Taking every thought captive for obedience to Christ (2 Corinthians 10.5)

Disciplines
The Law of God
There are good reasons why our forebears thought it appropriate that those being sworn into public office should invoke the help of God, their hand placed squarely upon His Word. The nation’s Founders understood that civil magistrates are servants of God. They receive their office as a trust from Him, and are called to serve Him for the wellbeing of the people and the nation.

With this in mind, Deuteronomy 17.19, 20 is a text of great significance, both for our current political moment, and for our everyday lives: “And [the Law of God] shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes, that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, and that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children in the midst of Israel.”

These instructions are addressed to the king of Israel. We can assume that, as the king of Israel was God’s servant for good – not just for Israel, but for the benefit of all nations – so these words apply to all who serve Him in this capacity. That would include civil governments today, which are the servants of God (Rom. 13.1-5).

We can assume, I believe, that what’s good for the goose is good for the gander and goslings. If God intended to provide these benefits to the king, it was so that they could be extended to all those he served. All who, like the king, anchor in the Law of God may expect the same benefits for themselves.

In what follows, therefore, I want to concentrate on the benefits of reading and meditation in the Law of God, for all who make this their daily discipline.

We note five benefits.

First, by daily reading and meditating in the Law and Word of God one may learn to fear God. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom (Ps. 111.10). We learn the fear of God from His Law because there we see how wise, just, holy, and loving He is, and that He backs up His Law with terrifying sanctions and demonstrated power for those who will not obey.

These days, in which there seems to be no shortage of things foolish in government and elsewhere, we need more of the light of wisdom shining within every area of life and sector of society.

Second, by adopting this discipline one learns what God requires for full and abundant life (Lev. 18.1-5), a life of Christ-like love for God and neighbors (Matt. 5.17-19; 22.34-40). Learning the Law, and growing not only in understanding but in the fear of God as well, we will be better able, and more likely, to obey what God commands.

Obedience to God’s Law is the path Jesus walked as the One sent by the love of God for the salvation of the world. It makes sense for us to walk that path as well (1 Jn. 2.1-6).

Third, daily reading and meditating in God’s Law works humility and a servant attitude in our hearts. In the Law we realize that all men are made in the image of God, are loved by Him, and deserve our loving care and service at all times. And we rejoice in the privilege of being able to serve them by the love God provides for us through Christ and His Word.

Fourth, daily reading and meditation in the Law makes it less likely that we will stray from the Lord’s path to one of our own devising. The more we learn of God’s path, the more we will come to delight in and even love it. We are not likely to depart from that which is becoming so precious to us.

Finally, daily reading and meditation in the Law of God helps to ensure a long life of fruitful service in the Kingdom to which God has called us (1 Thess. 2.12). Our text suggests a generation-spanning component to such a life and service, so that we will not only think of our earthly sojourn, but of the legacy of wisdom, life, humility, service, and perseverance we may leave for others.

Are such benefits worth pursuing? And if we know how to pursue them, should we hesitate in doing so?

Obedience to God’s Law is good for us; it’s also good for our nation and for the world. The likelihood of civil magistrates embracing and submitting to God’s Law for the wisdom, life, humility, and service to which it can guide them will be enhanced as they observe these benefits rising within those for whom daily reading and meditation in the Law has become a defining component of their life in Christ.

For reflection
1.  How would you characterize the place of God’s Law in your life at this time?

2.  Meditate on Psalm 1. How do the promises of this psalm concerning reading and meditating in God’s Law compare with what we saw in Deuteronomy 17.19, 20?

3.  Meditate on Matthew 24.12. Do you think that increased reading and meditation on God’s Law might improve the level of love in our society? Explain.

Next steps: How might you begin to make daily reading and meditation on God’s Law part of your life? Talk with a Christian friend about this question.

The Law of God is a compilation of commandments, statutes, and precepts from the Mosaic Law, organized under the Ten Commandments. Here is a resource that could get you started in daily reading and meditation on God’s Law. To order your copy, click here.

We depend on the Lord for the needs of The Fellowship of Ailbe. This means we come to Him daily, asking for His help in giving us wisdom to know His will, strength and skill to do it, and the resources we require for each day. As for this last, we understand that God intends to support our ministry from within the ranks of those who are served by it (Ps. 20.1-3; Rom. 15.26, 27; Gal. 6.6).

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