Seeing the Blessing

"I delight to do your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart"

Psalm 40.8

In the original Karate Kid, the hero Daniel is given a series of tedious and repetitive tasks to do by his teacher Mr Miyagi. The first task seems like a punishment (putting his coat on the peg rather than the floor). Daniel kicks against doing the tasks at first, but eventually knuckles down. However, what was tedious and repetitive did not prove pointless. The tasks Mr Miyagi has set have been subconsciously equipping Daniel's body (and indeed his mind, spirit and emotion) for the fights ahead. It turns out that obeying Mr Miyagi's instructions has worked out for Daniel's blessing.

I thought of this when I came across the verse above. The singer speaks of God's will and law as being delightful. This is an oft neglected theme of scripture (see also psalm 119). It is most strongly expressed by Moses in Deuteronomy 4.7-8, "What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to him? And what other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today?"

Too often we find ourselves apologetic about God's instructions in his word or feel the need to justify them when they sit badly with our culture. In reality though, we can rejoice when God's law runs against our culture, as this is a sign of his closeness to us. If God did not want to be with his people - he would not bother to tell them how to live in holiness, because he only intended hell for them. But since God delights in his people, he shows them how to be holy as he is holy.

This doesn't mean that we shouldn't try to help others see why God's instructions are delightful and good, but that in doing so, we ourselves don't lose confidence and pride that we have his law. At any time our world runs counter to God's truth - at present it revolves around sex, identity, materialism and individualism. When that happens, it is uncomfortable - like cycling into the wind and not with it. Personally it can be hugely costly and initially we might rail against it (as Daniel does in the movie). However that discomfort should not provoke uncertainty or insecurity. Instead we can be encouraged that we are following God's good laws and we have this sign that he is with us.