The Law of the Lord

By tlmusic | February 12, 2024

The heavens are telling of the glory of God/ The moon the stars, the sun, declaring what He’s done/Day and night, night and day, without words they say, they say as the champion His ways:

The Law of the Lord is pure/His testimonies sure/By them is Your servant warned/In keeping them great reward/The Word of the Lord is true/His commandments old, yet new/Sweeter than honeycomb/Giving life to the soul

Still who can know the whole of their wayward soul? Forgive my hidden faults and keep me from all wrong/May these words and these thoughts be pleasing to you oh God/My God, my Redeemer and my Rock

I’ve seen Your grand design/I’ve seen Your Law give life/For the Word that saves is none but Jesus Christ/ The eternal Son to rise/Fulfilled in Him we find

The Law is pure!/His testimonies sure!/Making the simple wise/Illuminating the eyes/His Word is true!/ Forever old, yet new/ The Law of the Lord is life evermore!/It’s pure and true! Sure and new!/Sweeter than honeycomb/Giving life to the soul

So, this is a Psalm 19 song. I’ve always been so intrigued by Psalm 19. Why would a psalmist combine his wonder at the heavens and His adoration of the law in the same Psalm?

Well, the biggest discovery I made while studying this Psalm and then writing the song was this train of thought: Creation tells of God’s glory. But, it does so in such a way that we see it (and should acknowledge it – Romans 1). The Law reveals God’s glory – and we get to experience pieces of this as we follow it and learn how to live. And, God would get all the glory if those existed and we weren’t drawn to Him – but, as it is: He uses those to draw us to him! Wow!

This song will go on an album I am putting together from the Psalms, and on that album I aim to reveal the truth that every Psalm finds its fulfillment in Jesus. This Psalm was baffling me until a friend pointed out that it was so interested to see that the Law gives life and refreshment in this Psalm, but Paul describes the Law as bringing death. But, it is the fact that we can’t follow the law that brings death – if we could we would have life. But, enter Jesus. The fulfillment of all the Law on our behalf. He is the Word of the Lord that refreshes the soul, brings light to the eyes, wisdom to the simple, etc.

It was so refreshing to be steeped in this good word that the Law of the Lord is HIS GOOD for us, not just some check list we have to try to maintain. And when we cannot maintain it, praise be to our God and Father who provided His Son to maintain it for us.

Amen and amen!