Chaplains’ Chat

“The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul.

The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

8 The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.

The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

9 The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever.

The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous.

10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb.” – Psalm 19:7-10

What do you think is the most valuable thing in the world? For some people, it might come down to material possessions: the holiday house, the luxury car, the perfect garden, the marble kitchen. For others, it might come down to the social: the respect of colleagues, the time spent with loved ones, the golf trip with friends. We really are very blessed and enjoy many wonderful things in Australia. But I reckon if you asked the author of Psalm 19 the same question, you’d get a very surprising answer.

I don’t think many of us would consider “laws”, let alone the “law of the Lord”, to be the most valuable thing in the world, but this Psalm causes us to reconsider. This week in Chapel, Rev Dr Nick Foord, our Community Chaplain, spoke on this Psalm. In this Psalm, we are presented with an astounding perspective on God’s commands. One that sees God’s law not as prohibitive but as life-giving, trustworthy, perfect, pure and firm. To the Psalmist, they are of unparalleled value and bring delight to his life. For us, these words remind us of the importance of walking in step with God. If we believe that He loves us, then our response should be one of joyful obedience, trusting that God sees the bigger picture. This Psalm also reminds us that God is eternal, and His words will not pass away. He is the same God, past, present and future and His righteousness and faithfulness endure forever. I think that is why the Psalmist is so insistent that God’s decrees are of infinite value, because nothing in heaven or on earth, can shake them. He is the solid foundation upon which we can build our life.

Rev John Sheldon
Chaplain (Acting)