Frequently life is compared to a journey. We travel through our years from birth, through youth, middle age, and then through our senior years, on to death. And just like with journeys we go on, it is best to have a map or guidebook with us, instructing us on the best ways to take. On trips we want to avoid going the wrong way and getting lost, avoid bad roads that can do damage to our car, or costly delays. Similarly, through life we would like to avoid these mishaps, many of which can be harmful or costly. Choosing what we follow to guide us through life is important. In our psalm today, King David shares with us who he turned to as his guide.
This world is difficult to navigate. We are frequently being attacked by enemies (vs. 2). We run into snares that entrap us (vs. 15). All throughout life there are afflictions and anxieties (vs. 17). We are also having to deal with our sins and iniquities (vs. 7, 11, 18). Who can help us through all of these roadblocks in our life? David shares with us that it is Yahweh, God of heaven and earth, who will give us guidance and leading throughout life (vs. 4, 9, 10, 12).
David knew he needed God’s guidance all through each hour of each day (vs. 5). David needed His direction. There are lyrics that go with the chime of the clock Big Ben, in London. “All through this hour, Lord, be my guide. And by Thy power, No foot shall slide.” We need to take every decision we are facing to the Lord in prayer, seeking His direction.
David knew from experience that when he did not seek his Heavenly Guide, he strayed on to the wrong paths, the pathways into sin. Yet when he returned to God in repentance, David received His unlimited grace for his sins (vs. 8). God could have condemned David completely. Instead, He allowed David to repent, and to relearn God’s ways and reapply His truths.
Just like on many trips we take, some of God’s paths for us through life are rough and rugged. Others are tedious and boring. However, all of the paths the Lord leads us on are filled with His love and faithfulness (vs. 10). Our path may have obstacles, but God will lead us. His plans are always best for us.
Another hindrance along our path through life are enemies. 72 of the psalms speak of enemies. Our enemies are those who not only oppose us, but also oppose God and His Word. Temptations are also our enemies. Our greatest enemy is Satan. David prayed that God would prevent his enemies from overcoming him because they opposed what God stood for (vs. 2). He felt that if they succeeded, people might think that serving God was futile.
How can we try to keep our path straight and sure, without straying off into harmful ways? One way is to check where we are fixing our eyes. To make a straight line of footprints in the snow or sand, one needs to focus their eyes on something in the distance, not on one’s feet. Looking at one’s feet will lead to making a crooked line. Spiritually, if we focus on ourselves, we will go astray. Keeping our eyes on Jesus will bring a straight and trustworthy path (vs. 15).
An additional help on our pathway is to have a good and healthy fear of the Lord (vs. 12). To fear the Lord is to recognize God for who He is - holy, almighty, righteous, pure, all-knowing, and all-powerful. When we regard God correctly we get a clear picture of ourselves - sinful, weak, and needy. When we see God for who He is and ourselves for what we are, we will bow before Him in humble respect. God offers intimate and lasting friendship to those who revere Him and hold Him in highest honor (vs. 14).
In traveling along roads sometimes we run across delays. The same happens on our life journey. Sometimes God delays in answering our prayers (vs. 20-21). He sees the whole picture all at once. He knows exactly how every little detail will impact our lives. God does not want to bring something into our lives that would destroy us. Something that might be a blessing for us later would ruin us if we had it now. He also seeks to grow integrity and uprightness in our lives throughout our journey (vs. 21). Uprightness leads us to learn God’s requirements, and strive to fulfill them. Integrity is being what we say we are, being a person of our word. It keeps us from claiming to be upright, while instead living like the lost.
Who will be your guide through life? What map or guidebook will you turn to? Let’s strive to take the Lord Jesus as our Guide, and follow His guidebook, the Bible.
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