A Pure Covenant--Untainted Direction

Anthem Six
A Pure Covenant

“The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.” Psalms 19: 8b

Untainted Direction
Part 1 of 4

When I first began study of this psalm, I did not know the exact direction my Lord would take me in completing it.  Such has been the case in many subjects I have considered.  Each time, I have seen and felt the hand of my Master Shepherd gently leading me by the hand.  This particular verse is virgin territory for an old Southern Baptist preacher. As I write it, I am compelled to implicitly keep my eyes on my Lord, because only He knows how it will end.  With that in mind, I am also left to wonder how this series will actually end.

David ends v. 8 with, “The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes”.  For “commandment”, he uses the word, “mitzvah”, which literally means “a command”.  Whether human or divine, it encompasses with it an inclusion of “the collective law”.  With the inclusiveness suggested in this meaning, I am reminded of the words of Paul to Timothy in 3: 16-17, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of YAH, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of YAH may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work”.

Webster adds “order” to the meaning of “commandment”.  In this usage of “order”, the idea of direction is conveyed.  Just as our great God of the universe spoke into being the stars of the heavens, and the firmament below, He speaks His direction for righteous living.  In giving us “all Scripture”, He gave us divine orders to follow the ideals of those Scriptures, as the admonition is recorded in 2 Kings 17: 37.  There, Yahweh says, “And the statutes, and the ordinances, and the law, and the commandment, which he wrote for you, you shall observe to do for evermore; and you shall not fear other gods”.

There are many men and women in Scripture that heeded this order to the best of their ability, and taught others to do so as well.  One such man was King Asa, of whom it is recorded in 2 Chronicles 14: 2, “And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his Elohim”.  He tore down the altars of “strange Gods…high places…images…and groves”.  It might easily be said of Asa he decisively chose the ways of his Elohim over the traditions of men.  Then, in v. 4, he did what all of us need to do.  He charged all those under his leadership to follow his example.  He “commanded Judah to seek Y'hovah Elohim of their fathers, and do the law and the commandment”.

Asaph wrote in Psalms 78: 1, “…incline your ears to the words of my mouth”.   He wishes to tell his people of the goodness of his God which was passed down to him through the ages.  He says in v. 4, “we will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength and His wonderful works that He has done”.  Herein is the prime directive of any good earthly father.  The writer of Proverbs harmonizes in 22: 6, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it”.

Click Here To Continue In The 19th Psalm