Longing for the Law

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Moses mosaic on display at the Cathedral Basil...Image via Wikipedia
The LORD is well pleased for His righteousness’ sake; He will exalt the law and make it honorable
(Isa. 42:21).




One of God’s chief concerns in the deliverance of His people from Babylon was the re-establishment of His law in the nation. He made this point in verse 21, when Isaiah said, “The LORD is well pleased for His righteousness’ sake; He will exalt the law and make it honorable.” Until that time, the law of God had been mostly forgotten or forsaken. Isaiah said, “For they would not walk in His ways, nor were they obedient to His law.” The prophet was speaking not only of Nebuchadnezzar but of his own people, those who would suffer under war and famine because they had forsaken the Lord’s ways. From this we can assume that God will punish not only His own for failing to follow His law, but pagan nations as well. His righteous standards are for all men because all people are made in the image of God and are to live according to His holiness.
We see the centrality and importance of God’s law in the book of Nehemiah, where we see a partial fulfillment of these words. Nehemiah and Ezra were instrumental in re-establishing Jerusalem and rebuilding the Jewish nation after the Babylonian captivity. Central to this rebuilding was the bringing back of the law. When Ezra brought out the Law of Moses to be read to all who could understand, the people listened attentively, for it was li
Moses Breaks the Tables of the Law (Ex. 32:19)Image via Wikipediake water on their parched tongues. As Ezra read, the people cried out “Amen, Amen!” and lifted their hands in praise. Then they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. To hear God’s law after living under the rule of men for so long was an awesome thing. The text in Nehemiah says “all the people wept, when they heard the words of me Law.”
The majesty of God’s law has been greatly lost to many Christians today. It probably will continue to be ignored and forsaken until a day comes when it is completely gone from our nation and we are forced to live by the capricious laws of men or by the tyranny of a dictator. We are already seeing something of this today, where the rule of law is supplanted by the whims of men. Only after living under such tyranny will we see the life, the glory, the majesty, and the goodness of God’s law. Only after living without its justice will we realize how much we need it to have freedom and peace. Then, with tears in our eyes, we will listen to the law again and love it.


Spend some time going through Psalm 119. Reacquaint yourself with the majesty of God’s law. By reading of David’s love for God’s righteousness, enliven your own love. If you have grown dull toward God’s law, spend some time every day meditating on it. Pray that your nation will honor God’s law instead of the tyranny of men.


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