How does Psalm 119:174 connect with Jesus' teachings on the law? Verse in Focus Psalm 119:174 – “I long for Your salvation, O LORD, and Your law is my delight.” Jesus’ Heart for the Law • Matthew 5:17 – Jesus affirms that He came “to fulfill” the Law, not abolish it. • Matthew 22:37-40 – He sums up the Law in wholehearted love for God and neighbor. • John 14:15 – “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments,” tying love and obedience together. • John 15:10 – He models delight in His Father’s commandments and calls us to share that joy. Key Connections Between Psalm 119:174 and Jesus’ Teaching 1. Longing for Salvation • The psalmist looks forward to God’s saving work; Jesus embodies that salvation (Luke 19:10; John 3:17). • In Christ, the awaited deliverance is fully revealed, affirming the psalmist’s longing. 2. Delighting in the Law • The psalmist delights in God’s statutes; Jesus delights perfectly, living them without fault (Hebrews 4:15). • His fulfillment confirms the Law’s ongoing goodness and relevance (Romans 7:12). 3. Obedience Flowing from Love • “Your law is my delight” mirrors Jesus’ call: love expresses itself in obedience (John 14:21). • Genuine affection for God’s Word moves beyond duty into joyful practice. 4. Continuity and Fulfillment • Jesus does not discard the Law; He deepens its intent (Matthew 5:21-48). • The psalmist’s passion foreshadows Christ’s higher righteousness, written now on believers’ hearts (Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 8:10). Living Out the Link Today • Treasure the full counsel of Scripture, confident it points to and is fulfilled in Christ. • Cultivate longing for Christ’s salvation daily, just as the psalmist yearned for deliverance. • Let delight, not mere duty, fuel obedience—embracing Jesus’ commandments as life-giving. • Reflect Christ’s fulfillment of the Law by loving God wholeheartedly and loving neighbors tangibly, demonstrating the Law’s true intent. |
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