People get confused when they interpret the ot explanation and context
of obedience vs disobedience. Because God chose a people for Himself He
sets them apart for Himself. The purpose of God in choosing a holy
people for Himself was to place them in another kingdom with God as
their King. Not only were the people the servants of the King but the
earthly king was His servant as well. With this new citizenship comes a
totally different way of communicating.
When we examine the
context of how God determines who the disobedient are it is in the
context of speaking threats to Gods authority and towards Gods people.
The people in Gods kingdom speak peace. The peace has already been
obtained by Christ. Christ deals with threatening language threw the
curses of the law. In response to Gods curses the wicked express their
threats through cursing God. The wicked rule by controlling
people.through the threats of.guilt etc.
This is why the psalmist
complained to God that the wicked left his soul forlorn ed. The
language in Gods kingdom is very precise. The motive of the people is
exposed by how they communicate. You cannot copy this speech that God
scrutinizes. In Gods kingdom the wicked mans curse is the same thing as a
physical assault.
God loves us before we obey is the message of
grace. Gods love is an unfailing love. Gods love is explained in a
covenant motif. If God makes language equal with being compliant with
the rule of His kingdom then God who is always gracious teaches his
covenant people through reminding them of who He is. In this since our
obedience is a language of the heart.
God teaches us obedience
by proving Himself faithful. We are being changed from one image to
another. We are talking about a very different set of test to prove that
we are obedient. Even tho the Psalmist had his occupation as a king he
was detached from taking credit for the success of his kingdom. The way
that we are taught obedience is placing all of our confidence on Christ
acting on our behalf... going before us and uniting all things for His
glory. "Oh Lord the king rejoices in Your strength... how great is the joy in the victories You give. You have granted him the desire of his heart and made him glad with the joy of Your presence. How great is the joy in the victories You give. The king trust in the Lord through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken.
Your hand will subdue your enemies. Your right hand will seize your foes. At the time of Your appearance You will make them like a fiery furnace. In His wrath the Lord will swallow them up...... be exalted in Your strength Oh Lord we will sing and praise Your might. "
You
see the progression. The earthly king speaks to God as He goes out
before him in perfect action. This is not just a parallel to kings but
its a teaching on how to rest in the Lord from our own works. In this
Psalm the king speaks to the King as if the king hasnt accomplished
anything. The king detaches himself from his own goals. Instead the king
exalts God and then pronounces success upon Gods future accomplishes in
behalf of the king. This is the spirit of obedience. Its looking at the
success of the kingdom and cheering God on to accomplish future success
This is exactly what David is doing here. He is cheering God on
in leaving the judgement in Gods hands. The author is teaching that
success is seeing God as
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