Their heart is as fat as grease, but I delight in Your law. It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes. The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of coins of gold and silver.
—Psalm 119:70-72

THE LAST VERSES of this section are basically a replay of and a conclusion to what we’ve been reading of our heavenly Father in correcting us in His love, even when it amounts to real hardships. The psalmist elevates the Word to its rightful place, which is far higher than the position that the world gives to it: “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honey-comb. Moreover, by them, Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is a great reward” (Ps 19:7-11). We continue to be reminded that God’s Law is perfect, sure, right, pure, clean, enduring and righteous. The judgments of the Lord are eternal, of more value than gold, and sweeter than honey, which refers to the material things in life. Proverbs 10:22 states that “The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow to it,” while Paul reminds us that “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierce themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Tim 6:10). God gives us the power to get wealth, but wealth isn’t the definition of success. It just means that God has blessed us, and we should express our gratitude to Him (Deut 8:18). God’s Word is worth far more than any amount of silver or gold.

How do we relate the subject of gold and silver to the way our “father hood” can be a holy habitation? Always maintain an eternal perspective. Another expression for the same thing is called future-first thinking, which means that part of having a father hood that’s also a holy habitation is to continually check oneself. What do I mean?

Let me ask you this, dads: Is this world your home? I hope not. Everything we encounter in life—the forged lies, the afflictions at the hand of our adversaries, and even our own disobedience—are to be filtered through this one truth: This world is not our home. Remember this verse? “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place or you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:1-3).

I recently had something on my mind that was troubling me. Then the Lord reminded me that He’s never failed me yet, and He brought to my mind a series of eleventh-hour miracles that He had worked in my life. He may not have been as early as I liked, but He was never late! He won’t let you down, so continue to trust in Him, and let your father hood be one that can be described as a holy habitation like your heavenly Father’s house.

If you’re having trouble when you see the prosperity of the wicked or the lies against you and the advancement of evil, remember: This is not all there is! Your future will be nothing like your present (See Phil 2:12-16). Your father hood is to be a temporary situation but a very important one. Let’s not run in vain, that we may rejoice in the Day of Christ when we are where He is forever. And if this seems to be a repeated theme throughout this psalm, God meant that for a reason. And thus we can gladly say, “Play it again, Psalm!” We can never hear it enough.

Excerpt from “Beside Still Waters” now available on Amazon.

BARRY STAGNER