The Psalms are the word of Christ

[aron]

Originally Posted by OBW

the death and resurrection of Jesus set in motion the end of Satan. But, in time, the defeat is not complete until he is cast away eternally. So the accomplishment is not fulfilled until then..

The defeat of Satan is accomplished, but the "fall of Satan" is recursive; it happened before Adam and Eve's fall from grace (Isa. 14:12, etc), and it happened when Jesus sent out the seventy-two in his name in Luke 10, (see e.g. v. 18), and it will surely happen in Revelation 12. I suspect that it happens every time we obey the speaking of the Holy Spirit.

Originally Posted by OBW

So the law and the demand for righteousness remains. Jesus demanded of us righteousness and justice. He demanded love for our fellow man that equaled our love for ourselves...

And arguably "every Christian knows" the commands of Jesus. Love each other, keep yourself unspotted from the world, forgive one another, and repent when you yourself fail.

Originally Posted by OBW

So, as the Psalmists say in so many ways, we need to meditate on the righteous commandments of the law. Dwell on them day and night. Abide by them.

Even in the era of grace.

In my very limited experience of "mediating on the righteous commands of the law" I see both my miserable failure and the thrill of Jesus the Nazarene stepping in for not only me but all of us. His life and work pleased the Father; he obeyed to the full, and now we can see him and be emboldened to follow.

Have I done a very good job at it? I don't know. Really my meditations on a phrase in Psalm 56:13 means nothing if I don't obey. If I don't walk before God in the light of life as I faintly see Jesus going before, then my comments display yet another know-it-all hypocrite. If I don't live it, then I don't "know" Psalm 56 at all, or any of it.

So I struggle, and try. At its core the command is very simple. See Jesus going before us, and follow him. Hear his voice, and by faith obey.