KNOWING THE WAYS OF GOD
PSALM 25
IN THIS PSALM WE ARE CONFRONTED WITH THE DESIRE OF DAVID TO RECEIVE INSTRUCTION FROM GOD CONCERNING HIS (GOD’S) WAYS. WHAT A WONDERFUL THOUGHT FOR US TO PONDER THIS EVENING – HOW DO WE RECEIVE INSTRUCTION FROM GOD? OR, PERHAPS MORE APTLY, WHAT DO I NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO RECEIVE INSTRUCTION FROM GOD?
1. WE NEED TO ASK – 25:4-5
a. THE PSALMIST WISHES TO KNOW GOD'S WAY, TO BE TAUGHT HIS PATH, AND TO BE LED INTO HIS TRUTH.
b. HE CANNOT DISCERN THIS WAY UNLESS GOD SHOW IT;
c. HE CANNOT LEARN THE PATH UNLESS GOD TEACH IT;
d. AND HE CANNOT WALK IN GOD'S TRUTH UNLESS GOD LEAD HIM:
e. AND GOD CONTINUES TO TEACH, HE SHALL NEVER FULLY LEARN THE LESSONS OF HIS SALVATION; THEREFORE HE ADDS, "LEAD ME IN THY TRUTH, AND TEACH ME;"
2. WE NEED TO ASK AS DAVID ASKED – 25:4-7.9,12
a. ASK FOR INSTRUCTION
b. ASK FOR GUIDANCE
c. ASK FOR PARDON
i. USES THE WORD REMEMBER 3 TIMES IN VERSES 6 AND 7
NOTICE THAT DAVID IS NOT AFRAID TO TURN TO GOD FOR THE SINS OF HIS PAST.
GUESS WHAT, WE ALL OUR SINS ARE SINS OF THE PAST. SOMETIMES WE GET SO PRESENT AND FUTURE FOCUSED THAT WE FORGET AND NEGLECT THE REAL ISSUE – THE ISSUES OF OUR PAST. HAVE WE REALLY SPENT TIME ASKING GOD TO CLEANSE OUR PAST? NOT REDEMPTIVELY, BUT POSITIONALLY!
3. NOTICE THE BASIS OF GOD’S RESPONSE (WHY GOD WILL RESPOND) – 25:8-11
a. GOD IS GOOD
b. GOD IS UPRIGHT
c. GOD IS LOVING
d. GOD IS FAITHFUL
e. GOD’S REVEALED CHARACTER
THE FINAL KEY TO KNOWING THE WAYS OF GOD IS THAT THE INSTRUCTION AND GUIDANCE OF GOD IS LINKED TO MY CONFESSION OF SIN, AND RIGHTEOUS STANDING BEFORE HIM.
