Psalm 119:60

We continue to make our way through this rich psalm that extols the word of the living God.   We are currently dealing with the octave of Psalm 119 entitled Cheth.

Psalms 119:60  I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.

Keeping God’s commandments is the most important thing you will ever do in your life.  It is your whole duty, the purpose for which God has made you and redeemed you.

Ecclesiastes 12:13  Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

Titus 2:14  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Christ gave Himself to make you “zealous of good works.”  Good works may be simply defined as doing whatever God has commanded you to do. 

Since keeping God’s commandments is the single most important thing any of us can do and answers to God’s purpose for our lives, then it follows that this should receive our utmost and immediate attention.  The psalmist sets forward his zeal both positively and negatively.  Positively, he made haste to keep God’s commandments.  Negatively, he delayed not to keep God’s commandments.  The time to keep God’s commandments is now, not later!  We are not being “zealous of good works” if we procrastinate obedience to our Lord.  English author and historian Northcote Parkinson, author of Parkinson’s Law and Other Studies in Administration cited this as his fourth law:  “Delay is the deadliest form of denial.”  Nowhere is that more true than in the realm of religion.  People do not procrastinate things that they care passionately about.  Delay is a sure sign of indecisiveness, or indifference, or worse, rebellion.  And indecisiveness, indifference, and rebellion are all deadly to our Christian profession.

Now link today’s verse with the following verses all of which underscore the importance of not putting off obedience to the Lord.

Genesis 19:15  And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.

Proverbs 3:27  Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.

28  Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.

Acts 22:16  And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

Hebrews 3:7  Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,

8  Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:

Hebrews 3:13  But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

2 Corinthians 6:1  We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

2  (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

Zacchaeus is a good example of one who made haste to keep the Lord’s commandment.

Luke 19:5  And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.

6  And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.  

What might Zacchaeus have missed had he delayed keeping the commandment of Christ?   

So if today you are convicted by some commandment of God you need to obey, the time to yield that obedience is today, right now!  Is there something you need to make right with the Lord?  Is there something you need to make right with a neighbour, a co-worker, a family member, or a fellow church member?  If so, then now is the time to make it right.  If you delay, you may not have another opportunity.  Hear the words of our Lord:

John 9:4  I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.