickly and deeply. Hope this inspires someone to love Him and His Word more and more each and every day.

In His Word, Pastor Fred

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