AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE WILL OF GOD
PSALM 121
I WANT TO BEGIN TODAY BY SAYING THAT THIS IS A VERY DIFFICULT MESSAGE TO DELIVER TODAY. MESSAGES ON THE WILL OF GOD HAVE MANY DIFFERENT ROADS THAT THEY CAN TAKE, AND I WANT TO BE VERY CAREFUL AS TO WHICH ROADS WE GO DOWN TODAY. IT’S ALSO DIFFICULT IN THAT THE SOVEREIGN WILL OF GOD IS A WORK IN PROGRESS, AND THERE ARE SOME ASPECTS OF IT THAT WE MAY NOT KNOW RIGHT AWAY, AND MAY NOT KNOW COMPLETELY THIS SIDE OF HEAVEN.
RECENTLY OUR COMMUNITY WAS CALLED ON TO MOURN THE DEATH OF TWO CHILDREN IN A VERY TRAGIC WAY. HAD THEIR DEATHS OCCURRED IN ANY OTHER WAY IT WOULD STILL BE JUST AS TRAGIC. TRAGIC EVENTS THOUGH ARE NOT LIMITED JUST TO CAMPBELLTON. AS WE WATCH THE NEWS ON TELEVISION WE HEAR OF CAR ACCIDENTS, FIRES, CRIME, AND HEALTH CONCERNS, ALL OF WHICH TOUCH LOVED ONES AND LEAVE US ASKING THE QUESTION, WHERE IS GOD IN THE MIDST OF THIS? WHO CAN I TURN TO FOR COMFORT OF A BROKEN HEART?
WHAT I WANT TO SUGGEST TO YOU, TODAY, IS THAT WE CAN TURN TO GOD FOR COMFORT IN TIMES OF TROUBLE. IN THE SOVEREIGN WILL OF GOD WE CAN FIND THE RESOURCES TO CONTINUE ON WITH LIFE, IN THE CONFIDENCE THAT IN THE MIDST OF ANY TURMOIL, GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL OF THE SITUATION. I BELIEVE THAT ONLY AS WE SURRENDER OUR LIVES TO THE SOVEREIGN WILL OF GOD, THAT WE WILL FIND THE COMFORT THAT WE DESIRE.
BIBLICAL BACKGROUND:
LET ME BEGIN BY GIVING YOU SOME CONTEXT AND HISTORY OF THIS PASSAGE.
SAUL WAS THE FIRST KING OF ISRAEL. AT FIRST HE WAS A GOOD KING, BUT EVENTUALLY BECAUSE OF HIS PRIDE, HE OFFERED A SACRIFICE TO GOD, WHICH WAS THE JOB OF THE PRIEST. BECAUSE HE DID THIS, GOD SENT THE PROPHET SAMUEL ON A SEARCH FOR A NEW KING TO REPLACE SAUL. EVENTUALLY SAMUEL WOULD ANOINT A YOUNG MAN NAMED DAVID TO BE THE NEW KING.
SAUL WOULD NOT GIVE UP THE KINGDOM THOUGH, EVEN THOUGH HE KNEW THAT HE SHOULD. HE FELT IF HE COULD KILL DAVID THAT THE THREAT TO HIS THRONE WOULD BE ELIMINATED.
DAVID AND HIS BAND OF FOLLOWERS TOOK REFUGE IN THE HILLS WHERE DAVID PLAYED AS A BOY. THEY WERE HILLS THAT HE KNEW WELL FROM HIS TIME AS A SHEPHERD. YET FOR DAVID, THE RIGHTFUL KING OF ISRAEL, THERE WAS THE CONSTANT DANGER OF MEETING UP WITH SAUL AND HIS MEN.
BIBLICAL CONTEXT:
THERE WOULD BE TIMES THAT DAVID WOULD FEEL TIRED FROM THE CONSTANT DANGER TO HE AND HIS MEN. PSALM 121 SPEAKS OF SUCH A TIME. DAVID DIRECTS US THROUGH THIS PSALM TO THE PLACE WHERE WE CAN FIND PEACE WITH GOD, AS HE LEADS US TOWARDS THE SOVEREIGN WILL OF GOD. HE TAKES HIS EYES OFF HIS PRESENT CONDITION AND PLACES HIS FAITH IN THE SOVEREIGN PLAN OF GOD.
THE FIRST VERSE OF THIS PSALM IS DAVID’S CRY FOR HELP. IT’S WHERE SOME OF US COULD BE TODAY. DAVID LOOKED AT HIS SITUATION AND OVERCOME BY EMOTION AND TIREDNESS, MAKES A DESPERATE CRY FOR HELP. “WHERE DOES MY HELP COME FROM?”
THIS IS NOT A UNIQUE CRY FOR US AS WELL. WE HAVE ALL BEEN PLACED IN SITUATIONS WHERE WE FEEL HELPLESS, AND THE BURDEN OF THE SITUATION ON OUR HEARTS IS MORE THAN WE CAN BEAR.
THEN IN VERSE 2 HE GIVES US THE ANSWER. “MY HELP COMES FROM THE LORD”. DAVID KNEW THAT GOD HAD A SOVEREIGN PLAN OF WHICH HE WAS A PART. HE KNEW HE HAD TO TRUST IN THAT PLAN, EVEN THOUGH HE DID NOT KNOW WHERE THAT PLAN WOULD LEAD AND THAT IF HE DID, GOD WOULD SAFELY LEAD HIM THROUGH THE TRIAL HE WAS FACING.
DAVID USES MANY MILITARY TERMS IN THIS PSALM. HE REFERS TO GOD AS STANDING ON WATCH IN VERSES 3 AND 4. THE GUARD OF THE CAMP COULD NOT GO TO SLEEP AS IT WAS HIS JOB TO WARN THE OTHERS IN THE CAMP OF AN ADVANCING ENEMY. HE COULD NOT SLEEP, SO THAT THE OTHERS IN THE CAMP COULD.
THIS IS A PSLAM OF PROTECTION. IN VERSES 5 AND 6 HE REFERS TO THE LORD AS SHADE TO PROTECT YOU FROM THE SUN DURING THE DAY, NOR THE MOON AT NIGHT. THEN, IN VERSES 7 AND 8 HE RE-AFFIRMS HIS LOVING PROTECTION AS HE PROMISES TO WATCH OUR COMING AND GOING FOREVER.
THIS PSALM IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF DEPENDANCY THE SOVEREIGN WILL OF GOD. I WANT TO TAKE THE REST OF MY TIME TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE WILL OF GOD AND SHOW YOU THAT AS WE DEPEND ON THE SOVEREIGN WILL OF GOD, THAT IT CAN CREATE FOR US A BASIS TO FIND PEACE AND COMFORT IN THE TRAGIC SITUATIONS THAT WE FACE.
POINT ONE: WHAT IS THE WILL OF GOD?
WHEN DISCUSSING THE WILL OF GOD LET ME START BY STATING THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE WILL OF GOD:
1. THE SOVEREIGN WILL OF GOD
2. THE PERMISSIVE WILL OF GOD
WHAT IS THE SOVEREIGN WILL OF GOD?
THE SOVEREIGN WILL OF GOD, IN IT’S MOST BASIC FORM, IS GOD’S PLAN FOR THE WORLD. IT IS HIS PLAN FROM THE TIME OF CREATION THROUGH TO OUR ETERNAL HOME IN HEAVEN.
GOD’S SOVEREIGN WILL RESTS COMPLETELY WITH HIM AND WE HAVE NO INFLUENCE ON IT.
HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF THE SOVEREIGN WILL OF GOD.
1. CREATION: CREATION WAS PART OF THE SOVEREIGN WILL OF GOD. HE CHOSE THE ORDER OF CREATION AND THE REASON FOR CREATION. HE CHOSE TO CREATE BECAUSE HE WANTED AN ETERNAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HUMANITY AND ALL OF CREATION WAS DESIGNED WITH THAT IN MIND. NOTHING IS GOING TO CHANGE THIS PLAN OF GOD.
Psalm 19:1-3:
“1 ¶ For the director of music. A psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. 3 There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.
2. ETERNAL LIFE: THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE SOVEREIGN PLAN OF GOD. WHEN HUMANITY WAS CREATED, WE WERE CREATED TO HAVE CONTINUOUS FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD. THERE WAS NOTHING BLOCKING OUR FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM, AND SINCE DEATH WAS NOT A PART OF CREATION, THERE IS NO REASON NOT TO BELIEVE IN ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT WE WOULD BE FOREVER IN FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD.
WHILE OUR FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD CHANGED AT THE TIME OF THE FALL, GOD’S PLAN THAT WE WOULD LIVE FOREVER DID NOT. AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THE FALL, WE WERE INTRODUCED TO PHYSICAL DEATH. WE WERE NOT HOWEVER INTRODUCED TO THE CESSATION OF LIFE. WHAT THIS MEANS IS THAT THERE IS LIFE AFTER DEATH, ACCORDING TO THE PLAN OF GOD.
JOHN 10:10: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
2 PETER 3:9: “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
THE ONLY DEATH THAT YOU AND I WILL FACE, IS PHYSICAL DEATH. WHEN WE ARE RESURRECTED, AND WE SHALL ALL BE RESURRECTED, THOSE WHO HAVE ACCEPTED THE PLAN OF SALVATION, WILL LIVE FOR ETERNITY IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD. THOSE WHO HAVE NOT ACCEPTED CHRIST AS PERSONAL SAVIOR, WILL LIVE FOREVER IN A PLACE CALLED HELL.
GOD’S SOVEREIGN PLAN FROM THE TIME OF CREATION WAS THAT WE SHOULD LIVE IN FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM. THE PLAN OF SALVATION SHOWS US THAT THIS HAS NOT CHANGED, ALTHOUGH AS PART OF HIS PERMISSIBLE WILL HE ALLOWS US THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHOSE TO LIVE WITH HIM IN HEAVEN FOR ETERNITY OR IN HELL, WE SHALL LIVE FOREVER IN ONE OF THESE TWO PLACES.
HERE WHAT PAUL SAID CONCERNING THIS:
EPHESIANS 1:3-8:
“3 ¶ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.”
2 TIMOTHY 1:8-9:
“But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us to a holy life— not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,”
THERE ARE OTHER EXAMPLES THAT I COULD SHARE WITH YOU, BUT I BELIEVE THESE GET ACROSS THE POINT THAT, THE SOVEREIGN WILL OF GOD’S IS HIS ALONE. IT CANNOT BE CHANGED, NOT CAN IT BE MANIPULATED BY HUMANITY AT ANY TIME. IT IS HIS ETERNAL PLAN.
WHAT IS GOD’S PERMISSIVE WILL?
UNLIKE GOD’S SOVEREIGN WILL, GOD’S PERMISSIVE WILL ALLOWS FOR HUMAN INPUT IN IT’S DETERMINATION. JUST AS PARENTS MAY ALLOW THEIR CHILDREN THE RIGHT TO FAIL OR SUCCEED AT SOMETHING BASED ON THEIR EFFORTS, IN HIS PERMISSIVE WILL SO TOO DOES GOD. WE ALSO FACE THE CONSEQUENCES OF OUR DECISIONS.
GOD’S PERMISSIVE WILL IS DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND, AND MAY OR MAY NOT BE REVEALED TO US. IT IS CENTERED AROUND OUR DAILY LIVES.
1. A CONFUSING THING ABOUT THE PERMISSIVE WILL OF GOD IS THAT IT WILL AFFECT BOTH CHRISTIANS AND NON-CHRISTIANS. CHRISTIANS MAY BE ABLE TO DISSCERN THE PERMISSIVE WILL OF GOD, HOWEVER NON-CHRISTIANS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DO SO.
THROUGHOUT OUR LIVES CHRISTIANS CAN LEARN TO RECOGNIZE HOW GOD SPEAKS TO US. GOD CAN ALSO LEAD US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD. HE TEACHES US WHAT IS RIGHT AND WHAT IS WRONG. THE THING IS WE MUST MAKE A DECISION TO FOLLOW WHAT HE TELLS US, EVEN IF WE FEEL WE ARE BEING CALLED TO DO EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT WE WANT TO DO. IF WE CHOOSE NOT TO FOLLOW GOD, AND TO GO OUR OWN WAY, HE WILL ALLOW IT, EVEN THOUGH IT IS NOT WHAT HE HAS PLANNED FOR YOU, AND YOU MAY MISS A NUMBER OF BLESSINGS AS A RESULT.
2. ANOTHER THING THAT MAKES THE PERMISSIVE WILL OF GOD DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT WE MAKE THE MISTAKE TO THINKING THAT BECAUSE GOD ALLOWS SOMETHING TO HAPPEN, THAT IT IS HIS WILL THAT IT SHOULD HAPPEN. GOD’S WILL AND WHAT HE ALLOWS TO HAPPEN COULD BE TOTALLY OPPOSITE IN MANY CASES.
HOW CAN THIS BE? BECAUSE AS HUMANS WE WERE CREATED WITH A FREE-WILL. WITH THIS FREE-WILL COMES THE FACT THAT WE MUST MAKE A CHOICE TO FOLLOW THE PATH THAT GOD HAS LAID OUT FOR US, OR TO FOLLOW OUR SINFUL NATURE. GOD PERMITS THE CHOICE TO BE MADE BY US, BUT ALONG WITH THE CHOICE GOES THE CONSEQUENCES.
WHERE DOES DEATH BELONG?
IF LIFE IS A PART OF GOD’S SOEVEREIGN PLAN AND WILL FOR US, THEN PHYSICAL DEATH MUST FALL UNDER GOD’S PERMISSIVE WILL. THIS MEANS THAT WHILE GOD MAY ALLOW DEATH TO OCCUR, IT IS CERTAINLY NOT IN HIS SOVEREIGN WILL OR PLAN.
GOD CREATED OUR BODIES TO BE INFINITE, BUT WHEN MAN FELL DEATH BECAME PART OF OUR LIVES AS PART OF THE PENALTY FOR THE FALL IN GENESIS CHAPTER 3.
GENESIS 3:19: “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return."”
THE APOSTLE PAUL SHOWS THE SEPARATION OF LIFE AS PART OF GOD’S SOVEREIGN PLAN, AND DEATH BECAUSE OF THE CHOICE OF MAN IN HIS TEACHING TO THE CORINTHIAN CHURCH. HE WRITES:
1 CORINTHIANS 15:21-22:
“21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.”
DEATH HAS BEEN A PART OF OUR LIVES THEN SINCE THE FALL. IT CAN COME IN MANY FORMS: OLD AGE
VOLUNTARY HEALTH ISSUES
VIOLENT CRIME
TRAGIC ACCIDENTS
DOES GOD WANT DEATH TO OCCUR? THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION IS NO! JESUS SAID:
JOHN 10:10: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
BECAUSE OF SIN IN THE WORLD OUR BODIES ARE FINITE, AND IF PUSHED OVER THE NATURAL LIMITS OF OUR ENDURANCE DEATH CAN OCCUR. AS A RESULT OF LIVING IN A SINFUL WORLD GOOD PEOPLE CAN BE THE INNOCENT VICTIMS OF CRIME. DOES GOD WANT THIS TO HAPPEN? IS IT PART OF HIS OVERALL PLAN? CERTAINLY NOT!
HOW DOES THIS HELP US IN DEALING WITH THE DEATH?
HOW CAN KNOWING WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE WILL OF GOD HELP US TO EVENTUALLY FIND PEACE WHEN DEALING WITH TRAGIC DEATH? IT HELPS US BECAUSE IT CAN HELP US FOCUS ON WHAT WE NEED TO CONCENTRATE ON.
WE ARE OFFERED TWO WAYS TO DEAL WITH LOSS. WE WILL DEAL WITH IT EITHER BY FOCUSING ON THE SOVEREIGN WILL OF GOD, OR WE WILL WILL DEAL WITH IT BY FOCUSING ON GOD’S PERMISSIVE WILL. THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO ARE GREAT.
THE SOVEREIGN WILL OF GOD IS A CONSISTENT FOUNDATION TO BUILD ON. IT ALLOWS US TO FOCUS ON LIFE, HOPE, AND MERCY. IT ALLOWS US TO REALIZE THAT A LOVED ONE IS PRESENT WITH THE LORD AND WILL BE WITH GOD FOREVER, AND ENJOY HIS BLESSINGS.
THE SOVEREIGN WILL OF GOD ALSO CONTAINS GREAT SECURITY. GOD’S PLAN HAS BEEN MADE. THERE WILL BE NO CHANGES. WHAT WAS TRUE IN GENESIS WILL ALSO BE TRUE IN REVELATION. IT IS A SECURITY THAT ALLOWS US PEACE AND COMFORT. THE BIBLE CLEARLY POINTS OUT THAT FOR THE CHRISTIAN, WHEN WE DIE, WE GO IMMEDIATELY INTO THE PRESENCE OF THE LOVING HEAVENLY FATHER.
LISTEN, WHEN I GO ON A TRIP TO A PLACE I’M NOT FAMILIAR WITH, I GET A MAP. I STUDY THAT MAP AND MAKE A ROUTE TO FOLLOW. WHEN I GET INTO THE CAR AND START, BECAUSE I HAVE STUDIED AND MADE AN OVERALL OR SOVEREIGN PLAN, I HAVE GREAT PEACE OF MIND AND COMFORT. I KNOW HOW TO REACH MY DESTINATION AND MY EYES ARE FIXED ON MY DESTINATION. I AM NOT GOING TO BE SWAYED FROM THE PLAN. I WILL FOLLOW THE ROUTE THAT WAS PLANNED, AND I HAVE COMPLETE ASSURANCE THAT I WILL SAFELY REACH MY DESTINATION.
THE PERMISSIVE WILL OF GOD IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. THERE IS NO CONSISTENT FOUNDATION BECAUSE AT SOME POINT IN THE JOURNEY WE MAY CHOOSE NOT TO FOLLOW THE WAY GOD WANTS US TO. THERE IS NO SECURITY AND THE PEACE THAT COMES FROM HAVING THAT SECURITY, AS CHANGES ARE MADE BECAUSE WE DON’T HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION.
WHAT OFTEN HAPPENS IS THAT WE TRY TO DEAL WITH TRAGEDY BY FOCUSING ON THE PERMISSIVE WILL OF GOD, RATHER THAN HIS SOVEREIGN WILL. WHEN WE DO THIS WE GET CAUGHT UP IN THE EMOTION THAT THE TRAGEDY BRINGS. WE PLAY THE BLAME GAME, EITHER ON OURSELVES OR SOMEONE ELSE. WE ALLOW OURSELVES TO BE CAUGHT UP IN THE EXCITEMENT AND PUBLICITY THAT SURROUNDS THE TRAGEDY, AND SO WE COME TO WRONG CONCLUSIONS. IT IS AN EASY TRAP TO FALL INTO, ONE THAT SATAN IS EXPERT IN PREPARING.
I BELIEVE THAT TO MOVE ON FROM ANY DEATH, WE MUST START WITH THE SOVEREIGN WILL OF GOD, AND THEN MOVE TO HIS PERMISSIVE WILL. THIS ALLOWS US A SOLID FOUNDATION OF FAITH TO MOVE FOREWARD. WE ARE SAYING THAT ALTHOUGH WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING THAT HAS HAPPENED, WE DO KNOW THAT GOD IS IN CONTROL, AND THAT WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT, HE MAY ALLOW US TO UNDERSTAND SOME OF HIS PERMISSIVE WILL, ABOUT THE SPECIFIC INCIDENT.
WHEN IT COMES TO CONTINUING OUR LIVES AFTER THE DEATHS OF CONNOR AND NOAH, I THINK WE NEED TO FOCUS, AT THIS PRESENT TIME ON THE SOVEREIGN WILL OF OUR LORD. IT IS IN GOD’S SOVEREIGN PLAN THAT WE CAN FIND IMMEDIATE ANSWERS TO THE TRULY IMPORTANT QUESTIONS WE FACE.
WE KNOW THAT GOD HAS WELCOMED THEM SAFELY INTO HIS PRESENCE, AND THAT PART OF THE BLESSING OF HAVING A RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS AS LORD AND SAVIOR IS THAT THERE WILL BE A REUNION WITH THE BOYS AGAIN IN HEAVEN WHERE THERE WILL BE NO FURTHER SEPARATION OR HEARTACHE SUCH AS IS FELT NOW.
WE MAY FOCUS ON THE PERMISSIVE WILL OF GOD TO HELP DEAL WITH THIS TRAGEDY AND MOVE ON, BUT ONLY THROUGH THE COURSE OF TIME SHOULD THIS OCCUR.
RIGHT NOW, WE DO NOT HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION WE NEED, TO BE ABLE TO DISCERN WHY THIS HAPPENED. WE HAVE THE INFORMATION THAT IS BEING RELEASED TO US BY AUTHORITIES. WE HAVE THE INFORMATION THAT COMES TO US FROM NEWS PROGRAMS, NEWSPAPERS, AND THE INTERNET, BUT WE MUST REMEMBER THAT THIS INFORMATION IS ALSO BASED ON OPINION AND IS SUBJECT TO EDITING BY THE NEWS AGENCIES, BECAUSE OF TIME, AND THE SLANT THEY ARE TRYING TO PRESENT CONCERNING THEIR STORY. THERE ARE STILL MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS, AS TO HOW IT HAPPENED, AND THE ISSUES OF RESPONSIBILITY.
CONCLUSION:
WHEN DAVID WROTE PSALM 121 HE WAS FOCUSING ON THE SOVEREIGN WILL OF GOD. HE WAS NOT ASKING WHY THIS WAS HAPPENING TO HE AND HIS MEN. HE WAS DEPENDING ON GOD’S SOVEREIGN WILL, THAT NO MATTER WHAT HE WAS FACING THAT GOD, AND NOT DAVID, WAS IN CONTROL.
AS WE DWELL IN THE SOVEREIGN WILL OF GOD WE WILL FIND THE PEACE AND COMFORT THAT WE SEEK. GOD HAS HAD A PLAN FOR THIS WORLD THAT HE ESTABLISHED BEFORE TIME BEGAN. HIS SOVEREIGN PLAN IS TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS PEOPLE THAT WILL LAST FOREVER. THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO DWELL ON TODAY.
PSALM 19: 7-10:
“7 ¶ The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. 9 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous. 10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.”
