Psalm 119:45

In today’s meditation we observe again that the verse is linked to the preceding verse, in this case, by the word and.

Psalms 119:45 And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.

In the preceding verse 44 the psalmist wrote that he would keep God’s law continually. Now from the verse we consider today, we see that keeping God’s law he will walk at liberty. Ultimately, keeping the law and walking at liberty flow out of the mercies of God coming to us, even His salvation (verse 41). You can tell that God is showing mercy to a man and delivering him when you see him keeping God’s word. And when a man is keeping God’s law he is experiencing the only true liberty or freedom there is.

No man is free in the sense of having no master at all. Every man serves a master. It is the law of our being. It is not a question of serving or not serving a master. It is a question of which master you serve. Ultimately, one either serves sin or he serves God.

Romans 6:20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. 21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. 22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

From this passage we learn that the service of sin ends in death whereas the service of God ends in everlasting life. Now which sounds the most like liberty to you? So many consider sin as an expression of their freedom, when in reality it is an experience of the greatest bondage.

Proverbs 5:22 His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.

The man who serves sin is in a bondage from which he cannot free himself. The servant of sin cannot of himself choose to leave his sin and serve God. In fact, his servitude to sin is described as being “dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1). There is no greater bondage than death, for the dead have no power to change their condition. Only Jesus can free the servant of sin. On the other hand, the servant of God has been made free from sin by the Lord Jesus Christ. He may still sin, but he does not have to. He is free to resist sin and serve God. And if he sins, God has provided a remedy whereby he can extricate himself and continue to serve God.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Many think of freedom as the liberty to do what one wants to do. In reality, true freedom is the liberty to do what one ought to do. When one is freed from sin by the Lord Jesus Christ, he wants to serve God. So when he serves God he is doing both what he ought to do and what he wants to do. Now that is real liberty. Which sounds like the greater freedom to you? Doing what you want to do but not what you ought to do? Or doing what you want to do and what you ought to do? If you fail to do what you ought to do, it will always rise up and bite you in the end. Sin has its own built-in destruction.

James 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

When you sin, you are fulfilling your lust, you are doing what you desire to do; but in the end that sin kills you. Think about it. In the end, how much freedom do drug addicts, drunkards, whoremongers, liars, and criminals really enjoy? How much freedom is there in having liver disease from alcohol abuse? How much freedom is there in having a sexually transmitted disease from sexual promiscuity? How much freedom does a liar experience when he must always come up with ways to cover his lies? How much freedom does a criminal enjoy living in fear of being caught, or finally being caught and incarcerated? So doing what you ought to do and want to do is liberty in the fullest sense of the word. Doing what you ought to do you can live in good conscience, free from tormenting fear, and at peace with God. And even if you are persecuted for doing what is right, you have promise upon promise from God that it is well with your soul and great reward awaits you. That sure sounds like liberty to me! This is the freedom, the true liberty that Jesus gives us.

John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Now our psalmist cites a reason he will walk at liberty. That reason is stated in these words: for I seek thy precepts. Since all of God’s precepts are truth, the person who is seeking those precepts is seeking truth. And finding that truth he will find that which will make him free.

John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

I can personally attest to the fact that the more truth I learn the more liberty I discover. Knowing God’s precepts as opposed to the precepts of men sets me free. No longer do I walk captive to commandments imposed by men without the authority of God.

Colossians 2:20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not; 22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

When you learn God’s precepts, you learn to walk free of man-made restrictions that deny you things God has given you to enjoy. When you know the truth of salvation by grace you walk free of the burden of trying to earn your own eternal salvation or trying to secure the eternal salvation of others. You walk at liberty, blessed liberty! I close with this exhortation to every seeker of truth:

Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.