Freedom From and Freedom For

When prisoners are set free, they often are gleeful and grateful, but directionless. They experience a freedom from prison, from the cage, from the bars behind which they were punished. This is what prisoners desire and for which they live, but once that freedom from the prison is a reality, then what? Sadly, many return to previous patterns of behavior. This is one of the reasons there is a high level of recidivism. The same happens for those who suffer from addictions and begin recovery, there is a relief followed by the temptations that too frequently lead to relapse. There is a perception focused on living without the addictive substance, not a focus on living in the liberty that comes without the addiction. Likewise, at the end of WW2 in Europe, those liberated from the prison camps of the Nazis wandered the roads and towns not knowing what to do, where to go. They were free from, but not free for...
“Freedom for” is purpose and identity and direction. “Freedom for” is meaning in a world bereft of meaning, in a world made up of insignificant meanings, insignificant purposes, insignificant aims and goals.
“Freedom from” is the cross. We are free from the sin and its punishment.  We are free from darkness and death and despair and hopelessness. We are free from separation from God.
“Freedom for” is the resurrection.  We are free for joy and gratitude and purpose. We are free for love and loving. We are free for living in God’s presence. Therefore we are free for living sacrificially for others.
Freedom from must always be married to freedom for, otherwise it is temporary and fleeting. And freedom for must be married to freedom from, otherwise it is planted in shallow soil and becomes frustrated by the apparent failures to liberate others, neglecting that there are still many crosses in the world.

© 2018 Stephen Carl

Psalm 119 is unique and well-known for a variety of reasons and a great deal has been written on it. Verse 105 has become a contemporary song that is sung by many: “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” Additionally, Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible (good to know for trivia questions). It is 176 verses long and contains 22 stanzas with eight verses each. Not only that, it is an acrostic psalm. As an acrostic Psalm each of the 22 stanzas is written so that each of the eight verses contained in a particular stanza begins with the assigned letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Some acrostic poems spell out a word when the first letter of each section is taken in order. The acrostic of Psalm 119 isn’t a word, but is simply the Hebrew alphabet in order. That’s an accomplishment on its own—have you ever tried to write something that develops by using the alphabet? Add to that the challenge of several sentences in each section beginning with the same letter. With some letters in English that would be easy—others less so (Q? Z? Y?). The added wonder of Psalm 119 is that the content is remarkably thematic. It would be one thing to write something that emphasizes a particular subject, but quite another to write it so that it is also acrostic.

The amazing thing about Psalm 119 is that the acrostic nature of it is supportive of the theme. In other words, the acrostic tool isn’t only a gimmick or novelty, but it undergirds the message conveyed in the Psalm. The theme of Psalm 119 is God’s word and the marvelous gift it is to those who know it. In Psalm 119, God’s word is described as law, word, statute, ordinance, precept, decree, and promise. The idea is that God’s word leads us, guides us, provides a path for us to follow, gives us the necessary resources to navigate life in a way that blesses. The contrast of life without God’s word, God’s law, God’s decrees, is like trying to cook a delicious casserole without a recipe, or for an orchestra to play a symphony while all the instruments play in different keys. In other words, in Psalm 119 there’s a connection between the theme, this idea, and the use of acrostic.

By way of explanation, how do children learn to read? First by learning the alphabet. The alphabet is the basic foundation of learning how to read and reading is essential to learning. Psalm 119 is saying that learning and knowing and understanding God’s word is the ABC’s of the good life, the life God created us for and intends for us to enjoy.

Additionally, that it is acrostic makes it easier to remember, easier to memorize and then eventually to know it by heart.

That’s essentially the best way to know God’s word—by heart. And it is ultimately the goal too. Think of the things you know by heart, they’re things that naturally arise from within us. Consider talking. How many of us think about each word before we say it? Yes, it might be wise to do so—especially in certain situations where the use of precise words is valuable and can potentially prevent terrible misunderstandings. What I’m pointing to, however, is that in most cases we are able to construct sentences and speak them without cognitively reflecting on each word and the construction of our sentences.  When someone learns a foreign language it requires a great deal of memorization. At first, the new language is learned through translation. Eventually, with time and use, the new language begins to sink deeply into one’s thinking and it requires less translation and less thought to use.

Apply that experience to knowing God’s word so well that it rises from within one’s heart without a conscious effort.  Psalm 119 is a step on the grand staircase to that space of grace to which the Psalmist points as the destination of gratitude and glory. 

© 2018 Stephen Carl