Delight in God’s Law

Background Scripture: Psalm 1; Romans 13
Lesson Scripture: Psalm 1:1-6; Romans 13:8-10

Introduction

The word occupation has multiple meanings. To occupy means that we are taking up a space, such as filling a seat in a plane, a car, or at a table. It could also mean filling a position on a board or committee. There are those people whose personality seems to enable them to occupy the whole room they enter.

Occupying can also mean holding our attention, as in being interested, fascinated, or engaged. When something grabs our attention, we become absorbed with it.

In the parable of the pounds, Jesus instructed the men to “occupy till I come” (Luke 19:13). In the story, these men belonged in the nobleman’s kingdom, and he made them responsible for his goods while he was away.

Is your occupation being a Christian? If you belong to the kingdom, are you engaged in it, and do you feel the responsibility that has been entrusted to you? In the parable, Jesus indicates that we have been entrusted with some of heaven’s treasure. As with material securities, the more a person invests in the treasures of Christ, the more blessings he will realize. In this manner, “a man’s gift maketh room for him” (Prov. 18:16). God’s gift has been put to use and provides a place to fill and something to do. A person who originally had nothing, no living and no occupation, now has belonging.

Responsibility comes along with the gift we are entrusted with. We will need to be sincere, faithful, and trustworthy. Too many citizens look at responsibility and turn away. They would like the rewards of belonging but are unwilling for the responsibility that goes along with it.

We could ask, what does occupation have to do with Sunday school? The real question is how big a place does Sunday school and Bible study hold in my citizenship of Christ’s kingdom? We want to be one of those servants who are adding to the pound that we have been given. Maybe some carry a reserve because contributing does not look so promising, but God’s dollars are valuable. The blessings on the return of giving ourselves to Sunday school is priceless.

This quarter of lessons is primarily based on the books of Psalms and Proverbs.

Delight in God’s Law

Lesson 1

March 3, 2024

Background Scripture: Psalm 1; Romans 13

Lesson Scripture: Psalm 1:1-6; Romans 13:8-10

Introduction

What is the law of God? The psalmist was writing at a time when God’s law consisted of civil, moral, and ceremonial laws. When Jesus came and offered his blood to pay the ransom for man, He did not destroy the law. Rather, He fulfilled the law and brought it to life in the hearts of his followers. Whereas previously the law was a set of rules to live by, it now became an integral part of being a Christian. When we are born again and give our heart to the Lord, we follow two commandments. “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets (Matt. 22:37-40). These two commandments embody all the old law. It is marvelous how these become so much more than commandments when the Lord enters our heart and love for Him becomes our motivation.

Key Verse

Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food (Job 23:12).

Lesson Scripture

Studying the Lesson

Job, after listening to his friends’ censures, confirms that his need of God’s commandments and direction were more necessary than relief from physical misery.

The psalmist presents a comparison of the ways of the righteous and the ways of the ungodly. God blesses those who do not seek counsel from the ungodly but wish to receive advice from those who hold to godly values. He blesses those who refuse to scorn others and those who live a godly life, walking the path that leads to heaven.

Paul wrote his letter to the Roman Christians, who were both Jew and gentile. The Jews had been raised under the Jewish law, while the gentile Christians had known only civil law. The Christian law of love equalizes all believers and provides everyone with the same opportunities and obligations. Today, those who are raised in Christian homes and those brought up in ungodly homes must pass through the same door to salvation. The love of God in a Christian’s heart prompts the sharing of the gospel with those who are lost, whether in a foreign land or our local community.

Practical Truths for Today

What does God’s law consist of? What makes this list of directives a priority to follow? Why should someone delight in it? In a broad sense, God’s law is given to all mankind, enabling every person to live an orderly and peaceful life of fulfillment and meaning. When God created Adam and Eve, He gave them one commandment: do not eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the garden of Eden. This was very straightforward and simple, and in that perfect setting, this was the only law necessary. The punishment for breaking that law was “In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Gen. 2:17). Adam and Eve were given this commandment and were clearly told there would be consequences for disobedience.

When the serpent tempted Eve and she yielded, death came to this world. Afterwards, living in this world became much more complicated. Mankind became lost and hopeless without God’s intervention, and the world was no longer a safe place. The all-knowing God, in his mercy, already had a plan in place for this moment. His Son, Jesus, would come to earth and shed his blood to pay for the sin of man. However, sinful man must live on this earth and learn to live in peace as much as possible.

As the children of Israel camped at Mount Sinai after their exit from Egypt, the Lord wrote the Ten Commandments on stone and gave them to Moses, who delivered them to the people. This was the law of God for man at that time, and these laws are still in effect today. For man to live peaceably, happily, and securely, these laws must be followed.

The early church leaders were inspired by God to formulate the Christian doctrine we follow to this day. Delighting in the doctrines of the Bible takes more than just being obedient. Holding to the letter of the law and feeling a certain satisfaction in keeping the various laws, commandments, and ordinances is very different from considering the Bible’s guidelines with a love for the Lord in our heart and maintaining them with the desire to please Him.

As we delight in the Word as the law of God, we will be an example of what the Lord can do for man. Meditation upon God’s law leads us to a desire for the Lord’s will to be a consideration in every decision we make. As youth, we may have an opportunity to accept a job offer in a local business or have an attraction to a certain young woman or young man that begins to blossom as love in the heart. What does the Lord think? Sharing this with the Lord and honestly seeking his direction is delighting in God’s way. Being open to the Lord’s direction in all areas of life and daily activities does not necessarily mean asking the Lord for direction at every instance, but because of living within the bounds of his law, his approval or disapproval can be realized and understood. When our heart is truly given to the Lord, we can delight in the peace and direction we receive.

Personal devotional time is necessary and is an important opportunity to grow our relationship with our heavenly Father. We can share our hearts with Him, telling Him about our fears, our hopes, and the perplexities of life. We can bring Him our burdens, the things that weigh us down and hinder us. We can confess our failures, pleading for mercy and forgiveness. As we humbly pray and open our hearts for Him to speak to us, we will experience the delight of his law of mercy, which brings us peace. Let us never forget to thank our Lord for his guidance throughout the day and for being there for us when we need Him.

We are incapable of understanding the complete will or law of God. However, the Lord has sent the Holy Spirit to give us the guidance we need. He offers us direction, gives us the words to say, and prompts the actions we need to take. He opens our understanding of the Scriptures as we meditate on them. The Holy Spirit quietly visits our hearts, dividing the Word of God in a way we can comprehend. A peaceful rest settles within our hearts, and we can trust the Lord’s guidance. Whether young or old, we will be blessed with direction as we study the Word.

The world endeavors to teach people to make their own informed decisions regardless of what others think. The desire of a Christian to walk humbly and seek the Lord’s will seems foolish to them. The goal of the world and the goal of a Christian are usually at odds. The world’s aim is to attain many earthly pursuits, even at the cost of one’s soul. The aim of a Christian is to walk the path of humility within the safety of the Lord’s will, thereby gaining heaven and eternal life.

Illustration

We can think of the Scriptures as dull and heavy reading, or we can think of them as a beautiful guidebook that takes us through life and leads us finally to the glory of heaven.

Many Christian believers raised in a godly home can remember how our parents or older siblings read to us the beautiful creation story. Our hearts were saddened when Eve was deceived by the serpent. We heard of God’s judgment upon sin when the whole world perished except for those who were safe in the ark. We learned of the patriarchs who followed God’s commands and how the children of Israel, through God’s leading, left the land of captivity and settled in the promised land. Our hearts thrilled when the power of God was revealed to his people as they faced the many challenges confronting them. The heroes of faith were inspiring examples of courage and obedience. Our hearts warmed as we heard the wonderful story of Jesus­—his miracles, his love for the people, and his sacrifice for our sins.

By the time we became accountable to God, we had learned to appreciate the Word of God. We understood in part our humanity and fallibility, realizing our need for a savior. As we gave our hearts to the Lord, the Scriptures became precious to us. We have received divine guidance and direction throughout the journey of life.

Parents have a golden opportunity to establish respect and love for the Scriptures by setting an example of spending time with the Word of God. Take the time to read those wonderful stories to your children. In doing so, you are instilling a foundation for them to place their confidence in God’s Word and preparing them for a future life of service in the church and to society at large. As they continue to read the Word, its prophecies, poetry, and wisdom will warm their hearts with courage and a faith in God when facing the perplexities of life. They, too, will be inspired with how the church, the bride of Christ, was built upon the foundation of Jesus Christ.

Youth, do not be afraid to delve into the Scriptures. It seems every time we open the Word, we can dig up another nugget of wisdom, a gem of courage, or a diamond of joy that provides value to the day. Certainly, the reasons to delight in God’s law are all there. Let us never allow vanity, disobedience, fear, or anything else to hinder the blessings God has for us.

Questions

1. What hinders delighting in God’s law and his Word?
2. What is included in God’s law?
3. What is the problem if we begin to look at the doctrines of the church as man-made, restrictive, and unfulfilling?
4. Relate an experience of how the Lord touched you through reading the Bible.

Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).