Following the ancient ways

 Psalm 119:49–56(ESV): 

Zayin

 49  Remember your word to your servant, 

in which you have made me hope. 

 50  This is my comfort in my affliction, 

that your promise gives me life. 

 51  The insolent utterly deride me, 

but I do not turn away from your law. 

 52  When I think of your rules from of old, 

I take comfort, O Lord. 

 53  Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked, 

who forsake your law. 

 54  Your statutes have been my songs 

in the house of my sojourning. 

 55  I remember your name in the night, O Lord, 

and keep your law. 

 56  This blessing has fallen to me, 

that I have kept your precepts. 

God’s Word contains ancient assurances that have stood the test of time, giving security and something dependable to trust in. No other rules or laws are that reliable. Acts are rewritten and updated, laws contested and changed throughout the world and throughout the ages. Yet there is one set of statutes that you can live by that have never been adjusted and that will never be changed. The Law of God has never altered. His commandments about loving Him and loving others, that Jesus also taught, finds it’s source in the Old Testament which was written thousands of years ago, and has never been updated or changed. You can still live by this guidance, it has been tried and tested through thousands of generations, all across the world. The wisest man that ever lived, Solomon recommended it, and no other regulations or rules can lead to life like it does. The Law of God has been followed across nations, cultures and generations, and has been shown to bring life, peace, comfort and strength to those who follow it. What other law does that?! 

How aggravating when people come against it, using persuasive words and delicious temptations to defile and devalue the Word of God (v53). They abandon God’s rules and forget the songs, and how inviting it can seem for you to do the same. To choose a different path of life, different songs to sing, different ‘new’ rules to follow. Yet, can these new influences and desires really bring comfort, strength, or joy? Is it not the ‘rules from of old’ that bring consistent comfort, security, hope and joy? The ancient way that has been tested through the generations, through thousands of years that has led to providing a hope and future for nations and millions of people, surely it makes sense to follow that way rather than anything temporal and untested?

Instead of being tempted to follow the ways of others, of bending with cultural norms, remember God’s Word. Do not allow the persuasive or inviting ways of others sway you, but stand firm with the Word of God that has remained steadfast since the beginning of time. Read, listen to and apply Scripture to your life as it has been giving people freedom and life from ancient days, and it can do the same for you. No other way will provide peace, comfort or joy like God’s Word does.

Psalm 119:56-64 (ESV): 

Heth

 57  The Lord is my portion; 

I promise to keep your words. 

 58  I entreat your favour with all my heart; 

be gracious to me according to your promise. 

 59  When I think on my ways, 

I turn my feet to your testimonies; 

 60  I hasten and do not delay 

to keep your commandments. 

 61  Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me, 

I do not forget your law. 

 62  At midnight I rise to praise you, 

because of your righteous rules. 

 63  I am a companion of all who fear you, 

of those who keep your precepts. 

 64  The earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast love; 

teach me your statutes! 

How committed are you to keeping God’s Word? Do you ‘think on my ways’, to ensure that you are heading in the right direction? This writer takes time to reflect on their behaviour and choices, and is honest enough to admit that they ‘turn my feet to your testimonies’. It is good to consider the direction you are going in often. Then it is as easy as changing the angle of your feet to re-align with God’s ways. Slightly adjusting your path to ensure that you don’t wander off-track and become far from God is easier than carrying on, and finding yourself lost with a lot of ground to cover. 

God’s Word is a marvellous guide, are you making sure you follow it, adjusting your direction as you go? Why not take a few moments to think upon your ways (v59). Consider - are your thoughts and your feet aligned to the path God wants you to tread? It is easy to get lost or take a wrong turn when you are not checking the directions, so grab hold of the Word of God and ask the Lord to lead you.

Do you judge fairly?

 Psalm 82:1–8 (ESV):  

1  God has taken his place in the divine council; 

in the midst of the gods he holds judgment: 

 2  “How long will you judge unjustly 

and show partiality to the wicked? Selah 

 3  Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; 

maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. 

 4  Rescue the weak and the needy; 

deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” 

 5  They have neither knowledge nor understanding, 

they walk about in darkness; 

all the foundations of the earth are shaken. 

 6  I said, “You are gods, 

sons of the Most High, all of you; 

 7  nevertheless, like men you shall die, 

and fall like any prince.” 

 8  Arise, O God, judge the earth; 

for you shall inherit all the nations! 

This psalm is a great reminder of the responsibility we have to one another. God has created and equipped each of us to bear responsibility on Earth for justice. He has delegated us authority in whatever areas we have jurisdiction, whether that be; in the family, at work, in the community or even as a judge/leader in some capacity. Yet God is in supreme authority over all things to ensure justice is done on an overall and eternal level (v1). 

There are several things you need to know about justice that Psalm 82 reveals:

1) It is a delegated authority that you have from God to ensure justice is done for all people. 

How are you using that God-given authority and conscience to ensure you ‘give justice to the weak…..maintain the right of the afflicted’? 

2) You are expected to treat everyone fairly (v3-4). 

Do not discount people because they are different to you, or others speak negatively of them. Give everyone a fair chance. Society talks about equality - it is not a new idea - God has instructed us to do this in His word! Have consideration for those who may not present themselves as well as others, be mindful and ask God for discernment as you encounter others in your daily life. If you are kind and fair to everyone, then you are displaying the love and kindness of God.

3) ‘you are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you’. You are made in God’s image, under His authority, therefore you are expected to demonstrate justice as He does. 

 It is His instruction, and He has entrusted and equipped each of you to rule, govern, guide, discipline and instruct others in His ways. Humanity is uniquely created to reflect God, His will and His ways, we are all ‘gods, sons of the Most High’. Therefore it is your duty to display God’s character. You are God’s child and you have been created and empowered to do what is right and fair for all people. Therefore be mindful of how you treat and speak about others - they too are created in God’s image, they also are His children, and you are expected to help and support those that need it by exercising your God-given authority to be a fair administrator of justice.

4) At the end of days God will ‘judge the earth’, including you. 

All things on Earth will come under God’s scrutiny as He assesses whether they lived up to His expectations. This includes you as an individual. How will He find you have been living your life? Have you been abiding by His laws and expectations, being fair and just? On that day, God will consider how you have followed Him, and treated people. If that day were today, what would you change? If there is something that you know you would do different, then start doing it. You do not know when this day will come, so live today determined to honour God and bring justice to those around you, one day it will be too late to live different and you will face God and Hid judgement.

connected community

My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. 

James 5:19–20 (ESV)

These final verses from James’s letter may seem an odd way to end, but James is clearly reinforcing the need for considerate, accountable relationships amongst believers. The exhortation here is that you should look out for other believers, noticing if something is awry in another's life and then go after them. This can only happen if you have a genuine love and concern for other believers that is intentional, deep and life-changing. Otherwise in an effort to correct and guide someone to the correct path, you could  misunderstand them, cause pain and push them farther away from God and His community. 

It is quite refreshing to read the eternal truth that we are built for connection in a community that loves, cares for and challenges each other. It is quite pertinent in today’s society that we are able to understand that James is commending close, connected and accountable community. The world we live in is quite different, it commends an overwhelming view of tolerance and an 'anything goes' attitude, where everything and everyone has to be accepted and tolerated no matter what. So James encouragement to challenge someone we see someone moving away from God and living a life that is not Biblical is quite cross-cultural. 

To challenge believers when they are following society instead of the word of God will be seen by non-believers as controlling and restrictive. In our current culture, people are allowed to do whatever they like whenever they like, be whoever they want to be, and no-one is permitted to question it. Most of us grown up believing the same, and support equity and equality, tolerance and acceptance. These are good things, but in an effort to support and commend these attributes society has lost the ability to really; understand, challenge, care for, love and support one another, as questioning or challenging someone's ideas, lifestyle and beliefs and behaviour has become taboo. James is confronting this worldly view by saying that we should go after those that wander off ‘from the truth’. How refreshing! 

If you see a fellow believer get caught up in wrong thinking, sinful behaviour, an altered attitude, swamped by society's influence, then the charge is to bring them back! Show that your love for that person and the church is genuine. Do not let your fellow brothers and sisters go down the path that leads to destruction without a fight. Instead, show that you notice, that you care and that you can help them by reminding them of the truth. The reality is, in a society that does not challenge, question, or seek to understand, people do not feel loved, noticed or cared for. They feel lonely, unnoticed and outsiders. Do not let that happen in your community of believers. The reality is that accepting and tolerating all things is not progressive, it is negligent. Having the awkward conversations, being upfront and honest and leading people to the truth that is The Word of God can be difficult, but it can radically transform someone's life for the better. As you may well have the opportunity to lead someone to repentance and forgiveness because you have demonstrated love and kindness through discipline, guidance and understanding, through being brave, noticing and caring enough to do something about it and challenge them. 

If you are part of a church, you should notice and care enough about the individuals to notice when they are not ok and in danger of wandering off. You are part of the kingdom of God and in God’s kingdom there is a Father that cares about each individual - He will leave the 99 to look for and rescue the 1, and He invites you to do the same. You have a duty to chase after others when you see them going off track and heading away from God. It may feel awkward, cross-cultural and you may offend, but you may also,  ‘save his soul from death’, regret, disgrace and sin, Isn’t it worth the awkwardness and being uncomfortable if you can save your brother or sister from that great peril?