Psalm 105 explains why God blesses us so much. He desires to show us His love. In response to which we should obey Him. Psalm 106 picks up that theme but adds the fact that living in obedience to God’s loving directions is the happiest way to live. The more we love God, the more we should obey Him. The more we obey Him, the deeper the joy of life. The first three verses puts that thought this way: “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Who can list the glorious miracles of the LORD? Who can ever praise him enough? There is joy for those who deal justly with others and always do what is right.”
It’s not always easy to do what is right. Obedience is often extremely difficult. My Doctor tells me that if I follow the regimen of regular exercise, I will achieve the desired results of weight loss and physical fitness. Well, I’ve tried it; and like so many of you, I had no immediate experience of these promised benefits. In fact, over the first few weeks I felt very weak and tired. The secret is perseverance. Over the long haul, exercise does produce better physical conditioning. The same principle applies to obedience. It is not always comfortable, but over the long haul, it has good results.
Notice again that obedience flows from God’s love. The Hebrew word for “faithful love” above is Hesed. It’s not just an emotion but a commitment. That’s why its frequently connected with endurance. “His faithful love endures forever.” Feelings might change, but “faithful love” doesn’t change. A guy was discussing the fragility of many marriages with his girlfriend and posed the following question, “What if you wake up one morning and don’t love me anymore?” She immediately responded, “There’s always obedience.”
Chuck
“Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds.” (Psalm 105:1-2)