Day 176, or June 25. Rule-keeping can be joyful. Our thoughts today are from Psalm 119, verses
97 and 98. Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. Your commands are always
with me, and make me wiser than my enemies.
Just the big picture surrounding these verses. Today we have concentrated on the second half
of this massive acrostic psalm, the longest chapter in the Bible, and focused in on verses
97 and 98. The writer, who is unknown, describes the Word of God as being sweeter than honey.
The word honey described both bees' honey and syrup from dates. When God wanted to highly
praise the promised land, he described it as a land flowing with milk and honey. David
also likened God's word to honey when he wrote in Psalm 19, The laws of the Lord are
sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb. David's best friend Jonathan also
said when he tasted honey in an act of disobedience, See how much better I feel now that I have
eaten this little bit of honey. Honey may be wonderful, but the Word of God is even
sweeter and better.
And now today's action step. A cricket match without rules is not worth watching. The great
Fred Truman was once bowling, and no matter what he did, the umpire would not give the
batsman out. Fred was sure he was showing unlawful favouritism. After being told that
a catch had not carried, and that an LBW appeal was not in line, Fred finally bowled a beauty,
and splattered the batsman's wickets to the four corners of the ground. With glee he turned
to the umpire and shouted sarcastically, Nearly got him that time. Rule-keeping really is
essential. Rules improve sports, and more importantly, they improve life. God doesn't
give us guidance to stop us enjoying ourselves, but in order that we may live our life to
the full. Don't keep the rules like the Pharisees of old, so that you can point out where others
are failing, but obey God's commandments so that your life may be lived to its full
potential.