God’s Wonderful Way

Background Scripture: Psalm 39-40
Lesson Scripture: Psalm 40:1-17

Introduction

God’s way is best; if human wisdom

A fairer way may seem to show,

’Tis only that our earth-dimmed vision

The truth can never clearly know.1

There are many different kinds of roads. Some are narrow and rough; others accommodate many people and are traveled at rapid speeds. Some roads lead through population centers and some to remote destinations. No matter where we are, however, there is one that eventually leads back home.

Jesus tells his followers, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). For someone seeking salvation, God’s way is not simply a convenient alternative. “There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Although there are many blessings, following God’s way may not always be easy. Another way may appear to be more pleasant, but the way of the transgressor is hard, and its end is destruction.

Key Verse

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (1 Pet. 1:3).

Lesson Scripture

Studying the Lesson

As David composed this psalm, he remembered being in a deplorable state. Sin is ugly and feeds our selfish ego. It hurts us and others, and separates us from God. When we, by God’s grace, see our lost condition, we cry out to God but find ourselves powerless to change. As we wait helplessly, our loving Shepherd lifts us out of our sin and washes us with his blood.

A new song was given to David. A heart forgiven experiences the release from sin and guilt. This song is an expression of the peace on someone’s face who has experienced God’s answer in prayer. It may be that which causes people to ask, “What has happened to you?” A simple act of obedience is also a heart melody. When reconciliation is sought with those who have been affected by one’s past sinful life, it makes others’ hearts sing too. Perhaps the most beautiful song is that love which flows out from a soft heart cleansed and filled by the Savior.

David contrasts trusting in God’s greatness to the proud and those who turn to lies. Satan’s temptation in the garden contained a lie: “Hath God said?” All sins have a built-in lie. We may feel that God’s grace will not be great enough for the trial we face, but freedom is found in believing that when God says, “My grace is sufficient for thee” (2 Cor. 12:9), it is absolutely true. Too many fear that consecration will cause a person to have less fun, cause too many restrictions, or enforce a narrow-minded way of thinking. David realized that the blessings available to the faithful could not be numbered.

David’s descriptions of surrender are profound. The writer of Hebrews recognized the words out of verses 6-8 in the lesson text as a description of Christ’s surrender (Heb. 10:5-9). In turmoil and confusion, we wrestle with questions such as, Does God really love me and care about me? Are my sins forgiven? and What must I do to be saved? Jesus was assured of his father’s love (John 10:17). The Father delights to bless us with the same assurance as we surrender all the questions of our past, reservations of the present, and ambitions of the future to Him.

As David found delight in doing God’s will, he found that God placed his law within his heart. Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit as the Comforter who guides us into all truth. Life takes on deeper meaning as He convicts us of sin, righteousness, and judgment. As He warms us with his presence, we dread the thought of the emptiness of his absence. We grieve the Holy Spirit by disobeying Him, and repentance becomes a path of restoration on which his presence is restored.

David asked that his enemies be shamed and confused, which could infer that God does not bless those who turn away from Him. Vengeance, however, belongs to God. Romans 12:19-21 instructs us to return good for evil; we do not strike out at evil but actively pursue good in defense of God’s way.

Following God’s way does not mean that we are furnished with a place free from harm or evil. Neither can God’s approval be gauged by the lack of adversity. David endured many dangers, threats to his life, and betrayal by a close friend (Ps. 41:9). Like David, we are in a poor and needy condition both in times of prosperity and adversity.

Practical Truths for Today

Too often we take the blessings of God’s way for granted. Is it possible to improve upon God’s plan? Would it work better if we incorporated some of our own ideas into God’s original design? Perhaps we suppose some of the less desirable conditions could be eliminated. God’s ways are higher than our ways, and his thoughts are higher than our thoughts (Isa. 55:9). When we try to change his way into something we think would work better, the results will be disappointing. God’s grace, however, is always greater than human error, sin, and weakness. No matter how far we stray, God continues to call and draw us to Himself. When we turn to Him in contrite repentance, God has a way for us to come to Him. We may see the obstacles in our way, but God sees the way through them.

God’s plan is exhaustive in its scope and minute in its detail. We can behold this as we observe the vast order of the cosmos and the intricate organization of cellular biology. At times, a Christian may worry that his plans and intentions might be outside of God’s plan. God created Adam and Eve in his likeness in the garden of Eden. He made them with the ability to think, make choices, and subdue the earth. Although this ability is often used by humanity to cause heartache, suffering, and even death, God will not rescind free choice. A Christian retains the ability to make choices but uses it to honor God. As Christians, we ask God to guide our decisions and then go in faith, using our minds to the best of our ability while having hearts filled with a love for God. If we find we are mistaken in our discernment, humility will be instrumental in opening doors of forgiveness from God and our fellowmen.

God’s way embodies our relationships with one another. This includes doctrine, which is another way of defining the teachings of Jesus. As followers of Jesus, we accept his doctrine as a singular body of instruction. We cannot choose to follow the easy points and reject those we find to be difficult. Jesus’s teachings are all-encompassing; there is no compartment of our life that lies outside of our submission to Christ. We should not think of the doctrine of Jesus as a cold law to be followed but as a living template in which we find delight. We can marvel how the true doctrine continues to speak to people in all ages and in every culture.

Let us be wary of the many ways available to us. Some roads promise relief from the hardship of the cross. Other roads appear to lead to a destination that seems promising. Just as the story of Christian in Pilgrim’s Progress tells of him encountering different paths and trying some of them to his own disappointment, each of us will be presented with paths that appeal to our flesh in a personal way. A choice may not be wrong of itself, but the evil one may use it as a wedge between a believer and his brethren. This leaves a person in a dangerous position. There is power in Jesus’s teaching of telling a brother “his fault between thee and him alone” (Matt. 18:15-20). The strength of this practice is in submission one to another (Eph. 5:21), and it fortifies conference decisions, guards against critical feelings, and reveals the deceptiveness of individualistic spirits.

Illustration

The story is told of a brother who went to town on business during a period of international conflict. While in town, he was approached by a group selling war bonds to fund the country’s involvement in the war. The fervor of patriotism was running high on a national level, and his refusal to purchase the bonds was met with scorn. The nationalists threatened to visit the brother’s home after dark with the intention of tarring and feathering him. The brother had the grace to return home and retire for the night in a normal manner with his trust and submission placed in his heavenly Father. He was never interrupted from his rest by an angry mob. Later he was told that his neighbors were prepared to interrupt the angry mob should they have chosen to make such a visit. Thankfully they did not have occasion to intervene.

Today we can follow the example left to us by the faithful ones who have gone on before us as a great cloud of witnesses. We also draw strength from those whom we stand beside today, and they draw strength from us as we follow God’s way. This is a blessing and a testament to the fact that Jesus lives, and the gates of hell will not prevail against his church.

Questions

1. How far can we step outside of God’s perfect design and still be within his plan?
2. How can we live so that God’s way is portrayed with delight? What gives it the appearance of bondage and futility?
3. Challenging spirits not only present themselves as another way but also portray God’s way as inadequate or wrong. How can we recognize and guard against these spirits?
4. How does the “new song” stay new?
5. 1 Charles W. Naylor, “God’s Way Is Best,” Christian Hymnal

Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).