¹ Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. ² Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him will all their heart – ³ they do no wrong but follow his ways. ⁴ you have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed. ⁵ Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees! ⁶ Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands. Psalms 119:1-6

There are times when my children ask questions to which the answer is known by everyone in the house. For example, we’ve all been summoned to the table and dinner is being served and someone will ask, “Daddy, can I open my sweetie now?” No, everybody knows that you can’t have sweets just before a meal. In the armed forces, they have standing orders or general orders. These are published directives for which the actor is not named but are binding to all personnel generally named. This might include who to salute. When they walk past, you salute them – standing order! Standard practice! Everybody knows that and no need to ask.

As we seek God for different situations in our lives we need to be clear on our standing orders. Those things that have been explicitly commanded us in the Bible. There is no need to ask God if you can hate someone or if he can allow you to not forgive someone for an atrocious thing he has done or if you can divorce your spouse because you’ve found someone you really love or if you can tell a lie because the consequences otherwise would be devastating. No! Standing orders! Let’s be like the Psalmist who expressed such an intimate love for and knowledge of the Scriptures. Let’s fill our hearts with the Word of God. Let’s read it, memorise it, love it. It will save us asking God and others questions that have been clearly answered for us already.

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