"O how I love Your law!"

The psalmist wrote, "O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day." (Ps. 119:97) He goes on to say the law of God had given him wisdom, insight, and understanding. He abstained from evil and practiced the ordinances of God. He concluded this section by saying, "From your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way." (Ps. 119:104)

Notice the contrast. He loved God's law and hated every false way. Because he understood God's precepts, he hated everything opposed to and out of harmony with them. Why? For the same reason we might. Sin separates man from God and ends in eternal death (Is. 59:2; Rom. 6:23; James 1:15). Teaching something other than God's truth causes one to be accursed (Gal. 1:8-9). Understanding these things should cause us to "hate every false way" as well.

Do we love God's truth and hate every false way? We might all say we love the truth. But would we use language as strong as David, that we hate that which is false?

Are we set for the defense of the gospel, rising up when it comes under attack (Phil. 1:16,17)? Will we stand up for the truth, even when we have to stand alone (2 Tim. 4:16)? Will we confront the preacher who is influencing others toward sin (Gal. 2:11-14)? Will we resist the lead of the elders who are leading us away from Christ (Acts 20:29-30)? Are we willing to forsake family and friends in order to remain true to the Lord (Mt. 10:34-37)?

If not, can we say we hate every false way like David did? If we don't have that attitude that David expressed, perhaps we don't love God's law as much as we think we do.

Let's each examine ourselves in light of God's word.