Pronouncing and declaring God's law holds the power to bring both life and death. Our natural human tendency leans toward gradual, incremental change, but authentic transformation occurs through a process of dying to ourselves—by boldly proclaiming the law that condemns wickedness and mortifies the flesh, all through reliance on the Spirit and the Word of God. The law pronounces death upon those who trust in their own efforts, shifting our dependence away from fleeting promises and self-reliance toward God's mighty and unshakeable power. God invites us to approach Him with boldness—not merely pragmatic confidence—but with faith that is rooted in divine authority, enabling us to experience waves of divine pleasure that surpass human understanding. When we declare God's covenants, we counteract our fallen instinct to depend on our own reasoning, which often leads us astray. The Fall introduced idols—things we come to trust more than God—and caused us to undervalue God's creation while placing our trust in our works and efforts. Instead, we are called to boldly proclaim and declare God's covenants, commanding God in humble faith to establish our future based on His promises, which go beyond our limited understanding and plans. These verbal proclamations cultivate a posture of self-forgetfulness; pain and frustration arise when we cling tightly to our own plans, but when we speak God's sworn promises, divine timing and transformation occur. These declarations mold us into the image of Christ, a process that is profoundly joyful. Psalm 87:7 proclaims, "As they make music, they will sing, 'All my fountains are in you.'" The psalmist reveals that God's presence—symbolized by the Ark of the Covenant in Zion—restores the original covenant of creation. God, who speaks all things into existence through His law, covenants, curses, statutes, decrees, and promises—these form the very foundation of reality itself. These divine gifts are conveyed to the psalmist through spoken words and heartfelt prayers, which restore spiritual health within the soul. Just as hidden streams flow beneath Zion and become fresh springs to quench the thirst of the weary, so too do these divine declarations nourish and sustain our inner life with divine vitality. Through meditating on and declaring these divine truths, we ascend higher and delve deeper into the spiritual life. Year after year, our meditation becomes more profound, digging new springs within the soul—unceasing fountains of joy flowing from Zion and Christ, where "all my fountains are in you." This ongoing spiritual journey continually renews and reinforces the divine life within us, rooted in the eternal springs of Zion and Christ. Psalm 1 offers a clear promise: those who meditate on God's law become like a tree planted beside streams of water—bearing fruit in season, with leaves that never fade (v. 3). The Hebrew word "hagah," translated as meditate, suggests not just silent reflection but also audible murmuring or declaring aloud. When we voice God's commands, covenants, curses, decrees, and promises, divine illumination dawns upon us. The psalmist receives God's counsel constantly—morning, noon, and night—reflecting the rhythm celebrated in Psalm 119, which describes a continual delight in God's Word. These divine pronouncements are the inheritance of God's elect—the very gifts of creation—equipping us to influence and shape future realities. The Psalms are designed to lead us through stages of ascent and descent—reflecting our spiritual journey. Every experience of the psalmist is governed by these divine declarations. By ascending through the declaration of God's law and covenant, we rise into God's strength, which floods our souls with joy. This ascent is a supernatural confidence—a vision of eternity breaking into the present; although our earthly lives are fleeting, God's words alone contain eternal truth. To truly identify with Christ, we must taste this glory now—allowing springs of joy and delight to well up from within. Ascending in faith becomes an act of spiritual warfare—calling into the present the eternal realities that oppose our enemies. Declaring curses also serves to purge any desire for personal revenge. Anger, which is a sickness of hardened hearts, becomes a compromise with a fallen world. When we speak God's curses, we learn to delight in His Word as the absolute truth. Though we may hesitate to firmly embrace doctrinal clarity out of fear of man’s opinions, the pronouncement of curses deepens our confidence in God amid a culture that exalts human achievement. This, too, becomes a source of profound divine pleasure.