Third Presbyterian Sunday Morning Bible Study - June 13, 2021

Below is the Bible Study written by Jim Rudiger for his Sunday School Class which meets at Third Presbyterian Church, Norfolk, Virginia. It's based on Psalm 19:1-14.

What are laws?  Things that governments use to tell us how they want us to act.  Why do we need laws?  Without laws it would be every man for himself. What are some positive things about laws?  Maintain order - traffic laws, behavior laws.  Protects us from harm - criminal laws, safety laws.  Protect property - zoning laws.  Promotes fairness - anti-discrimination laws.  Travel safely - speeding laws, road building laws.  What are some negative things about laws?  Laws can be oppressive - taxes can take away money you think is yours or can be spent better.  Laws can be sometimes unjust - nobody knows all the fine print in a law.  Laws can be manipulated by powerful people or special interests - McDonalds gets an exemption from the Health Care law that their competition might not get.  Laws might make us too legalistic - the law says that someone who wanted to rob you can sue you just because you protected yourself and injured him.

What happens if you violate a law?  Go to jail.  Pay a fine.  Lose you job.  Embarrassment. Damaged relationships.  Unfortunately, these things can happen if you are even accused of a crime and you are innocent.  In some cases you can be accused and will be found guilty by public opinion when you really haven’t done anything wrong.  I knew a young man who was married and had children.  He was hard working at a good paying trade.  He was involved in his church.  In fact he was a Boy Scout leader there and that is where his troubled started.  One of his scouts had a girl friend and they accused this man of encouraging them to have sex at his home.  His picture was in the paper.  He lost his job.  All of his savings went to a defense lawyer.  It destroyed his family. The trial dragged on for over a year and during that time the best job he could get paid minimum wage.  Finally, after a year, the boy and girl admitted that they had made up the whole thing.  There was no big newspaper story proclaiming his innocence.  His old boss didn’t hire him back.  There was no apology from his community for believing the story.  In the end, he saw as his only way out was to take his life and that is what he did.  The law did it’s thing.  The world did it’s thing.  Those two kids did their thing.  And he did the only thing left to him. 

Do you think that all of the problems come from the fact that laws aren’t simply stated?  If you wanted to write a law that said that nobody can spit on the street, what would your law state.  “From now on it is illegal to spit on the street.”  A simple law, but, there would have to be studies made about unexpected consequences.  Special interest groups would lobby to define what is a street.  The proposed law would have to be expanded to include highways, roads, lanes and cow paths.  Then the drooling impaired would have to be considered, so, the law would have to specify whether the spit was expelled with force between the lips or if it just oozed out and dripped off the chin.  Before long a simple, easily understood law would be thousands of pages long and lawyers would be running up and down streets trying to find spitting people they could defend.  There would even be ads on TV for Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley encouraging spitters to sue the city because being unable to spit on any street you wanted has cause you trauma due to having to swallow so much spit. 

James Madison came up with ten amendments to our constitution known as the Bill of Rights and politicians have spent over two hundred years trying to confuse what Madison wrote.  Let’s just say that no matter how well intended a law may be, when legislators get through with it, it is generally a disaster.  Whether we like laws or not they are with us like mosquitoes on a still warm summer evening.  But, there are other laws that we have that have a big advantage over the ones we have been talking about.  Biblical laws.  As Christians, what do you think when you hear “biblical law?”  Is it positive or negative?  Well, if you are having trouble coming down on one side or another of that question, you’re in luck because today we are studying what David has to say about “Biblical” laws or God’s laws.  Just for fun, I included a little Paul, too.

Psalm 19:1 The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handywork.  2 Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge.  3 There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard; 4and  yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.

Like last week, this Psalm was written by David.  Verses 1-6 deal with God’s revelation through his creation.  Verses 7-14 deals with God’s revelation through his laws.  There is a link between these two poems.  Let’s see how it plays out.

Last week we looked at the vastness of the universe and all the work that God has done to bring it into being and we were in awe at the magnitude and effect of that work.  Remember from last week, the firmament were all the things we see in the sky when we look up - stars, moon, sun, clouds.  What David is saying is that God isn’t some hidden away ruler.  All you have to do is look up and you see God revealed in the things he has created.  But, the sun is silent.  The moon is silent.  The stars are silent.  they can't speak and confirm that identification.  But, as you view them, from their silence there is sound.  Our imagination seems to play a background music for all that we see.  It is like hearing the overture of Star Wars as the movie begins with a sweeping survey of the universe.  Although they are mute, the music of the spheres give voice to God’s creation and that voice rules all the way to the ends of the world.  David is impressed by the glory he discovers as he looks up.  It is almost like a cosmic concert sung by the entire universe.

Psalm 19:4b In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun. 5 which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy, and like a strong man runs it's course with joy.  6 It's rising is from the end of the heavens, and it's circuit to the end of them; and nothing is hid from it's heat.

In the fourth verse the Psalmist shifts his attention to the sun.  When you think of the sun, what impresses you about the sun?  It's warmth.  It's light.  Back 2,500 years ago, the sun was worshiped by some religions, but, that isn’t the way David thinks of the sun.  For him the sun is just another creation bearing witness to God.  After all God was the one who put that sun in the heavens.  What two things does David use to describe the sun?  Like a bridegroom.  Like a strong man.  Where is the bridegroom coming from?  His canopy which is his bedroom.  The bridegroom has had his wedding night and he is leaving the bedroom satisfied and happy.  In other words the sun is at the top of it's form.  But, the sun is also a strong man who runs his race and is happy to do it.  He’s in top shape and won’t stagger across the finish line out of breath.  Then the sun travels across the sky from one end of heaven to the other.  And there isn’t anywhere on earth where the sun’s light and heat aren’t felt.  The sun is a symbol of God’s universal rule.  In other words, all of the creations in the sky proclaim that God’s rule is without limit in the universe.  

What is David trying to tell us about the sun?  “That lazy old sun ain’t got nothing to do, but, lay around heaven all day.”  I don’t think that is what David is getting at.  Nature as portrayed by the sun, praises God.  For those who have ears to hear and eyes to see, all of creation points to the Creator.  Five hundred years later, Paul will write in Romans, “ever since the creation of the world, God’s eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood and seen through the things he has made.”

So far we have been told about the inaudible speech of nature revealing God to us.  Now we shift to the revelation of God through the word as contained in the Torah.  We have seen the brilliance of the sun and now we will see an even brighter light given to the people: the teaching and guidance of the Torah.  In these verses, David will tell us of the virtues, benefits and desirability of God’s law.

Psalm 19:7 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple; 8 The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes; 9 the fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.  10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.

When you hear the word “Torah” what does it mean to you?  The law.  Technically that’s right.  But, in the way the Jews used it, it meant God’s way or God’s instruction.  David list seven virtues of God’s law.  What are they?

(1) God’s law is perfect.  Why is it perfect?  Not hard to answer that - it came from God.  But, more than that, it is perfect because it is complete.  It covers everything kind of like how the sun was described in verse 5.  Perfection means that you can’t get anything better.  The perfect mouse trap catches all of the mice - none escapes.

(2) God’s law revives the soul.  In other words God’s law makes life possible.  It puts everything in it’s proper place.  It brings order because we know exactly what we are supposed to do.  Isn’t it easier to do something if you are prepared, have the right stuff to do it and have instructions that weren't written in China?  When you start a project like that, you know that you’ll finish and better still, it will work like it is supposed to work.  David says that is how God’s law works.  It gives us the preparation and instructions necessary for the job of living our life.  That's the get up and go that keeps us plowing ahead.   

(3) God’s law is sure, making wise the simple.  Any idea what he is talking about, here?  The things that God has decreed can be counted on and depended on in arriving at the best way we can live our life.  It is sure because we can take it to the bank. When he speaks about “the simple”, he isn’t talking about dopey people.  He is talking about people whose hearts are open, whose minds aren’t all cluttered up with worldly “do’s and don’ts”.  God’s law can take even the most sophisticated Harvard graduate and cut through all of the political correctness and produce a decent human being.  Now wouldn’t that be a miracle.

(4) God’s law is right, rejoicing in the heart.  What is the connection between the rightness of the God’s law and joy in our hearts?  In order for us to have joy we have to be totally in agreement with the law.  To be totally in agreement would mean that our conscience agrees with the laws.  If our conscience didn’t agree, then every time one of the laws came up, we would have doubts and that sure wouldn’t produce joy in any part of our body.

(5) God’s law is clear, enlightening the eyes.  Probably “clear” should be “shines clear”.  God’s law is clear because there isn’t any distortions.  It’s the real “No Spin Zone.”  A lot of time when we hear the word “enlighten” we think what?  Getting smart.  But, in this verse, it really means “giving light to the eyes.”  Just as we benefit from the light of the sun, we can benefit from the light of God’s law.  It will throw light on the questions we run into in our daily lives so we can see clearly the problems and solutions. 

(6) The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever.  Are we supposed to be hunkered down in a hole afraid that God will see us?  What is meant here is reverence to God and his word.  We take it seriously and recognize that we are dealing with the ultimate authority.  And the fear of the Lord is what?  Pure.  What characterizes something that is pure?  Without corruption.  In smelting medal the impurities rise to the top and are skimmed off.  For Jews, “pure” meant ritualistic cleansing.  That’s how they became pure.  But that cleansing only worked for a short while.  The next time they went to the Temple, another cleansing was necessary.  At best, it was a temporary remedy.  it's "go home and take an aspirin" time.  David is saying that by respecting God’s law, the cleansing can last forever.  No need to come back for a redo.

(7) God’s law is true and righteous altogether.  Something is either “true” or it isn’t.  There is no such thing as a half truth.  It would be like being half pregnant.  It is an oxymoron.  So, God’s ordinances are true.  There is no shading here.  What you see is what you get.  You couple truth with righteousness and the package is unbeatable.  What David is saying is that if we follow what God wants, then we can have a right relationship with God.  That means a relationship where God knows us and is doing all he can to help us get along in a corrupt world.  

All of these discussions about the Torah have to do with instruction and guidance.  But, isn’t this nothing more than the narrow legalism of the Pharisees that we studied in Paul's letter to the Galatians?   Not really.  David is arguing that rather than the law being something to weigh us down, it is a gift from God designed to lift from us the weight of the world. What is the "weight of the world"?  Sin.  

Sounds great, but, how do I square this with what Paul said?  Paul saw the law as something that would condemn us and even kill us.  Obviously, the Torah we are studying today is meant to lift us up and not put us down.  If we look at these verses, we won’t see anything that is different from the Gospel.  Both this Torah and the Gospel were given so that we can live in accordance with God’s plan for us.  So what happened between David's view of the law and Paul’s?  Men decided that the laws needed to be tweaked a bit.  They had to be relevant to the times.  Simple instructions became complicated prohibitions that corrupted the intent God meant in giving them.  It’s like not spitting on the street.  A perfectly good law designed and ratified by God became a monstrosity that fell far from achieving what was originally intended.  God’s law gave us freedom while man’s tinkering with the law gave us shackles.  These tinkerers needed to accept the old saying - "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

 Psalm 19:11 Moreover by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great award.  12 But who can detect their errors?  Clear me from the hidden faults.  13 Keep back your servant also from insolent; do not let them have dominion over me.  Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.

If you listen, you can recognize another shift taking place.  He has been talking about the law and the rewards that flow from the law.  Now, David starts to get personal.  He recognizes that God’s instructions through his laws are a promise and a warning.  There’s good news and there’s bad news.  The good news is that if the law is followed then life will go a lot easier on you.  That is the bottom line from verses 7-9.

But, David is a realist.  All of what he said before is exactly right.  But, there is one little fly in the ointment and it’s the same fly that you might find swimming in your Coke.  We’re human.  While the laws are great stuff, we humans just can’t seem to follow laws.  We drive through stop lights that are ready to turn red.  The laws are perfect, but, we aren’t.  You see, here is the problem as David sees it.  Even if he were super devoted and tried as hard as he can to follow the law, at some point he is going to be guilty of some unintended or unrecognized error in judgement.  Would you think you would have this problem too?  Then we are all in the same boat with David.  I really like the way David thinks.  What he does he ask of God.  To be cleared from any of these “hidden faults” that might pop up in the future.  Things he won’t notice or things that sneak up on him.

David knows the world he is living in and it’s just like the one we live in.  His culture and ours has no respect for God or his instruction.  So David asks for God’s protection from the “insolent.”  Now who could they be - insolent?  The insolent are the people who know better than God.  People who rail against a group who just want to pray.  People so afraid that they might have to give up a little of their personal power or pleasure that they want to mold God into an ineffectual smiling old man who winks at their sins.  The worst thing is that in everyone of us and in David too, there is a little insolence just waiting to take hold.

If God will protect us against these kind of people, here is our best offer to God.  We'll work as hard was we can to obey God’s law.  Since we had good intentions about following the law, then we can be blameless before God.  And that is where David has his biggest problem.  No matter how hard he works, his admitted "hidden faults" stay with him and him alone.  Those faults, being impure, doesn't put him in the "blameless before God" camp, but the blamed before God camp. As Christians we can meet the standard because through our  acceptance of Christ and his acceptance of our sins - our hidden faults - allows us to stand blameless before God.

Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. 

Have you ever heard a preacher close his sermon with these words?  As used here, it is referring to this particular Psalm.  The words “be acceptable” would have been used by a good Jew in talking about a sacrifice being prepared for God to seek forgiveness.   God is described as both a “rock” and “redeemer.”  Rock is seeing God for his strength and protection.  Redeemer has a deeper meaning.  In those days if a relative who wasn’t able to pay his bills, could sell himself into slavery.  As a relative you were obligated to pay off the debt so the man could go free.  In other words you redeemed the man.  You paid the price for him.   David saw God as not only the giver of the law, but, somebody who cares about his family and is willing to pay the price to set a family member free.  Folks, we are sons and daughters of God and with Christ he has already paid the price, redeemed us and set us free.

There are good laws and there are bad laws.  There are laws we don’t mind following and some that cause us to cuss under our breath.  But, there is another law, a different kind of law.  The law that David wrote about in Psalm 19, was made human and gave us in the Gospel the true meaning of God’s law.

Prayer: Lord.  Thank you for opening your law to us today.  Now, place upon our hearts your law so that our lives will be joyful and free from the pressures of the world.  Amen.