ALEPH – Part 2 (א)

1. 1 Absolutely blessed are those whose way is blameless,
   who walk in the law† of the LORD.
   
2. 2 Altogether blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with their whole heart.
   

Verses 1-2 “Walking Among the Ways and Works of God”
Verse 1 opens up into an amazing thought, a remarkable idea. What does it mean to walk in the “Torah” of the LORD?
Torah is the word that is almost always translated in English as “Law.” And once we hear “Law” we immediately think of commandments – the should’s and should-not’s. But the word Torah means so much more. In fact the Torah is the first 5 books of the Bible with every word from God and every thing that happens in them.
It is God revealing Himself, God creating, and then blessing Adam and Eve; and through them all of humanity (Genesis 1:26 ff). It is the story of how God, when He found Adam and Eve having wandered off and rebelling, did not sweep them and us away into destruction; but instead promised a Savior, the Seed of the woman. He would be born for us and would conquer sin and death; and He would be wounded in the battle. It is the story of God calling Abraham to go to the mountain of God and act out “the sacrifice”—the sacrifice on the mountain where only God the Father would actually go through with it. So Abraham goes three days, puts the wood on his son, answers Isaac by saying, “God Himself will provide the Lamb,” and then receives his son, his only son whom he loves, back from the dead. It is a picture of Jesus.
It is the story of God redeeming His people, through the blood of the lamb, again a picture of Jesus. He brings them through the waters, and to His mountain. He says, “I am the Lord your God who brought you out . . .” and calls them His people. We could go on endlessly, but . . .
These are the events, the scenery and the heritage of our lives. It’s like the landmarks, the scenery and all the familiar places of our youth; and what it would be like if we could go back and find them just like they were, landmarks that endure and places to savor the memories. But these are the landmarks of God, the places and memories of His plan of salvation. Walking in the Torah is walking through His story and finding things are just like He said they would be. When we see all the parts of how God has revealed His love, His will, and His plan of salvation; walking in these things is very special. It goes way beyond rules and commandments. It is a much deeper experience. It is at the beginning of everything we are and everything in our lives.
To walk in the Torah of the Lord is to journey through life, from one day to the next with the things of God all around us. It is, within our souls, to look at the world a certain way – filled with the promises of Eden, the drama of God talking with Abraham, the promise of the lamb “who takes away the sin of the world,” and the word of God as our map through all the questions of right and wrong. It is to live in the relationship that God has given us in our creation and in Jesus Christ.
Only one person has ever truly walked in the Law / the Torah of the Lord. This is the One whose way is blameless. It is Jesus and the Torah is His story. He is “the seed of the woman,” the “Lamb of God,” the Passover, the way through the sea to freedom. He is also the One who takes the curse – though He was blameless and innocent He took our punishment.
By His cross and tomb He takes my story and makes it His; and then He takes His story and makes it mine. My sin is placed on Him. And what is written about Him becomes mine: blessed, blameless and called a child of God. We are clothed by the holiness of Jesus and will stand before God innocent and pure. What an amazing gift of grace!
And then we look at the world all around us; and we see the hand of God in so many things that happen in our lives. We go through the day with an awareness of God. He is present with us everywhere. And at the end of the day we rest from all the turmoil. We commit ourselves into the hands of God, and trust in His mercy and His goodness.
Walking with God also means that this world is not our home. We have an amazing relationship with God and all the promises of eternity. We look back on our history, and look over our life (thinking again of Abraham) and we say, “My father was a wandering Aramean.” (Deuteronomy 26:5) It is both part of our family history and the hope of our future. As Abraham did we also “look forward to a city . . . whose designer and builder is God;” (Hebrews 11:10) a city, right now being formed and gathered by Jesus Christ.
That is why the first verse, that talks about walking in the Torah of the LORD, leads right into v. 2. “Blessed are those who keep His testimonies.” We keep, treasure and hold these things in our memories.
God has told us about His love and His plan for us. He has witnessed to His Grace and mercy through every act and part of the plan of salvation. And the witnesses and the testimonies are more than we could ever list. Read Hebrews 11. And then remember the “faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead” Jesus Christ. The greatest of His testimonies is the one written in the flesh of His own hands. It is the testimony that we will one day see in the hands of Jesus when He gathers all His people on the Day of Resurrection.
Prayer:
Lord and Savior, You walked with Abraham, showing Your plan of salvation. You walked with Moses and led the people of Israel through the wilderness. And then You walked with Your disciples, feeding, healing, praying, dying and rising. You did all this so I might walk with You forever. As You filled their lives so fill my days with the things of God. Let me understand Your ways and Your purpose in gathering Your kingdom. Lead my heart and mind that they may be filled with Your words and may I see Your hand and Your mercy in every part of life.
In Your holy name I pray. Amen.