God's Commandments Aren't a Burden

9/20/2005

Does it sound like David thought God’s commandments were hard and a heavy burden? What were they to David? If they weren’t a burden to him to obey, how did David view the commandments of God?

A joy?

A joy? Why? How could commandments to obey things be a joy?

Because he knew that they were Life?

Because He knew that God has a reason for His commandments, and when you explore God’s commandments and obey God’s commandments you find the thing that God meant for us to find, which is a treasure of life and freedom and joy and peace in the inner heart. The commands of God are not a burden; they are a treasure map. That’s what David was saying. The commands of God are a treasure map.

And when you fight against God’s commands: disobey, have attitudes, and do the things that God doesn’t want you to do, what are you doing? What are you really doing?

You make God sad. That’s true. But what else are you doing? You are tearing up the treasure map! That’s dumb! That’s what David was saying all the way through. He was saying, “Your truth, Your commandments, all Your rules that you have for us, all the ways that you want us to obey You are a treasure map to Joy and Freedom, and all the Peace and excitement and the destiny of Life that You have for us.” And when you disobey, you are tearing up the treasure map, and you are going to wander around in the dark. His commandments aren’t a burden; they’re a treasure map!