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“The term translated as promise throughout the psalm is the Hebrew dāḇār—which is also the term used for the “Ten Words” (Ten Commandments) in Hebrew. Hebrew does not have different words for “law” and “promise.” The function of a given word in a given context determines whether the word is a word of “law” or “gospel.”
The point is that God’s claim on human beings is absolute, and the part of God’s claim that is relational cannot be distinguished from that which is ethical or legal.”
Rolf Jacobson
Relational = ethical. What does this mean?
So he led his chosen people out, and they sang and shouted for joy. 44 He gave them the lands of other peoples and let them take over their fields, 45 so that his people would obey his laws and keep all his commands. Praise the LORD!
Psalms 105:43-45 GNB
Relationally, God claimed His people. Nothing could separate them from the love of God. They were overjoyed and worshiped Him. However, this also meant that His expectation for them with His commands could also not be ignored or denied. Relational did not supersede ethical and vice versa. It’s the grace and truth paradox. The gift of God’s land provided the opportunity for the people to live out the holiness of God in obedience. Just like the word dāḇār means promise and law, God’s hope for His people was both relationship and obedience.
The point is clear for us today. God’s promises naturally require obedience. Every promise God entered into with His people had instruction and expectation that followed. It was not out of manipulation, but love, because God knew exactly what we needed and knew we would never choose it on our own. Today, His expectation of us is that we would accept His gift of faith through Jesus’ sacrifice, and also conform to His holiness through the person of the Holy Spirit. If we miss one or the other, we have missed God and His magnificent plan.