Precious words! They set before us, most blessedly, the secret spring of that life which we, as Christians, are called to live from day to day--the life of simple, implicit, and unqualified obedience, namely, a heart fearing the Lord--fearing Him, not in a servile spirit, but with all that deep, true, adoring love which the Holy Ghost sheds abroad in our hearts. It is this that delights the heart of our loving Father. His word to us is, "My son, give Me thine heart." Where the heart is given, all follows, in lovely moral order. A loving heart finds its very deepest joy in obeying all God's commandments; and nothing is of any value to God but what springs from a loving heart. The heart is the source of all the issues of life; and hence, when it is governed by the love of God, there is a loving response to all His commandments. We love His commandments because we love Him. Every word of His is precious to the heart that loves Him. Every precept, every statute, every judgment--in a word, His whole law is loved, reverenced, and obeyed, because it has His name and His authority attached to it.
The reader will find in psalm cxix. an uncommonly fine illustration of the special point now before us--a most striking example of one who blessedly answered to the words quoted above--"O that there were _such a heart_ in them, that they would fear Me, and keep _all_ My commandments _always_!" It is the lovely breathing of a soul who found its deep, unfailing, constant delight in the law of God. There are no less than one hundred and seventy allusions to that precious law, under some one title or another. We find scattered along the surface of this marvelous psalm, in rich profusion, such gems as the following:--
"Thy Word have I _hid_ in mine _heart_, that I might not sin against Thee." "I have rejoiced in the way of Thy testimonies as much as in all riches." "I will meditate in Thy precepts, and have respect unto Thy ways." "_I will delight myself_ in Thy statutes; I will not forget Thy Word." "My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto Thy judgments at all times." "_Thy testimonies_ are also _my delight_, and my counselors." "_I have stuck_ unto Thy testimonies." "Behold, _I have longed_ after Thy precepts." "_I trust_ in Thy Word." "_I have hoped_ in Thy judgments." "_I seek_ Thy precepts." "_I will delight myself_ in Thy commandments, which _I have loved_." "_I remembered_ Thy judgments." "_Thy statutes_ have been _my songs_ in the house of my pilgrimage." "I turned _my feet_ unto _Thy testimonies_." "_I have believed_ Thy commandments." "_The law of Thy mouth_ is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver." "_I have hoped_ in Thy Word." "_Thy law_ is _my delight_." "_Mine eyes_ fail for _Thy Word_." "_All_ Thy commandments are faithful." "Forever, O Lord, Thy Word is settled in heaven." "_I will never forget_ Thy precepts." "_I have sought_ Thy precepts." "_I will consider_ Thy testimonies." "Thy commandment is exceeding broad." "O how love I _Thy law_! it is _my meditation_ all the day." "How sweet are _Thy words_ unto _my taste_! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth." "_Thy testimonies_ have I taken as a _heritage forever_; for they are _the rejoicing of my heart_." "I will have respect unto Thy statutes _continually_." "I love Thy commandments above gold, yea, above find gold." "I esteem _all_ Thy precepts concerning _all_ things to be _right_." "Thy testimonies are wonderful." "I opened my mouth and _panted_, for I _longed_ for Thy commandments." "Upright are Thy judgments." "Thy testimonies ... are righteous, and very faithful." "Thy Word is very pure." "Thy law is the truth." "The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting." "All Thy commandments are truth." "Thy Word is _true from the beginning_; and every one of Thy righteous judgments _endureth forever_." "_My heart_ standeth _in awe_ of _Thy Word_." "_I rejoice_ at Thy Word, as one that findeth great spoil." "Great peace have they that love Thy law." "_My soul_ hath kept _Thy testimonies_; and I love them exceedingly." "I have chosen Thy precepts." "Thy law is my delight."
Truly, it does the heart good, and refreshes the spirit, to transcribe such utterances as the foregoing, many of which are the suited utterances of our Lord Himself, in the days of His flesh. He ever lived upon the Word. It was the food of His soul, the authority of His path, the material of His ministry. By it He vanquished Satan; by it He silenced Sadducees, Pharisees, and Herodians; by it He taught His disciples; to it He commended His servants, as He was about to ascend into the heavens.