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WEEKLY
Volume 2 Number 40
2 March 2008
God’s Guidance
(Message
delivered by Rev Hien Nguyen at the Sunday Worship Service, 2 pm, Feb
24, 08)
Text:
Ps 32:7-9
When we travel in a familiar area or
when we have been to a location several times, we hardly think that we
need a guide or a map to get there. However, if it is the first time for
us to go to a new place in a foreign country, we cannot get to a desired
destination without a guide that may be a map, a GPS, a friend, a tour
guide, or some right directions from people on the way. You and I
sometimes get to a junction or crossroads and we do not know which
direction we should take, left, right or straight. How can you and I get
to a desired location safely if we travel alone through jungles or at
sea without a compass, a map, or a GPS? How can you and I get to a place
safely if we walk in a thick dark night without any torches or light?
How can you and I get to a place safely if we wander into a minefield?
In such situations, we do need and appreciate a guide. Spiritually
speaking, how can we know for sure that we are on the right track to
Heaven in this world of darkness full of snares, temptations, or dangers
with misleading or confusing directions, with so many human religions,
philosophies, worldly values or mindsets, even in Christianity, with so
many denominations (not to mention so many cults or occult groups), with
so many false teachers, false prophets, and false brethren, or with so
many Bible versions, doctrines, books, commentaries, articles, websites,
etc? Dear friends, do you and I realise that we truly need a true guide
to lead us to God and to His Truth and to Heaven? It is so dangerous to
think that we are right while we are misled or on the wrong track. No
one has been to Heaven and has come back to lead us. We must greatly
thank God for sending His only begotten Son from Heaven to this world of
sin and darkness to be our true and Divine Guide to God Himself and to
Heaven. The Lord Jesus Christ says, “I am the way, the truth, and the
life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). We must
greatly thank God for having preserved His perfect Word as a perfect
guide to lead us to a true knowledge of God and of man and of His
salvation for mankind.
Many a time in our lives we are so
worried for not knowing which decision we should make, which direction
we should take, where we should go, what we should do or say, how to
solve the problems or deal with difficulties, etc. Thank God for God’s
precious Word that we may have peace when we wholeheartedly trust in God
and His guidance as He has promised: “I will instruct thee and teach
thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye”
(Ps 32:8) and “Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast
holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and
afterward receive me to glory” (Ps 73:23-24).
Background of Psalm 32
We are not sure in what event of
David’s life that he composed Psalm 32. Whether before or after his sins
against God in the matter of Bathsheba and Uriah, David praised God for
the blessings and happiness for a man whose sins are forgiven and his
life is guided by God. Psalm 32:1-2, “Blessed is he whose
transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto
whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no
guile” is quoted by the Apostle Paul (Rom 4:7-8) to confirm the
blessings of a sinner who is justified by faith in God alone and not by
his works.
Then, David shared his blessed
experience of God’s guidance in His life. When David confessed to God,
“Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou
shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance” (v 7), this is
God’s response, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which
thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye” (v 8). Many
commentators interpret verse 8 as David’s
words to his people or other sinners (cf. Ps 51:12-13), and by this
interpretation they miss the blessing of God’s guidance. How do we know
the truth? (1) The use of the second singular pronoun “thou, thee” in
verses 7 and 8 tells us of the direct conversation between David and
God. “Thou” in verse 7 refers to God and “my, me” refers to David, then
“I” in verse 8 refers to God and “thee, thou” refers to David. David
could not have just confessed to God and then turned around and directly
spoke to an identified second singular person before him; (2) David
acknowledged his fallibility, “Who can understand his errors? cleanse
thou me from secret faults” (Ps 19:12) and “Search me, O God, and
know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any
wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Ps
139:23-24), then he could not arrogantly say that he would instruct,
teach and guide someone with his eye. Moreover, the verb “instruct” here
means “cause to consider, cause to understand, give insight, make wise,”
which refers to God’s illumination (cf. Eph 1:17-18). Who dare say that
he may know all God’s will and God’s way to instruct and teach others in
all aspects of their lives?; and (3) “I will guide thee with my eye”
literally means “I will counsel/guide thee, mine eye (will be) upon
thee, ” and this can only refer to God, who is everywhere and
all-knowing, “Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him,
upon them that hope in his mercy” (Ps 33:18), and “For the eyes
of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself
strong in the behalf of them whose
heart is perfect toward him” (2 Chron 16:9). Therefore, dear
friends, shall you and I trust in God’s guidance?
God’s Guidance Is Sure and
Perfect
How can we know and trust that God’s
guidance is sure and perfect? God’s perfect and sure Word says so.
God’s Promises and Faithful
Guidance: God
promises to guide His people. He has faithfully done it and will do it
faithfully unto the end. “I will instruct thee and
teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine
eye” (v 8). “I
am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by
the way that thou shouldest go” (Isa 48:17), and “The LORD shall
guide thee continually” (Isa 58:11). God faithfully guided Abraham,
Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, His people, etc. When you and I
recall what God has done in our lives, we shall praise the Lord for
guiding us to Himself, to His truth, to His salvation, even guiding us
where to study, work, live and worship Him. Then will you and I continue
trusting in the Lord and His faithful guidance?
Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd:
Sheep are harmless, simple, naive, and defenceless. They must have a
shepherd to guide them and take care of them or else they will go astray
and be easy prey for wolves and fierce beasts. Likewise, we do need the
guidance, loving care and protection of our Lord Jesus Christ, our Good
Shepherd. The Lord Jesus says, “And when he putteth forth his own
sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his
voice. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the
sheep” (John 10:4). We shall have peace when we remember and trust
that our Lord goes before us to leads us and carries us through all the
difficulties, problems, dangers, trials, persecutions in life and
ministry. Are you and I His sheep? “My sheep hear my voice, and I
know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27).
God’s Perfect Word:
God spoke to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, His prophets, apostles
and His servants directly or through visions and dreams as His Word had
not been completely recorded yet. We must thank God for His complete and
sufficient Word perfectly preserved for us today, the Hebrew and Greek
texts underlying our King James Bible. “Thy word
is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path”
(Ps 119:105). God’s Word is our perfect guide and sufficient for all our
needs in faith, doctrines, worship, practice and life. God’s Word
teaches us how to pray and return to God in repentance, how to fear,
trust and serve the Lord, how to speak or behave ourselves, how to deal
with others, what we should do when we are sick, sorrowful, lonely or in
troubles. God’s Word is like a compass or a map guiding us to God’s will
and our heavenly destination. None of us wants a defect compass/GPS or a
misleading map with many changed, modified, omitted or added details.
Sadly, many nowadays do not care about the
9,970 Greek words that were changed, modified, omitted and added
in Westcott and Hort’s corrupt texts underlying the modern versions! How
about you and me? Shall we not be wise to choose the perfect Word of God
to guide us?
The Holy Spirit:
We must greatly thank God for sending the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of
Truth to be our faithful Guide, teaching us and guiding us into all
truth (John 14:26; 16:13). The Holy Spirit not only guides us to
understand God’s Word, God’s will and God’s truth but also helps us to
do God’s Word. It is foolish to trust in ourselves rather than the Holy
Spirit (Gal 3:1-3).
God’s Sovereignty and
Providence:
Nothing happens to God’s children by accident or by chance. Our
all-knowing and almighty God is in control not only over all historical
events of mankind but also over the minute details in the life of God’s
children (Matt 10:29-31). God may guide us through the preaching or
advice of His faithful servants or godly children, or through all the
incidents in our lives. God may close one door and open another door for
us to lead us. He may change our own direction and will through a sudden
sickness, failure, accident or even through the pressure and
persecutions of the wicked. Surely, “And we know that all things work
together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called
according to his purpose” (Rom 8:28). Shall we not trust in our
loving and almighty Father’s sovereignty and give thanks to Him in all
things?
How to Enjoy God’s
Guidance
How do you and I enjoy God’s guidance?
Pray for God’s Guidance:
David prayed to the Lord for His guidance and leading, “Teach
me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine
enemies” (Ps 27:11), and “For
thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me,
and guide me”
(Ps 31:3). Do you and I earnestly and wholeheartedly pray
for God’s guidance in our lives and ministry?
Acknowledge God:
“In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths”
(Prov 3:6). In all our ways and plans, do you and I remember the Lord,
acknowledge His Godhood, Lordship and sovereignty, and then look unto
Him for His guidance so that He may direct our paths?
Fear God and Be Teachable:
“The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his
way…What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way
that he shall choose” (Ps 25:9, 12). The meek are those who
are humble, teachable and receptive to God’s Word. It is not wise
to be stubborn, “Be ye not as the horse, or as
the mule, which
have no understanding: whose
mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto
thee” (Ps 32:9).
How about the fear of the Lord? “The fear of the LORD is to hate
evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do
I hate” (Prov 8:13). Do you and I fear God and hate evil, pride,
arrogance, evil way and lies? Dear friends, shall we not fear God and be
wise, humble and teachable to receive God’s guidance?
Commit to the Lord and
Trust in Him:
“Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring
it to pass… Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him” (Ps
37:5, 7). Even when we do not see God’s will and His way clearly, it is
wise to commit ourselves and everything to the Lord, trust in Him and
wait upon Him. It is a great testing to wait upon the Lord in times of
emergency or when we urgently need guidance to make an important
decision. King Saul failed to wait upon the Lord when he saw his enemies
approaching and his people scattering and hiding and when Samuel was
late. He foolishly offered burn offering, thinking that by doing that
his people might be encouraged and strengthened while it was not his
office to do that. (1 Sam 13: 8-13). Dear friends, do you and I still
wait upon the Lord patiently, trust in Him and commit everything to Him
no matter what may happen to us in times of
emergency or in dangers?
Following Jesus Just
Step by Step:
Our Lord Jesus Christ was guided by His Father, the Holy Spirit and
God’s Word, and He faithfully fulfilled His Father’s will and work
despite the way of the cross. To the eyes of His enemies, even His
disciples, His death on the cross was the end of His life and ministry
on earth, but to God’s eyes, Jesus would be victoriously risen from the
dead and become the living Saviour of the world! May God help us look
unto the Lord, “the
author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before
him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right
hand of the throne of God” (Heb
12:2). It is not wise for the sheep to run before the Shepherd, but it
is always wise and safe to walk after the Shepherd, just step by step at
a time. Dear friends, we do not know what may happen to us tomorrow, but
we may trust in our Divine Shepherd, who always leads us and goes ahead
of us and His way is always good, right, righteous, and perfect.
Conclusion
Dear friends, no matter how knowledgeable,
smart or clever you and I may be, we do need God’s guidance. God’s Word
warns us, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end
thereof are the ways of death” (Prov 14:12; 16:25). Many people do
not like narrow way in the boundaries of God’s Word that leads to life.
They like the broad way, easy way, and popular way in which the majority
are going, but the end is only the destruction of their souls. It is
easy to be misled in this sinful and confusing world. Let us closely
follow after our Lord and His Word just step by step at a time with
prayer, trust, fear, meekness, and submission until the end. Amen.
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