“Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies.”Psalm 27:11 ESV
Reflection: is the Lord with you?
I was watching the first season of series called “The House of David” yesterday, as I had many hours on a plane. Keep in mind, however, this series is not necessarily scripturally accurate, and they do take many “creative liberties” for making the story line. One such scene is between young David and the prophet Samuel, after has anointed David to be next king of Israel. The two of them are having a dialogue about how the Lord God has been with the king Saul in battle, giving him many victories as the anointed king of Israel. But by this time Saul had become very self absorbed in power and wealth, no longer serving the Lord God first. And therefore God took his mantle, his kingship from him and gave it to David. Samuel tells David, that the question is not whether the Lord is on our side; it is a question of
whether we are on the side of the Lord.
While this is probably a dramatization of real events, it rings so very true. We see this humble heart in David, as he wrote “Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies. Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence. I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” Psalm 27:11-14 ESV. David was anointed as king of Israel by God, a mighty king, wise and wealthy. Yet he turned to the Lord.
Now, notice the situation David was in at that time. He had many enemies, adversaries, and false witnesses that had come against him. And even in this very moment, when the going got really tough for David, he turned to the Lord, saying
“Teach me your way, O Lord”. We know that during good times, it is easy to say that it is the Lord blessing us. But when things are hard in life, it is much more difficult to say it. To turn to the Lord, and accept the path the Lord has for us. That despite our strength, smarts, or even power and position, only the Lord knows the right way. The right path. It is putting self and pride aside, and asking God humbly to lead the way. To truly say,
“Not my will, but your will be done”
Jesus had to submit in the garden, even if that meant taking the most difficult path ever taken. But He fully trusted His Father, even in this, which was in fact Father God’s will and plan. Why would God allow this to happen to His beloved Son? ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”John 3:16 ESV. World here means “the multitude” of His creation; not as in our corrupted and evil world system.
We ask the Lord to be with us, which is of course good and Biblical. But, often that means we want the Lord to bless our plans. Perhaps we should instead be asking how we can be on the side of the Lord, part of His plan? Not our will, but His be done even if it is a difficult path? Let us humbly pray today, surrendering fully to the Lord “Teach me your way, O Lord”. Then we can say with David “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1 ESV