The children of Israel declared at Mount Sinai not only their willingness to hear the words of God from Moses’ lips but also their readiness to do them. “Go thou near,” they said to Moses, “and hear all that the Lord our God shall say; and speak thou unto us all that the Lord our God shall speak unto thee; and we will hear it and do it.” Deut. 5: 27. They gave their solemn promise that they would serve the Lord and do His will. Henceforth they were under covenant obligations to fulfil His will and were duty-bound to obey Him. How solemn it is to consider that after engaging so unreservedly in the service of the High God they should afterwards have failed so miserably to fulfil their promise. Instead of becoming renowned for their faithfulness they became notorious for their sin and disobedience. “They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in His law.” Ps. 78: 10.
How necessary and desirable is obedience to the will of God. Israel could not hope to prosper without it. Obedience to the law of God is a clear mark of a renewed heart and will. Men may have an outward regard for the law of God, and it is good that it should be so, but none can truly delight in the law of God but the one who delights in it after the inward man. In the keeping of God’s commands is great delight — but not to the unrenewed soul! It is through a Spirit-wrought faith in us that we begin to delight in God and in His law, and begin to walk at liberty. The living in Jerusalem are those who walk uprightly and walk worthy of the vocation wherewith they are called. “If ye love me,” said the Saviour, “keep my commandments.” John 14: 15. The child of God has this seal — “let him that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” 2 Tim. 2: 19.
The Christian, however, is distinguished, not only by his keeping of God’s commands, but by his keeping of them always — at all times, and in all places, and in all circumstances, and preservingly. The hypocrite will not always call upon God nor always obey Him, but only when it suits him. The true believer desires to walk humbly with his God at all times and seeks to honour God by a life of faith and obedience. It is such who are enabled, not only to begin the Christian course, but to persevere in it to the end. In the heart of true Christians there is increasing hatred to sin. They obey the injunction of God’s Word — “Ye that love the Lord, hate evil.” Ps. 97: 10. They desire to be holy as He is holy. 1 Pet. 1: 15-16. They desire to perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord. How far short they come of what they would desire to be! Yet in the strength of Divine grace they wage a ceaseless struggle against the flesh within and the world and Satan without, trusting in the Lord to give them ultimate victory over all their enemies.
Let us now apply these things to our own souls. How is it with us? Are we still like Israel, disobedient and unwilling to be taught, refusing to obey God’s commandments? Or have we begun to serve God with a willing mind and heart? Are we still rebels against the God of eternity? Or have we been so brought into loving subjection to God’s law and into opposition to all evil that we can say with the Psalmist:
“I at thy word rejoice, as one
of spoil that finds great store.
Thy law I love; but lying all
I hate and do abhor.” Psalm. 119: 162-163.