Psalm 119:93

Psalm 119:93

The precepts of preservation

Let’s remember that God’s precepts are those rules and laws by which He oversees our life’s journey and which He has set in place to ensure that we come to no harm. Employers, charities, institutions and other organisations have a modern-day equivalent called Health and Safety, and Safeguarding. Under these codes of conduct, the physical and mental safety of those who are “overseen” is protected so long as the rules are obeyed. Imagine that the Lord God has a similar policy in place, He has written down a number of rules and regulations which should make it safer and easier for His servants to carry out His business. These are His precepts, His “Code of Conduct”, many of these precepts are found in Leviticus and can make “heavy” reading. Cultural and contemporary changes in the way we live render some of these rules obsolete, but then the Man-made policies mentioned above also need to be continuously updated and adapted to everyday life. We probably don’t need to religiously follow the Leviticus rules about “defiling moulds” but the guidance about “unlawful sexual relations” seems to be bang up to date!

If we have a “take it or leave it” attitude to such things then perhaps we should consider the words of the psalmist, he sees God’s codes of conduct as being the means by which his life has been preserved. The rules and regulations have saved him from almost certain death. God makes rules for our good, not because He is a mean and overbearing dictator, so let’s follow His precepts and obey His commands. 

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