Why is it so hard to be obedient to God? A Call-and-Response to Drawing Closer to Holiness.

Scripture: Psalms 119:1-16

We've all heard the classic hymn "I Surrender All." It's a crowd-favorite for a good reason. Its beautiful chorus is a powerful statement that pushes voices to declare a renewed passion for their Lord. It's a call for sacrifice and testimony to our God. 

However, when we step back, it's probably easier sung than said. 

In today's scripture, we're in the third section of Psalms. This section features David, the adult, the king of Israel, with all his accolades. Yet, despite his success, he's still dealing with the shames of his past and the difficulties of his heir. This third section is an honest and raw account from someone who doesn't have it all together. It's an authentic voice of hurt, despair, and humility. 

What David wrestles with in Psalms 119:1-16 is how do we give all of our life to God? Not only the easy and good things, but the areas we’re ashamed of, as well as the things we got right and what we got wrong. Some 30 centuries later, we're still dealing with this. It's easy to give the Lord the things that are going well, but how do we release everything? 

David acknowledges that the Lord's decrees will guide our lives. But why is obeying difficult? The nature of life is this back-and-forth that is unpredictable. It’s a daily challenge to pinpoint everything we're handling. We spend our time doubting whether God will work in our life because we can't explain our emotions. How can we share with God if we don't understand ourselves?

The structure of this passage is a pendulum—a call-and-response. We know God's ways are true, but we still struggle to obey them. So if we know what's right, how do we get a place of following? According to David, there are the Five Calls. We’ll look at the responses shortly.

1. Call to Obedience

If we refuse to be obedient to God, there is nothing God can do in our life. Plain and simple. However, but obedience is not a one time deal. His call is not just to hear once but to do so regularly. Not whether or not we want to. Can you imagine having that authority? "Let me check to see if I even want to do that, God." That's not how faith works. There's one objective when God calls you: be obedient. As we think about the uncertainty of life, the first thing we have to do is be obedient to the call. 

2. Call to Purity

Purity here doesn't reference cleanliness; instead, this is about being in the right place: the proximity to righteousness and holiness. The very first question in the Bible was to Adam and Eve after they sinned. It was not "what have you done?" It was "where are you?" God knew, but He wanted them to know where they were in relation to Him. 

So much of our faith walk has to do with our proximity to purity. The closer we are to that which is righteous, the more we're in step with God. When you stay close to God, you experience holiness.

3. The Call to Appreciate God's Guidance

If you're the parent of a teenager you've likely heard the phrase, "you don't know what I'm going through." Despite what the teen thinks, as adults we very much understand what they’re experiencing. We were there once too.

As children that one day became parents, we can look back and understand why our parents made the decisions and rules they did. As teens they were oppressors, but as parents they’re boundaries to safety and growth. But that's the way life works. We don't fully understand or appreciate the truths that people speak into our lives until we've experienced them ourselves. 

When Nathan confronted the king about his sins, his first reaction was not, "thank you for bringing this to my attention." It was outrage. It was anger. He was upset by the confrontation because he was filled with shame. 

As David matures, the lesson finds new value. Wisdom is often pushed back against in the beginning but cherished in the end.

4. The Call to Prayer

To appreciate all of God's goodness and guidance, we must retain an open line to God. It's impossible to appreciate what God is doing in our lives or stay obedient to His calling without talking to God. But that's not always easy, especially when we're going through periods of great shame. Many times, it's also difficult to believe that God would even want to talk to us. 

God calls us to repentance not because He hates us and wants to see us miserable but because He loves us. You are so valuable to Him that he wants to see you thrive in His glory.

To maintain the first three calls, you have to stay in communication with Him. There is no premise in being a follower of Jesus that allows us to disconnect from Him or the world. That is the nature of relationships, to be connected to Him. 

5. The Call of Salvation

"Praise be to you, Lord;
teach me your decrees.
With my lips I recount
all the laws that come from your mouth.
I rejoice in following your statutes
as one rejoices in great riches.
I meditate on your precepts
and consider your ways
I delight in your decrees;
I will not neglect your word.”
Psalms 119:12-16

David tells us that God is calling us closer to Himself. We are to see ourselves as God's child and know that all of our hope begins in Him. Not in any abilities we cling to but that our hope begins in relationship with God. He wants to call you closer to a life given to us by Jesus that will transform everything. 

Those were the five calls, now the pendulum swings into The Five Responses.

1. Delight

Are you in a situation where you're delighting in everything God throws your way? (Bueller? Bueller?) Unlikely anyone, but that's okay because we've all been there.

Not once does God ever declare that every day should be a bed of roses. Jesus says in this world, you will have trouble. But when He calls us to obey and to respond, the first thing we should do, according to David, is delight. When Paul was in times of terrible strife, he pleaded with God to remove this thorn. God tells him, "you need to live as though my grace is sufficient." 

That's what it means to delight. You don't have to understand everything but be okay in it because it is intended for you 

2. Obey

As a parent, we've instructed our children to do a task or alter behavior at some point. You know the response, "but why?" There is no need for a philosophical return or an explanation of the parent-to-child relationship. Your answer is simple. "Because I said so."

The parent knows the child doesn't need to understand the why; they just need to do the ask. As a child, you're not going to understand, but there will come a time when God will explain all things. Until then, obedience will carry us because God knows more than us. 

3. Love

"Then I would not be put to shame
when I consider all your commands." 
Psalms 119:6

Love is an expression that is seen and felt with no explanation needed. It's two hearts that are in tandem. God wants your heart to be in tandem with His. So David said the response of love is allowing your heart to be available to God. 

How many of us don't need someone to come along with all the answers, instead we need someone to be there. Maybe we’d even prefer that. Throughout the New Testament, God reminds us of the simplicity of His nature: "I am with you."

4. Renew

There comes a time when we have to renew our place with Christ because we're not going to be on the same path. Maybe it's a path God doesn't want you on, or it's one you've created by your own devices. 

What does God say when we walk this road? "Don't ever follow me again?" Absolutely not. God tells us that through the power of His son, Jesus Christ, He renews and reconciles. 

How many of us need a fresh start? Sometimes you just need to throw your hands up and declare to God that you're not doing well, and you need to start again. And that’s okay.

5. Rejoice

"With my lips I recount
all the laws that come from your mouth.
I rejoice in following your statutes
as one rejoices in great riches."
Psalms 119:13-14

If someone handed you a no-strings-attached check for $5 million, how would you react? Your first response may be “wait, what,” but it's unlikely you'd be able to contain yourself after that.

As a pastor, it's easy to critique everything about the worship services that you plan. The illustrations didn't land. That person didn't smile during the worship song. The lighting was poor. That's when God steps in and reminds us that "first, it's not about you, but here's something that you didn't take note of and in that you can rejoice." 

No matter how far we get from God, we can't help but hear all that He is doing for us. When we draw close to a Holy God, the unholy things can't stand up anymore. The closer we are to the thing that brings us real joy causes we take a second look at the things that bring us sorrow. 

Rest assured that despite all the confusion in your life, God understands what's happening. 

Like the people who turned on Moses after years of wandering the desert, our human nature is to turn on the things and people the greatest blessings to our lives. Maybe we’re weary or simply don't understand but despite that, God loves us. God will take our burdens when we're able to take our gaze to Him and remain in awe of him. 

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About Christ Church Memphis
Christ Church Memphis is church in East Memphis, Tennessee. For more than 65 years, Christ Church has served the Memphis community. Every weekend, there are multiple worship opportunities including traditional, contemporary and blended services.