Walking with God
Obeying God always brings opposition. That might not be so bad if we obeyed him perfectly, but we don’t. Wonderfully, the God of all grace protects, forgives, and guides us in his path.
A David psalm.
1 I lift my heart to you, YHWH.
2 I trust in you, my God.
Please don’t humiliate me
or let my enemies revel in my ruin.
3 Don’t let anyone
who looks to you be disgraced.
Rather, let those be disgraced
who act treacherously for no reason.
4 Show me your ways, YHWH
and help me walk in them.
5 Lead me in your truth and teach me
because you’re the God who delivers me.
I hope in you from dawn to dusk.
6 Remember how you’ve acted
with compassion and relentless love
from time immemorial, YHWH.
7 Forget my youthful sins and rebellion.
Because you are goodness personified, YHWH
look at me only
in the light of your unyielding love.
8 Because YHWH is good
and always does what’s right
he guides those who go astray
back to the true path.
9 He guides the afflicted in the way of justice
and reveals his path to those bowed down.
10 All of YHWH’s ways
reveal his unfailing love and truth
to those who order their lives
in keeping with his covenant.
11 Display your noble character, YHWH
by pardoning my sin
grave as it is.
12 What can be said
of those who revere YHWH?
He leads them in his chosen path.
13 They flourish in every way
and their children will inherit the land.
14 YHWH offers his friendship
to those who fear him
enabling them to grasp
the meaning of his covenant.
15 My eyes are always on YHWH
who frees my feet from the trap.
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me
for I’m friendless and forlorn.
17 My anxieties threaten my very life.
Release me from them all.
18Look at my misfortunes
see my pain and forgive all my sins.
19 See how many enemies I have
and how violently they oppose me.
20 Rescue my soul and protect me.
Don’t leave me stranded
now that I’ve put my trust in you.
21 May your integrity and virtue protect me
because I wait for you.
22 Redeem Israel, O God
from all her troubles!
This acrostic psalm’s rambling style may be meant to approximate life’s messiness: by alternating between confession of faith and confession of sin, David creates the sort of tension we regularly experience. He knows God’s path leads to flourishing and commits to following it, yet he struggles to do so. Acrostic psalms also aim to deal comprehensively with their topic—in this case, walking with God.
Never easy, the right road runs right through enemy territory. Taking it has left David in trouble, hurting, and alone—with public disgrace threatening ahead. He’s had some falls, he faces violently treacherous enemies, and he dreads defeat with its attendant shame. He knows how weak and vulnerable he is. But he also knows he’s on the right path and is trusting that his guide won’t fail him.
Thankfully, David returns repeatedly to God’s grace and goodness, the focus of the psalm’s chiasm.[1] David isn’t seeking to earn forgiveness—he asks God to forgive simply because he’s merciful. The ancient Middle East’s gods were viewed as arrogant and disdainful of their subjects. By contrast, YHWH is gracious not just to his obedient servants, but to repentant rebels too. Though his servants often fail him, he remains faithful, helping them to stay on course.
With God giving them all the protection, forgiveness, and guidance they need, what more could they want? Knowing this enables David to wait on God for deliverance. And the psalm’s final verse opens this redemption up to all God’s people.
Jesus, I swing between faith and unbelief as both others’ opposition and my weaknesses threaten to undo me and the good I do. Yet following you is the only way to life. Forgive my sins and guide me in your way. Help me to wait on you. Redeem me for the honor of your name. Amen.
During your free moments today, meditate on these words:
He guides the afflicted in the way of justice
and reveals his path to those bowed down.
[1] The psalm’s chiasm is as follows: A: Cry for help (1-3), B: Plea that YHWH will teach David his ways (4-5), C: Plea for forgiveness (6-7), D: YHWH’S WONDERFUL CHARACTER (8-10), C: Plea for forgiveness (11), B: YHWH will teach his servants his way (12-14), A: Cry for help (15-22).
