His ways or other ways; who’s influencing us most?
The Psalms, David’s Songs, are about his heart love and not so much head knowledge of God. He wrote at least half of the psalms, the longest book in the Bible, with the longest chapter psalm 119 (176 verses) and the shortest, psalm 117.
David’s psalms may have been birthed through a life under constant threat from enemies. Many of David’s psalms begin with him crying out in distress for God to help, have mercy and deliver him. Many also end, or contain statements of faith that God will rescue him and not give him over to his enemies. He encourages himself to rise above the threats of those around him and trust in the Lord.
The opening words of the Book begin with the phrase,
‘Blessed is the man’, there are blessings for those who are willing to partner and walk with the Lord.
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not whither. Whatever he does prospers. Ps. 1:1-3
(No name is given for the writer of the first psalm).
David constantly calls to God to ‘teach him’ His ways, as if his heart is longing to be closer to God. David sought hard after God, because his life depended on hearing and obeying God! Things may have begun to change for Western Believers today; we may have to be a lot more focused and no longer be careless, in our own personal walk with the Lord.
I DO NOT SIT WITH deceitful men, nor do I CONSORT WITH hypocrites; I ABHOR the assembly(company) of evildoers and REFUSE TO SIT WITH the wicked. Psalm 26:4, 5
David avoids wrong influences and chooses instead to be around His God and talking to people about Him.
I wash my hands in innocence, and go about your altar, O Lord, proclaiming aloud your praise and telling of all your wonderful deeds. I love the house where you live, O Lord, the place where your glory dwells. Psalm 26:6, 7, 8
In the previous psalm, Psalm 25, we see David asking God to teach him His ways;
SHOW me your ways, O Lord, TEACH me your paths; GUIDE me in your truth and TEACH me, for you are God my saviour and my hope is in you/wait for all day long. Psalm 25:4, 5
Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he INSTRUCTS sinners in his ways. He GUIDES the humble in what is right and TEACHES them His way. All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant. Psalm 25:8, 9, 10
David wouldn’t allow himself to be under ungodly influences but he called out often for God to Teach, Instruct, Guide, Direct him.
Who, then, is the one that Fears the Lord? He will Instruct them in the way chosen for them Psalm 25:12
God wants to help and guide us in our lives today, just as He did for David.
God bless and keep you today.