Untangling the Web

Psalm 25:12-22

          Have you ever uttered words like this: How will I ever get out of this mess? I think most of us find ourselves caught up in the results of our own dumb choices at some point in our lives. And the first step in recovery is to admit it. And admitting it requires us to accept some new information that perhaps we never knew or maybe previously chose to ignore.

          And admitting it isn’t only for alcoholics and drug addicts. Every Jesus-follower must admit that they are sinners and need a savior. This is where a godly, reverent fear of the LORD comes into the picture. He is in charge, after all. When we surrender we give up the right to kick and scream at His direction for our lives.

          I love that our text begins by saying that He will instruct us in the ways we should choose. He lays out the way, and we must choose to follow that way. He doesn’t force us to make the choice. We can choose to do the stupid again if we want. We can choose to rebel against His authority, but then we miss out on the inheritance He has lined up for us. When we rebel we give up the promised future and ensuing blessings.

          When we choose His path He lets us in on what He is doing. We get the inside scoop. This doesn’t mean that He tells us everything, but that we know more than others about what He has planned. He helps us to understand the covenant, His commitment to us. He lets us know what our obligations are, so that we can be obedient. I don’t mind being held responsible for a standard that I know. I hate being punished for failing to keep a standard I didn’t know. The LORD tells us what He expects so that we can set our hearts on pleasing Him.

          When the inevitable difficulties of life come, we can count on the LORD to be present with us in the middle of the storm and bring us out safely on the other side. When we are bound to Him through surrender, He is bound to us in protection. Just as no shame can be attached to Him, no shame comes our way as we yield to Him. That is why we can have confidence as we pray for His help.

          Even if we get caught up in a snare that we didn’t see, He will untangle us and make sure we are released. Snares are not set by friends. Stares are set by enemies, poachers, hunters, and the vindictive. They are set with the eye to bringing travel to a halt. And once you are caught in a snare, it can be very difficult to get yourself out. This is the nature of a snare. We need outside help.

          Are you willing to ask for help?

Self-Correcting Guidance

Psalm 25:1-11

          With the drive to invent and perfect self-driving cars and the rise of robots in some parts of the world, Japan in particular, there are some who see humans on the verge of being taken over by robots. They will replace and have replaced some factory workers. No union negotiations needed! They have replaced information booth people and concierge services with a computer kiosk. Google has taken over the reference librarian’s job. Physical maps are almost a thing of the past, so there go those jobs.

          The one thing about the self-driving cars that we need to know is that they are constantly collecting data from the outside world in order to do their job. They are connected to satellites to know exactly where they are on the road. They collect distance data from all the other objects around them so that they don’t bump into other cars and people. When traffic slows, they slow. They may be self-driving, but they certainly aren’t independent. They need input and lots of it.

          Our writer tells us about his sources of input. He lets us in on where he finds direction and wisdom to navigate his world. And that source is the LORD. And that navigation starts with plugging into Him. Putting our trust in Him is the orienting anchor. The LORD acts like the navigational GPS; our connection to Him keeps us moving in the right direction. Without trust, we will keep grabbing the wheel and overriding His will for our lives. We have to let go and trust that He knows what He is doing, that He has the best in store for us, that things are not out of His control. We must trust that shame is not coming our way if we follow Him. Shame is a very powerful motivation to avoid things. Shame can paralyze us. With Him, there is no shame in our future.

          Our writer then asks for specific instructions, specific input from the LORD for his journey. He needs his map updated. He wants to have the LORD teach him the paths of life, to guide and direct. This is not a onetime event. This is constant, interactive and engaging communication.

          Can you imagine if your GPS voice caught an attitude when you didn’t follow its directions? You miss a few times and then it starts to call you names and insulting your intelligence. The more you ignore it, the worse it gets. It wouldn’t be long before it would be pitched out the window.

          Our writer wants the LORD to guide him based on his current relationship with the LORD and not on his past history. He wants mercy and love rather than what he deserves. Isn’t that what you want? I like mercy and love!

          We often look on instruction as a negative thing, don’t we? But the LORD’s character requires instruction. Not only do sinners need instruction, like how to start a relationship with the LORD, but every person needs to know His way. Humility is the starting point of all instruction. If we think we know it all, we certainly don’t think we need anyone telling us anything. Humble people are ready and willing to accept the influence of others. So knowing that the LORD is loving and faithful makes it easy to listen to His instruction.

          And humility recognizes the need for forgiveness, not just when we begin our journey of faith, but as an ongoing process of our faith. Are you ready to take a course offered by the LORD?