Are Your Statutes My Delight?
BRD REFLECTION 2025
Isaiah 22 and Psalm 119:17-24 (NIV)
(Stanley Loh, Small Group Ministry)
READ:
Read Isaiah 22:1 and Psalm 119:17-24 (NIV)
OBSERVE:
In Psalm 119:17-24, the psalmist asked God to be good to him while he lives, that he may obey God’s word, and see the wonderful things of God’s law. He longs for God’s law and keeps His statutes. It hints of a close and intimate relationship with God and a deep desire to be continually blessed with insights to see glorious things in God’s law.
APPLY:
Two verses in Psalm 119 had my attention.
20 My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times.
24 Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors.
Coming close to the end of my work life and gravitating toward retirement, I imagine I will soon be able to spend more time on the Word of God and actively serve in different capacities. I can begin to be like David and that my soul will always be consumed with longing for His laws and let them delight me and be my counselor. But reflecting deeper, I think this is all wrong.
My job and career is supposed to be my earthly vocation only. My primary role is to love and know God – not secondary. I should be reading and dwelling on God’s Word as much then, as I would when I retire. Secondly, God’s Word should have been my reference and counselor all along. Sadly, I have not let God be part of everything I did, every decision I made. And it was a missed opportunity spanning the past 45 years of my life as a Christian.
DO:
Commit to and be transformed by starting to spend every waking hour consumed with longing for God now, and not when I retire.
Share this perspective with others so that they may not miss this opportunity to impact their lives with a present on-going close and intimate spiritual relationship with God.
PRAY:
Dear Lord, forgive me for being stubborn and not yielding fully those many years behind me. But for whatever number of years ahead of me, let me be an instrument for You as I let You lead. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
