God's Slant

April 10

Just as the beliefs and opinions of media representatives can be discerned by the ‘slant’ they place upon news events that they report, so it is easy to discern God’s ‘slant’ where His law is concerned. The Bible is replete with verses that praise His law and with admonitions concerning the penalty for its transgression.

Psalm 19:7-10 beautifully extols the virtue of the law. It says, “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The reverent awe of the Lord is clean, enduring forever. The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than much fine gold. They are sweeter than honey.”

We can rather readily grasp the assertions that the law is invaluable toward the soul’s conversion from sin to salvation; that in understanding and obeying it, the simple will be made wise. We can assent to the high esteem in which we will hold our Holy God if we value His law. But most of us cannot begin to fathom either the claim that it is more to be desired than much fine gold or that it is sweeter than honey! It is beyond our finite understanding to value a body of law to that degree.

Our inability to understand the Word’s estimation of the worth and the sweetness of the law lies in our own failure to esteem it as highly as we should. Yes, we know it keeps us from anarchy. We know the law addresses the wrongs that plague our society. But to us, it’s a tool that is effective for keeping life functioning as it should. But when we truly love our loving God, we will grasp the depth of love He reveals in His ‘slant’ toward His incontrovertible law.