Psalm 25, Verse 8-10 (NASB 1995): “Good and upright is the Lord; Therefore He instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in justice, And He teaches the humble His way. All the paths of the Lord are lovingkindness and truth to those who keep His covenant and His testimonies.”
You’d be very foolish not to follow the advice of a guide in whom you trusted your safety. And yet, how quickly we blame the Guide when we land in trouble due to our lack of trust or sheer stubborness.
In several places in Psalms, David asks the Lord to show him the right path. His humble and transparent heart is revealed throughout this psalm, and this humility is a key factor in his connection with the Lord.
In verse 9, David declares, “He leads the humble in justice, And He teaches the humble His way.”
Imagine if you put your life into the hands of a skilled mountain guide. You pay that guy a lot of money to lead you safely up that mountain. Now imagine you ignore everything he says to you because you think you know more than the Guide does, and you head in another direction. It wouldn’t go very well for you if you were climbing Mount Everest, even as an experienced climber.
A humble heart is the first requirement to hear the Lord’s voice when we pray for guidance and direction. The next requirement is an obedient spirit, meaning we obey and take the advice He might give us to heart. This might sound simplistic, but walking out our lives humbly and acknowledging that we don’t always know the right thing to do is not always easy. We aren’t in charge; sometimes, that can be a hard pill to swallow. Still, it’s easier to swallow that pill when we realize how much God loves us and how sweet His intentions are toward us. As the old song goes, “Just a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down in the most delightful way. ”
“Follow me!” With those two words, Jesus invited people from all walks of life to join Him on a grand adventure. But notice that Jesus didn’t say, “I will follow you.” He didn’t say, “It’s okay, do what you want. If you need me, just give me a shout, and I will come to your rescue.” N0, our Guide and leader said, “Follow me.” This doesn’t mean God is a harsh ruler. Not at all! He delights in fulfilling the desires of our hearts.
As followers of Christ, our true identity is found in the call to follow Him. We have no reason to fear even when we journey through difficult times. Our Guide walks alongside us, leading us through each challenging moment. Yes, He guides us to lush pastures, but sometimes the road may feel uncertain. Trust in the Good Shepherd—He will always lead us rightly, bringing us safely through every storm. Hope blooms in the promise that our Guide will never lead us astray.
©2024 Katherine Walden