The Duty of Every Christian - Psalm 119:4

You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed – Psalm 119:4 NIV

You have laid down – The phrase “laid down” is used in the NASB as “ordained.” The idea is “to command.” God has given charge or commanded that His Word be obeyed. Obeying God’s Word is not an option. All people will be judged on the basis on how well they kept His Word. Here is what Jesus said: 47"As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. 48There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day (John 12:47-48 NIV).

God did not place us on the earth to merely live the way we want. We are tenants who are obligated to obey the owner. But we would not know what is in the mind of the Owner if He did not reveal His heart to us. This is why God has put together His Word using human agents as His tools. God’s Word reveals the essence of His will.

Precepts – this is just another way of saying a “command,” or a “rule given by another.” Notice again how this word is in the plural, meaning more than just one command. You see, here is the bottom line -- God is the sovereign King and Judge of the universe. There is no one else like Him. As a king and judge, He orchestrates how He wants His subjects to live and behave. He sets the rules.

Like if you owned your own business, you set the rules on how people ought to work and behave. In your own home, you also set the rules. It is no different with God. We are “tenants” living on His property. He sets the rules and we are obligated to obey.

Fully – also translated “greatly” or “exceedingly.” Two ideas are to be kept in mind. First, we are to obey God’s Word with all of our heart. God does not want half-hearted obedience. Second, we are to obey God’s Word at all cost. We are to go out of our way to obey the Lord. The cost of obedience may be great. It may require a lot from us. But the cost of not obeying God would be even greater.

Obeyed – The NASB uses the word “keep,” which means “to guard,” “to watch,” or “to treasure.” If something is kept, it is not therefore discarded. Therefore, to keep something one does so with the intention of using it. This is the idea of obeying God’s Word. We are not to simply read it and then jettison its application from our lives. Rather, we read it and keep it close to your heart with the intention of applying it. God’s Word does no one any good unless it is obeyed.

Socrates taught for 40 years, Plato for 50, Aristotle for 40, and Jesus for only 3. Yet the influence of Christ’s 3-year ministry infinitely transcends the impact left by the combined 130 years of teaching from these men who were among the greatest philosophers of all antiquity. Jesus painted no pictures; yet, some of the finest paintings of Raphael, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci received their inspiration from Him. Jesus wrote no poetry; but Dante, Milton, and scores of the world’s greatest poets were inspired by Him. Jesus composed no music; still Haydn, Handel, Beethoven, Bach, and Mendelssohn reached their highest perfection of melody in the hymns, symphonies, and oratories they composed in His praise. Every sphere of human greatness has been enriched by this humble Carpenter of Nazareth. Our lives can also be greatly blessed by the keeping of God’s Word.

Summary: God’s Word has been given to us as a standard for us to obey fully. The blessed life is an obedient life.