I am impressed this morning with Psalm 119:5-6: “Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees! Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands.” What impresses me is that desire (v. 5) leads to imagination of what life would be like if that desire were fulfilled (v. 6).
The psalmist’s desire is to be absorbed in “statute” (haqim) consideration, contemplation, and focus. “Then,” such a person announces, “I would not be put to shame.” As the person contemplates the Word/Torah, and sees what is expected of God’s people, that person will be able to say “By God’s grace, I’ve done what God called me to do.”
Such a person is not self-deceived about himself or herself.
Torah is like a mirror — when we look into it, it shows us who we are, what we have done, and what we need to do.
Blessed is the person who looks into that mirror and can say “Thanks be to God.”