The Path of Love

 Ps 119:33  Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes, And I shall keep it to the end.

As I read this portion of Scripture I found myself wondering why are statutes plural and “way” singular? Why didn’t the Psalmist say I shall keep “them” (the statutes) to the end instead of I shall keep it? Same thing in verse 35 concerning the commandments!

 

The answer is fairly simple. The “way” or “path” of the Lord is love! The statutes and commandments are guidelines to keep us on the path of love!

 

In Mt 22:37 Jesus said to him," 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'

 38 "This is the first and great commandment. 39 "And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 "On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."

 

Jesus narrowed the ten commandments from 10 to 2, and the two can be summed up in one word….love!

1Co 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

 

Obedience without love is ice cold pharisaical legalism and it profits nothing. No wonder the Psalmist  asks the Lord to keep him on the path of love!

 

Similarly, love without commandments is no holds barred hedonism.

 

Do you want to know how you are doing concerning the way of love? Look in the mirror of God’s Word. Jesus said  “if you love Me keep My commands.”(Jn 14:15)

 

The commandments are a measuring stick of your love of God and love of man. They show us how to demonstrate love to both.;