Psalm 19:7

Psalm 19:7

“The law of the Lord is perfect,

reviving the soul.

The testimony of the Lord is sure,

making wise the simple.

 

This passage came to mind in the context of “Self-Awareness.” Researching “Self-Awareness” was a consequence of processing this basic question: “Life is hard. Scripture reaffirms that time and again. Towards what end? What is the purpose?”

Thought Questions:

  • When a life disruption happens to you how do you pass through from the surprise/shock of the event to being at peace?
  • What do you do for comfort or consolation? Is what you do hiding your pain or releasing it?

Background

This process started earlier with a wake-up-in-a-verse moment. The passage was “You will go out with joy and be led forth in peace.” (Isaiah 55:12). The immediate task was to read the context, then internalize what it said. Verse one of Isaiah 55 says (literally in the Hebrew!) “YO! All who are thirsty…” This was a confusing lead in. Thirst is a common biblical metaphor for something that is actually more powerful than hunger – a feeling on the edge of panic. Now – how does this all link back to Psalm 19:7?

Tension which is an acceptable element of life can be toxic when it overwhelms a person. There are health impacts and relational damage in a toxic level of tension. It easily shifts to anxiety, which – of course, is where panic comes from. The verses that say things like “be anxious for nothing…” can be perverted into narratives that suggest ways you can control the situation or at least control the consequences. The key phrase there is “control.”

Control isn’t going to work. Ever.

Understanding that is counter to a basic human trait that came with the apple in the garden. In fact, it might be what brought the apple to the lips. To deal with the tension level, the web search engines talk about numerous things. One is meditation. The problem, of course, is meditation is one of those devalued words like “love” that contain very sensitive context nuances. Scripture (See Psalm 1) strongly advocates/commands that we meditate. On God’s law, if you read it correctly.

The path then is:

  • How to go out with Joy and be led forth with peace.
  • What about those bad things that are so concerning?
  • The tension is tearing the old body apart
  • Meditate on the Law
  • Bingo: Here is Psalm 19:7.

Context  of Psalm 19 (the facts) verses 1-6

The heavens declare the glory of God,

and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

Day to day pours out speech,

and night to night reveals knowledge.

There is no speech, nor are there words,

whose voice is not heard.

Their voice goes out through all the earth,

and their words to the end of the world.

In them he has set a tent for the sun,

which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,

and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.

Its rising is from the end of the heavens,

and its circuit to the end of them,

and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

 

 

  • The fact of God is shown in all creation.
  • The work of God is testimony to Him.

That set of substantiated facts are Right. In. Front. Of us. Right there. Our response to beauty is a innate construct that validates the presence of God.

So, my tensions and fears?

Psalm 19:7 – “The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul.”

What am I to meditate on?

  • The Law (His testimony to what is true and correct
    • It revives my parched soul.
  • The Testimony (what He has done – and that means literally for and with me.)
    • It provides the answers to make wise decisions. It is all about making wise decisions, even when those decisions are absolutely not what is wanted. Decisions for the greater good.
  • The Precepts (principles to apply to situations, guides to analyzing what is happening)
    • The ‘rightness’ is to evaluate, to consider, to ‘reckon.’
  • Decrees of the Lord (what he ‘tells’ us in the situation).

Self-Awareness

The smart people claim that 85% of people have very little self-awareness. The essential interpretation thereof is that most people operate out of control and a drive to make themselves happy. The problem, of course, is that the consuming pattern of life is built around being happy and winning. The Isaiah 55:12 context of “going out with Joy and being led forth with peace” is diametrically opposed to trying to be happy and trying to win.

To change from that requires knowing God and letting Him change us from entitled and angry and tense. By meditating on his Law (Psalm 1:3) and considering yourself as needing to change.