Tau: The Law Is a Delight

David ends Psalm 119 by reaffirming the righteousness of God’s commandments (Psalm 119:172; Romans 7:12). The “law is a transcript of the holy and righteous character of God. We should pattern our lives after its instruction. “. . . To man has been given freedom of choice (see Deut. 30:19). Happy are they who, like David, choose the precepts of God as their guide.” “When a sheep strays from the fold it seldom finds its way back without help. Like all the rest of us, the psalmist had wandered into forbidden paths, but the Lord sought him and brought him home again. “. . . The good shepherd does not return from his search empty-handed. The way may be long and arduous, the path rough and thorny, but the shepherd perseveres and does not give up until he finds his lost sheep (Matt. 18:12–14; Luke 15:4–7).” David wanted his life extended so he might continue to share his religious experience with others (Psalm 119:175).

He wanted all to recognize the devotion the Good Shepherd has for His sheep. How does a sheep become lost? It makes a conscious choice to no longer follow the Shepherd and keep His commandments (Exodus 20:6; John 14:15; 15:10; 1 John 3:22–24; 5:3; Revelation 14:12; 22:14). The only path of safety lies in obedience to the law of God.

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear [love] God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

Christ Himself emphasized the eternal and binding nature of God’s law (Matthew 5:17–20). In dedicating his longest psalm to the subject, David recognized that obedience to God’s law is supremely important. The apostle John agreed and wrote, “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city” (Revelation 22:14).

The redeemed will keep the commandments of God and have faith in Jesus Christ (Revelation 14:12)! “Hark! ’tis the Shepherd’s voice I hear, / Out in the desert dark and drear, / Calling the sheep who’ve gone astray, / Far from the Shepherd’s fold away.”