for the week of Oct. 4, 2026

The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. -Psalm 19:7 (NIV)

I suppose it's time to tell you my not-so-secret addiction. I have a problem with Diet Coke. I know nothing in it is natural. But man it is refreshing. It has just enough caffeine for an afternoon pick me up. And I just can't get enough of it. I used to drink a lot more of it, but I've done a pretty good job at limiting myself to two cans a day.

We all crave sources of refreshment. It can be diet sodas, iced teas or coffees, or maybe you're a good ol' water connoisseur, and have opinions on different kinds of bottled water. We all need moments of refreshment. Yet the Psalmist describes God's torah law as "perfect," and its function is "refreshing the soul."

Laws in our society are necessary to maintain order and ensure society is safe. At least that is the contemporary view in 2026 America. We rarely would find anyone who would describe laws as "refreshing." Necessary: Sure. Benevolent: maybe. Annoying: sometimes. Refreshing: no one would describe the role of the law to refresh anything.

So why does the Psalmist say that the law of God refreshes his soul? Another word for law is tora. Tora refers not only to laws, like "dos" or "don'ts," but instruction that is given for the benefit of a people. Let's look at a few of God's laws from Leviticus: "When you reap the harvest ... do not reap to the very edges of your field ... Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner residing among you. I am the Lord your God" -Leviticus 23:22. "Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly." -Leviticus 19:15. "When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them." -Leviticus 19:33.

Leave enough for the poor neighbors. Do not give preference in the execution of justice. Do not mistreat the foreigner. I don't know about you, but those are pretty refreshing statements in our current culture discourse.

Of course, those are the ones that spoke to me. There are some laws that might refresh your soul. Observe sabbath. Don't hate a fellow countryman. Don't slander. God's law is not merely a list of dos and don'ts. The intention is the refreshing and restoring of the brokenness in our souls.

May we as we follow Him refresh others,

Matt