Psalm 119 is the longest chapter of the Bible, and is constructed as an acrostic poem using the Hebrew alphabet. The author repeatedly expresses his dependence on and love for God’s commands. In fact, God’s commands, decrees, laws and other synonyms are mentioned in almost every verse of the psalm.
Verses 44 and 45 are especially interesting. In the midst of talking about God’s laws and commands, the psalmist says, “I will walk at liberty.” Isn’t that a contradiction? Aren’t laws and commands meant to limit us? How can the psalmist say that obeying the law leads to liberty?
This is a common objection people have to Christianity. They think Christianity is essentially about following rules, and they’re not willing to give up their “freedom.” The Bible has so much more to say about freedom and bondage. We have to understand that sin is not simply what we do, say, or think. The Bible describes sin as something we obey like a master.
Romans 6:16 says, “ Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?“
And Jesus said in John 8:34, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.”
We all serve something – either sin, our flesh, our idols, or the Lord.
Does Christianity have something different to offer?
In his letter to the Galatians, Paul explains that Jesus Christ has set us free from the law. He encourages us to instead walk by the Spirit, because Galatians 5:18 says, “But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.”
He goes on to describe the fruit of the spirit –” love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance:” and he concludes that by saying, “against such there is no law.”
And if you go back to verses 13 and 14, Paul explains that the greatest aim of our freedom is love and service:
“For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”
My desire for each of us is that we’d be free. That we’d enjoy the freedom Christ has purchased for us. The freedom we’re ultimately looking for is in a life submitted to God, walking by His Spirit. That’s what the psalmist understood – the Lord’s ways lead to life.2 Corinthians 3:17 - “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”
