Joy or Bondage

(Psa 27:6 KJV)  And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.

(Proverbs 13 also read)

I am part of a men’s Bible study that is working through Galatians.  We are expected to use only the KJV.  I am cooperating.  I have a friend who loves the KJV who has been quoting Galatians to me.  What they have in common, and why I bring them up, is that they keep taking the comments of Paul about the law and using it in a way that I think insults the rest of the Bible.  Here we have a clear statement about how the Jews of David’s time, who were serious about serving the Lord, viewed the law.  

Look at the second part of this verse.  “Sacrifices” (2077) are being “offered” (2076).  The attitude is not, “O how terrible to be under the bondage of the law” but “joy” (8643) and a bursting out in song.  The two pictures seem antithetical but both are in the Bible.  Our job is to read them both and put them together into a Biblical truth.  Our job is not to ignore one because it fits our theology.

So?  Study and think for yourself.  Read widely in the Bible.  Do not confine yourself to the one book or short sections that teachers like to go over.  Be leery of isolated proof texts.  Seek truth and while you are doing it expect joy and moments of celebration to creep up on you.