Psalm 27:11
In this vale of tears and sorrows where we live, our lives are characterized by ups and downs. We can, as children of God, be one minute on the mountain top of faith, and with David confess that God is our light and our salvation. The next minute we can slip down into doubts and perplexities. Then with David we cry out that God hide not His face from us, and put us not away in anger.
The reason for this is not that God has changed. It is due to the fact that we still have a sinful nature, and that there is so much in our lives that reveals that in us there is no reason why God should be our light and our salvation. Looking at ourselves we see that there is no reason for us not to be afraid, not of men, but of God's holy wrath. When we fall into sin, we fall down from the mountain top of faith. We read in Psalm 15 that only "he that walketh uprightly and worketh righteousness" shall dwell in God's house.
Therefore it is so necessary that we with David pray, "Teach me Thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of my enemies", Psalm 27:11. For God's way is the way of His commandments. The plain path is better translated as the level path, one without ups and downs, but instead one with a steady faith and righteous walk. A plain is a level piece of ground. Mountains may be in the distance, but there are no chasms and canyons on it. And it is when we walk on God's way, which is prescribed in His law, and we know what He demands of us in every circumstance of life, that we will enjoy the truth that He is our light and our salvation. When we walk on the level and do not fall into sin, we will have that assurance that God is our light and salvation. We will know how to please Him, and find in our walk that He has begun salvation in us.
And we need to be taught His way because of the temptations of deceitful Satan and his followers. Well may we then pray and sing (PRC Psalter):
Teach me, O Lord, Thy way,
Make plain to me Thy path;
Because of foes, I pray;
Protect me from their wrath:
To false accusers, cruel foes,
O, Lord, do not my soul expose.
Read: Psalm 1
Psalter versification: #72:3
Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism
Song for Meditation: Psalter #150
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Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:
Nehemiah 1-2 ; Nehemiah 3:1-14
1 Corinthians 7:1-24
Psalm 31:19-24
Proverbs 21:4
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Quote for Reflection:
Charles H. Spurgeon: "... Vow we made, too, when we united ourselves to the church of God. There was an understood compact between us and the church, that we would serve it, that we would seek to honour Christ by holy living, increase the church by propagating the faith, seek its unity, its comfort, by our own love and sympathy with the members. We had no right to join with the church if we did not mean to give ourselves up to it, under Christ, to aid in its prosperity and increase. There was a stipulation made, and a covenant understood, when we entered into communion and league with our brethren in Christ. How about that? Can we say that, as unto God and in his sight, the vow has been performed?"
Additional Info
- Date: 11-August
Heys, John A.
Rev. John A. Heys was born on March 16, 1910 in Grand Rapids, MI. He was ordained and installed into the ministry at Hope, Walker, MI in 1941. He later served at Hull, Iowa beginning in 1955. In 1959 he accepted the call to serve the South Holland, IL Protestant Reformed Church. He received and accepted the call to Holland, Michigan Protestant Reformed Church in 1967. He retired from the active ministry in 1980. He entered into glory on February 16, 1998.