“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. Without speech or language, without a sound to be heard, their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens He has pitched a tent for the sun. Like a bridegroom emerging from his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course, it rises at one end of the heavens and runs its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth.” Psalm 19:1-6 (BSB)

Have you ever been outside the city lights and taken a look up at the stars? Ever looked at the landscape from the top of a mountain, looking out at the flowing peaks and deep valleys? Have you ever been on a boat in the ocean where all you see is the sea reaching out into the sky? Have you ever sat in wonder at the work of “HIS HANDS”?

Have you ever tried to understand God? Sat in contemplation of not only His creation but of His ideals, His expectations, His design and plan for life? To be so introspective as to wonder, even pray, what is my purpose? “God, what is Your plan for my life?” Given the vastness of His Being, His creation, is there thought of me?

The writer of Ecclesiastes pens these words that have been my reflection for about a year now. It has, for lack of a better term, lead me to an inflection point. The writer writes, “So I set my mind to know wisdom and madness and folly; I learned that this too, is a pursuit of the wind. For with much wisdom comes much sorrow, and as knowledge grows, grief increases.” Ecclesiastes 1:17-18

my journey has seen the highest peaks and the lowest valleys. It has taken me across oceans and dry-weary lands. It has humbled me to the point that all i want is truth and all i desire is: “keep the commandments of God and my faith in Yahoshua (Jesus). For context see Revelation 14:12. i read about Zachariah and Elizebeth, the parents of John the baptizer, cousin and forerunner of Yahoshua.

It is said of them in the Gospel of Luke, “And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of Yahweh.” Wait, what? Righteous, blameless in all of . . .? What is the measure, if there was only one who was able to be the Perfect Lamb of Elohim?

The answer lies in the definition of righteous and blameless. We tend to think of these terms as perfection but they are not perfection. They are based in humility, and desire.

“The Law of Yahweh is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of Yahweh is trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of Yahweh are right, bringing joy to the heart; the commandments of Yahweh are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of Yahweh is pure, enduring forever; the judgments of Yahweh are true, being altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them indeed Your servant is warned; in keeping them is great reward.” Psalm 19:7-11

Being righteous in the eyes of Yahweh is walking in obedience. That is it. Not walking in perfection, it doesn’t mean you are not going to err it simply means you do everything to walk in obedience. Jeremiah writes: “For after I returned, I repented, and after I was instructed, I struck my thigh; I was ashamed, and I was confounded, because I bore the disgrace of my youth.” Jeremiah 31:19

The writer of Acts says this: “Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of Adonai.” For the new convert or the seasoned veteran the call is the same, return and repent, repent and return, come to the fountain of Elohim and be refreshed. All who are thirsty, Yahoshua says, “come and I will give you living water.” Righteousness, is humility walked out in obedience to Yahweh’s instruction. His Law is perfect, reviving the soul.

Psalm 19 continues here is verses twelve and thirteen: “Who can discern his own errors? Cleanse me from my hidden faults. Keep Your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless and cleansed of great transgression.” (BSB) Being blameless is being cleansed. It is returning to the ways of Yahweh by obedience to His instructions. NOT as a way to work towards your salvation but out of humility for Elohim’s instruction and a desire for HIS Kingdom come, HIS will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.

It is His work in our lives, as Jeremiah declares in 31:33 – “But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares Yahweh. I will put My law in their minds and inscribe it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people.” The new covenant is the instruction of Yahweh written on our hearts and on our minds. Causing us to seek righteousness (obedience to His Ways) and being blameless (the refreshing that comes when our hearts in humility return and repent).

This is the way, it has always been the way, and few find it because few desire to walk in obedience. That rebellion alone is what keeps them from the times of refreshing that come and the title, “blameless”. Here is the perseverance of the Saints, those who keep the commandments of Yahweh and their faith in Yahoshua . . . Revelation 14:12

The Psalmist ends Psalm 19 with this: “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O Yahweh, my Rock and my Redeemer.” In the end the writer of Ecclesiastes concludes: “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear Yahweh and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For Yahweh will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.”

Therefore, let us as many as agree, act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with our Adonai Yahoshua. Let us walk in righteousness. Blameless, through the blood of Messiah, and righteous, through our obedience to Him who calls us His children.

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O Yahweh, my Rock and my Redeemer. May i meditate on the Word, Yahoshua is the Word made flesh, may i seek to know Him and may i desire to walk as He did, in obedience to the Word of Yahweh.

You are loved,

cj