Psalm 119:51 | “The insolent utterly deride me, but I do not turn away from your law.”

The psalmist confesses that the arrogant heap scorn upon him. Those who reject God’s authority often mock those who submit to it. Tragically, opposition can also come from those who profess Christ yet refuse to obey his word. Because we love God’s commands and desire to follow them, some may accuse us of being legalistic. But true legalism is the attempt to earn God’s favor through obedience to the law. We know we cannot keep God’s law perfectly and therefore cast ourselves entirely on the mercy of Christ. Having been united to him by faith and set free from the dominion of sin and darkness, our hearts now long to walk in his ways. The psalmist models how the faithful should respond to ridicule: he does not turn aside from God’s law. Genuine believers persevere in obedience, not to gain acceptance with God, but because they have already received it through Christ. May we remain steadfast in obeying God’s word, even when others misunderstand or mock our devotion.