Inspired by bits from Christopher Mitchell’s Song of Songs commentary…
Christians, not only pastors, are to be fixated on the pure Word of God. We are to hunger for it, desire it, and seek to nourish our neighbor with it. To spread it far and wide…
Like Paul, we should say to other believers “I am jealous for you with God’s jealousy” (2 Cor. 11:2) – we are to seek to maintain the virginity of Christ’s bride until the wedding day. Much like those good brothers of old who were interested in protecting the virtue of their little sister in light of her wedding day. Propagating right teaching and instruction as Jesus and the Apostles did – about theological and moral truths (see I Tim 1:10) – is to be our highest cause, for it is from this Word of God that we live. Such words are “Spirit and Life”, as Jesus says…
We are to indeed be in the Watchtower of our God, ferociously holding to and guarding the truth with child-like simplicity and stubbornness… Faith has both a passive and active aspect. When the Psalmist speaks of the Lord upholding his righteousness, he is speaking first and foremost of his compulsively clinging to “sound” doctrine – for the sake of the neighbor, as well as his own. Keeping one’s self from sin and having clean hands (Psalm 18) mean that the Psalmist has trusted God’s word – of perpetual forgiveness/deliverance and more – and not the lies of men. This is why he is the kind of person who says “Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression.” (Psalm 19). This faith – this faithfulness – is the core component of the integrity and uprightness of which the Psalmist speaks. Simply put, he is a believer, not an unbeliever. God acknowledges the humble…”To the faithful [He] show [s] [Him]self faithful” Good life flows from the good words of the Word which save. Like Mary, we sit transfixed and receive… What do we have that we have not…?
Indeed, “[my enemies] stumble and perish before your presence… For you have maintained my just cause….” (Psalm 9:3b,4a). This “just cause” is first and foremost zealously holding to, guarding and proclaiming the truth (even if, sadly, we may be quite energized by fleshly impulses when we do this…) It is God’s cause and purpose.
So Lord, guard us in our righteousness… this simple righteousness of child-like faith that eagerly goes on to embrace the whole, meaty counsel of God. That counsel which orbits around the truth that God, in Christ, was reconciling the world to Himself.
Lord Jesus Christ, my God and Lord, my God and Lord. Forsake me not, I trust your word!
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theology like a child 