Walking with God
Obeying God always brings opposition. That might not be so bad if we only obeyed him perfectly. But wonderfully, the God of all grace forgives, protects, and guides us in his path.
A David psalm.
1 To you, YHWH
I lift my soul.
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 put my 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 unrelenting 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 cling to his promises
and obey his commands.
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!
Alternating between confessions of faith and cries for mercy, this acrostic psalm’s rambling style seems to approximate life’s messiness, as 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 brought David trouble and left him in pain, all alone, and threatened by public disgrace. He’s had some falls, he faces 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 goodness and grace, the focus of the psalm’s chiasm.[1] With no effort to earn forgiveness, David asks God to forgive simply because he’s merciful. While the ancient Middle East’s gods were seen as arrogant and disdainful of their subjects, YHWH is gracious to not just obedient servants, but also repentant rebels.
Though his servants often fail him, God remains faithful, helping them stay on course. Since David knows he can count on him for forgiveness, protection, and guidance, he commits to waiting for his deliverance. And the redemption David needs for himself, he knows Israel needs as well. So, he ends by asking God to redeem his people as a whole.
Prayer:
Jesus, I swing between faith and unbelief as my own weaknesses and external opposition threaten to undo me and any good I do. Yet following you is the only way to life. Forgive my sins and guide me in your way. Help me 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).
