Isaiah 32:17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. 18 And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.
This passage of scripture plainly states what the results of obedience to the law of God are, and they include an undisturbed peace of mind that the world cannot take away, and it also brings quietness and assurance, elements that are largely absent from our current social fabric. There is nothing compared with a clear conscience that is void of offense towards God and man, hence the reason why obedience to God is not something that should be viewed from the prohibitory side, but should be welcomed as something that will benefit all of humanity, whilst honoring God at the same time.
After king Saul had sinned on several occasions against the plainest commands of God, his mind became distracted and deranged, for he apparently lost his ability to reason calmly and logically, and as a result, his after history was marked by a series of rash, ill-advised moves, which brought great unnecessary hardship on himself and his subordinates. For instance, in his uncontrolled rage and jealousy of David, for having being chosen by God as his replacement, king Saul then left the running of the kingdom to pursue David as the most wanted fugitive in all of Israel.
No commander in chief in their right mind ever does this, because the risk of being killed in the process increases exponentially. When Bin Laden, America's most wanted was being hunted, our commander in chief did not leave the oval office to go hunt down the terrorist in the wild and dangerous terrain of Afghanistan or Pakistan. Instead, he let the special forces do what they do best. But not so with Saul, who had apparently lost his mind and was now being controlled remotely by an evil spirit. Let's read:
1st Samuel 24:1 And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi. 2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats. 3 And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.
When we give ourselves entirely to God, there are certain things we need not worry about, for God takes care of the plottings and doings of evil men according to His wisdom and discretion, once we remain within the parameters of His revealed will. The Bible states that when a man's ways please The Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with Him, so although we may have our share of difficulties in this life, yet we have the assurance that God is looking out for our best good, and there is none to restrain or stay His omnipotent hand. Let's read:
Deuteronomy 28:6 Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out. 7 The Lord shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways. 8 The Lord shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto".
I was working at a certain job that involved work which sometimes ran into the Sabbath hours, and which I had stated up-front to my employer, that I would not be doing under any circumstances. However on many occasions my salary was withheld on Friday evening because I happened to be in the middle of a job, but had to leave in order to welcome the sacred presence, and the sacred day in a timely manner. This took place on numerous occasions until one day I had enough of it, and abruptly left the job without turning back.
When I arrived home later that day I received a call from my employer, asking the reason for my sudden departure, upon which I explained to him that he was trying to force me to break the Sabbath by withholding my wages on Friday evenings, even though he had previously agreed to grant me early leave. Upon hearing this he greatly apologized and asked m if I would like to continue working for him, to which I readily agreed. He there and then gave me a 25% increase in my salary and asked me to return to work the next business day.
In our own experiences we will find that serving God, and obeying all of His commands brings certain benefits which cannot be overturned or interrupted except it be with God's permission. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which encourages us to adhere to the sacred precepts, for they were all ordained to life, and the benefits of obedience will certainly accrue in the lives of all those who trust in the Living God . Let's read:
Psalms 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His every word. God bless!