What does it mean to "love" God's commandments in Psalm 119:47? Delight That Springs From Love Psalm 119:47: “I delight in Your commandments because I love them.” • “Love” (Hebrew ’ahav) is a warm, covenant-loyal affection that treasures another’s words as precious. • The psalmist’s delight is not in abstract rules but in God Himself speaking through those rules. • Loving the commandments means finding genuine pleasure in hearing and doing what God says—no reluctance, no drudgery. Three-Fold Shape of This Love 1. Heart – emotional attraction • “Your testimonies are my delight and my counselors” (Psalm 119:24). • The heart thrills at every phrase of Scripture. 2. Mind – intellectual agreement • “Therefore I esteem all Your precepts as right” (Psalm 119:128). • The mind willingly submits, trusting every command as true and beneficial. 3. Will – volitional resolve • “I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes, even to the very end” (Psalm 119:112). • Love chooses obedience promptly and consistently. Practical Expressions of Loving His Commandments • Meditating day and night (Psalm 1:2; Joshua 1:8) • Speaking of them openly (Psalm 119:46, 171) • Ordering daily decisions by them (Psalm 119:105) • Guarding them from compromise (Psalm 119:11) • Teaching them to future generations (De 6:7) Why This Love Makes Sense • The commands reflect God’s holy character (Leviticus 11:44). Loving them is loving Him. • Obedience proves genuine devotion: “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). • His commands are never harsh: “His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3). • Keeping them protects and blesses: “In keeping them is great reward” (Psalm 19:11). Fruit Produced When We Love His Commands • Steadfast joy, even under pressure (Psalm 119:92, 143) • Greater understanding than teachers or elders (Psalm 119:99–100) • Freedom from sin’s dominion (Psalm 119:11, 133) • Confident witness before rulers and skeptics (Psalm 119:46) • Enduring hope for the future (Psalm 119:147) Key Takeaway To love God’s commandments is to treasure, trust, and obey every word He has spoken, finding deep personal joy in aligning the whole life—heart, mind, and will—with the unchanging truth of Scripture. |
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