Tuesday: Law in Our Hearts
Daily Lesson for Tuesday 20th of May 2025
The remnant gathered on Zion have a name engraved on their foreheads: the name of the Father and the Lamb. (Whether this is two different names is doubtful; Jesus is the very image of the Father!) A “name” in the Scriptures signifies more than a label by which people address each other; it stands for character. To this day, many cultures still say that someone has a “good name” when people think highly of their character.
Read Exodus 33:18-23, Exodus 34:1-7, and Psalms 119:55. When Moses asked to see God’s glory, what did God promise to show him? Then when God proclaimed His name to Moses (Exodus 34:5), what followed?
Image © Steve Creitz at Goodsalt.com
Some picture God’s glory as an unapproachable, brilliant light, which is certainly an apt description. But God’s glory is more than simply a visual display; His glory is His character. The same is true with God’s name.
When the Bible describes a remnant with God’s name inscribed in their foreheads, it is not a matter of having literal letters written there; it is a matter of having God’s character inscribed in your mind, your heart, and so now in our lives we reflect the love and character of God. You have been pulled close to God, and you love Him for who He is and what He has done for you.
How interesting, too, that when God describes Himself to Moses, He does it in conjunction with Moses’ receiving another copy of the Ten Commandments, which is also a transcript of His character. Likewise, the people who have God’s “name” in Revelation 14:1-20 are described as those who “keep the commandments of God.” Then notice the words found in Hebrews: “ ‘This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,’ then He adds, ‘Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more’ ” (Hebrews 10:16-17, NKJV). What an expression of the gospel: though God’s law is reflected in our lives, we still need our sins to be remembered “no more.”
God’s name is His character. His moral law is a transcript of His character. And those who are gathered on God’s holy hill in the last days are infused with a love for God, a love manifested by obedience to His law.
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If we are saved by faith and not by the law, what then is the importance of God’s law? (See 1 John 5:3.) |
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For a lesson called "In the Psalms", there is a remarkable absence of references to the Psalms. That is a pity because the Psalms are the seedbed of great ideas and allusions. It is, after all poetry, and poetry is where authors paint great word pictures.
The big idea in today's lesson is "Law in Our Hearts". I want to expand on that idea by exploring Psalms. The psalmists talk about the law as a "delight" and I love the implications of that word when it comes to heart law. Here are some quotes to think about:
... and I reckon the psalmists captured the idea of "Law in the Heart" delightfully!
Oh my goodness, I thought I was being to critical - I was thinking the same. thanks for bringing those references anew.
Amy Grant's version of Thy Word comes to consideration:
https://youtu.be/a6LC8cu03Ig?si=XCR812Iz5VuRs49k
Thank you, Maurice - these quotes are indeed 'delightful' in that they help to focus on what matters - to draw closer and ever closer to our God because we 'delight' in His presence - James 4:8.
I thought the very same,my Bro.🙏🏾
What is it that motivates the believer to want to obey God's Word, including the commandments? Is it legalism, or is it love? Love is the only way. Romans 13:8-10. Legalism is having a form of godliness but your heart is far away from God. Matthew 15:8
A fear based legalistic relationship doesn't work in heaven or on earth. When we come to know God as He desires us to know Him, we will delight to do His will and His law will be written on our hearts. Then His commandments will not be burdensome. Jesus makes a declaration in John 14:15. It's all about love, it always was, and always will be.
Every detail of God's Word shows His character. Being perfect, God does not need to change. God's Law shows His character; thus, it should be followed by those who want to live according to His will.
As humans, we are deeply aware that our name carries our reputation. When someone hears our name, they associate it with how we act, speak, and treat others. We protect our name by acting with integrity, keeping our word, and avoiding behavior that would cause shame or distrust. A good name is often considered more valuable than riches (see Proverbs 22:1).
Similarly, as the lesson points out, God's name is inseparable from His character/law. When the Bible speaks of God's name, it is referring not just to a title, but to all that He is—His holiness, justice, mercy, love, and faithfulness.
When we misrepresent ourselves, it can damage our reputation. Likewise, when people misuse God's name—by speaking it in vain, misrepresenting His nature, or living contrary to His ways while claiming His name—it dishonors Him (see Exodus 20:7).
As humans, we feel a responsibility to live in a way that honors our family name or our personal values. Likewise, those who follow God are called to live in a way that honors His name. Jesus taught us to pray, “Hallowed be Thy name” (Matthew 6:9), meaning we are to revere and uphold the holiness of God's name in our lives.
Just as we guard our reputation to ensure our name is respected, God’s name is tied to His perfect character—and He desires that we honor and reflect that name in how we live.
The Law is like a "Mirror." The law can only show us our defects of character or also where we are in line with our characters to God's Holy Righteous Character. But only "The Law Giver, (The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit," can then correct "Our Flaws" or "Empower our Goodness," for more goodness in our lives to live for Him.
While reading a scripture reference Exodus 34:1-7 found in today's lesson, a footnote in Exodus 34:6 took me to Nehemiah 9:17. I continued to read the whole chapter; Nehemiah 9:1-38.
May I suggest that this is an excellent additional reading for today's lesson?
Riches, honors, rank, pleasure — these are the chief objects for which the greater part of mankind are living. Yet these are the very things which God declares to be empty, vanity. And the love of them He warns us to beware. Praying and Bible reading and holy living and repentance and faith and grace and communion with God — these are things for which few people care at all, yet these are the things which God in His Bible is ever urging on our attention. The disagreement between these two things is glaring, painful and appalling. What God calls good, we call evil, and what God calls evil, we call good. But the more entirely we are of one mind with God as to what He calls good, the better we are prepared for the Day of Judgment. To love what God loves, to hate what God hates, to approve what God approves, this is the highest style of Christianity. The moment we find ourselves honoring anything which in the sight of God is lightly esteemed, we may be sure that there is something wrong in our souls.”