“Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies.” Psalm 27:11 Facing enemies is not how most people see the world around us. This was written by king David who faced plenty of dangerous foes. Something we all have in common is we all have at least one enemy. The Adversary of our souls is constantly working to separate us from the love of God.
How did David respond when trouble came his way? Did he run and hide? Sometimes he did. He didn’t cry… often. Did he get upset and rage at God? Upon occasion, yes he did. Those responses are genuine human responses and none of them surprise our Maker. We are all created in their image after all. (Gen 1) Eventually, David learned to respond differently while remaining true to himself.
Psalm 27 begins with great praise of our Creator. “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?” David begins to lay out his circumstances, but he doesn’t actually complain.
Instead, David ties the character of God to each struggle before him. By this time in his life David had lived long enough to experience the goodness of God in many difficult situations. He cultivated an intimacy with his Maker that assured him: “I believe that I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!” v13. He knew God had his back and will make a way, a level path, through his problems to the other side.
David learned to let go of fear because God’s perfect love chases fear away. And he does it without an attitude of entitlement. He humbly asks the Lord, “teach me your ways.” David knows he is prone to wander from the ways of righteousness. He was an adulterer, a murderer, he lied, he was selfish and generally a normal person. At the same time Paul in Acts 13:22 described David as “a man after God’s own heart who will do all my will.” Through trial and error God and David became devoted friends.
So what about us? Troubles in life are inevitable. We all face challenges and difficulties. In those tough situations we can choose to turn from God or give up or press through to become better and stronger people.
James writes, “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. James 1:2-4 NLT
If we allow it, our trials can press us into the promises and the person of God. We cry out: “Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies.” Those honest prayers touch the heart of God.
What or who is challenging you in this season? What aspects of the nature and character of the God of the Bible can you apply to your circumstances?
