"God will give us grace to walk wisely" - Matthew Henry

November 12, 2016

Worship: Have Mercy on Me by Sovereign Grace Music

I am a sinner, You're blameless, Lord
My sins against You can't be ignored
They will be punished, I know they must
Your laws demands it, for You are just

If You would count everything that I've done wrong
Who could stand?
But there's forgiveness with You, God

Have mercy on me, have mercy on me
A broken and a contrite heart
You won't turn away
Have mercy on me, have mercy on me
Because of Your steadfast love

Father of mercy, You gave Your Son
To make atonement for wrongs I have done
What You required Jesus fulfilled
I don't deserve it, I never will

Music and words by Dale Bischof and Pat Sczebel.
© 2011 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI)/Sovereign Grace Worship (ASCAP)

http://sovereigngracemusic.org/

• License
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• Music
• "Have Mercy on Me" by Sovereign Grace 

Video Link: https://youtu.be/kbs9wOOkwpM?list=RDrXwVgkmGDd4

Witness:

Procrastination… it should be my middle name. I am an expert when it comes to it. Be at work by 10 pm… try 10:08 pm. Be at church by 6 pm… try 6:15 pm. If it’s your birthday be assured your card will arrive late if at all. I planned on having a good 2-hour quiet time… it’s 8:36 pm and I am just getting started… and I have to be at work at 10 pm. 

I ask myself, “why am I like this?” I can think of several reasons. When I was a kid, I would stay in bed as long as I could before getting up for school. That began a habit that has hounded me until now. Distractions are another thing that easily entraps me. Before I started this entry, I was clearing out my emails. During that time, I had, of course, to chase a few rabbit trails and fill out my Publisher Clearing House Sweepstakes entry and do a useless search on PCH Search to add an entry there as well. And don’t forget the many enticing adds or “news” offerings that appear in the emails I am reading. Then there is the TV. I thought I had that under control. For a long time, I did not watch TV except for an occasional look at the news. However, with the election this year I got caught up in watching several hours of my favorite news channel.

When time is pressing, I often will put off journaling because it takes a lot of work sometimes to find the right song to sing and then to write on something God is teaching me in my witness portion. Then there is the WORD section. I don’t want to rush through that, and it takes me time to meditate on the meaning of a passage as well the intense study of it. So, I put it off until tomorrow… and tomorrow… and tomorrow.

Finally, I cannot leave out sheer weariness. Lack of sleep every day plagues me. I will go days on little sleep until I finally sleep well enough not to fall asleep while journaling. Often I will attempt to study but find myself falling asleep, so I lay down and listen to a sermon until it is time to go to work. I know I have written all about these things before and spoken of pressing on and also not to condemn oneself or listen to the lies of the enemy. However, today I am mindful of God’s great mercy and patience with me. That is why I chose the song of worship for today. His Spirit allowed me to hear the words as they were sung (because as with any music while studying, it can just be pleasant background noise). The song is based on Psalm 130:3.

If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins,

O Lord, who could stand?

NIV

As well as Psalm 51:17:

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;

a broken and contrite heart,

O God, you will not despise.

NIV

I am sure there are other verses in mind, but these are the ones that stand out to me. I felt the burden of my laxity and putting off. I saw them as sinful responses to my circumstances. As I confessed my neglect and frustration with my Father in Heaven, I was reminded of His mercy and grace. I go to work now with this on my mind and heart.

WORD:

Ps 25:11-15 11 For the sake of your name, O LORD, forgive my iniquity, though it is great. 12 Who, then, is the man that fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the way chosen for him. 13 He will spend his days in prosperity, and his descendants will inherit the land. 14 The LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them. 15 My eyes are ever on the LORD, for only he will release my feet from the snare. NIV

Ps 25:11-15 11 For the honor of your name, O LORD, forgive my many, many sins. 12 Who are those who fear the LORD? He will show them the path they should choose. 13 They will live in prosperity, and their children will inherit the land. 14 The LORD is a friend to those who fear him. He teaches them his covenant. 15 My eyes are always on the LORD, for he rescues me from the traps of my enemies. Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.

Ps 25:11-15 11 For thy name's sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great. 12 What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose. 13 His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth. 14 The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant. 15 Mine eyes are ever toward the LORD; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net. KJV

Ps 25:11-15 11 For your name's sake, O LORD, pardon my guilt, for it is great. 12 Who is the man who fears the LORD? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose. 13 His soul shall abide in well-being, and his offspring shall inherit the land. 14 The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant. 15 My eyes are ever toward the LORD, for he will pluck my feet out of the net. ESV

As I look at the second half of verse 12,  I see a divergence between the NIV and the other modern translations. The KJV seems to be somewhere in between. The NIV seems to imply personal direction in the life of the one who fears God. There is a path chosen for them by God to follow, and God will reveal it as the believer walks in reverence for God and seeks His guidance. This seems the view of Wiersbe:

"He [God] will instruct him in the way chosen for him" (v. 12, NIV). Knowing that the Lord has a plan for our lives, and that this plan is the very best for us, should give us great joy and confidence as we seek His will (16:11; 139:13-16; Eph 2:10).
(from The Bible Exposition Commentary: Old Testament © 2001-2004 by Warren W. Wiersbe. All rights reserved.)

Therefore, “chosen” refers back to God as the chooser. Others follow the thought found in the ESV and NLT. That is, the focus is on the God-fearer as the one who chooses. Barnes says:

[In the way that he shall choose] The way that the person ought to choose; or, in other words, in the right way. It is not the way that GOD shall choose, but the way that the pious person ought to choose: God will so instruct him that he shall find the true path.
(from Barnes' Notes, Electronic Database Copyright © 1997, 2003, 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Calvin agrees that it refers to the God fearer’s choice but leaves the results in God’s providential hands:

Some interpreters render the word choose in the present tense, instead of the future, shall choose; as if it had been said, that God shows the way which he approves, and in which he wishes men to walk. With this interpretation I cannot agree; for, in my judgment, the word choose rather refers to every individual; as if it had been said, Provided we are disposed to fear God, he will not be wanting on his part, but will always direct us by the Spirit of wisdom to choose the right way.
When we are called upon to adopt some particular course in life, we find ourselves as it were placed between two ways, and know not which of them to follow;  nay, in almost all our affairs we are held in suspense and doubt, unless God appear to show us the way. David therefore says, that although men know not what is right, and what they ought to choose, yet provided they submit to God with pious docility of mind, and are willing to follow him, he will always manifest himself towards them as a sure and faithful guide. As, however, the fear of God is not naturally in us, it were foolish for any man to argue from this place, that God does not begin to take care of men until, by their own previous efforts, they insinuate themselves into his favor, that he may aid them in their pious endeavors. David has just declared, that this grace comes directly from God, when he says that God teaches the transgressors: and now he adds, in the second place, that after men have once been subdued and moulded to meekness of spirit, God still takes them under his charge, guiding and directing them till they are able, by the illumination of the Holy Spirit, to know what is their duty.
 (from Calvin's Commentaries, PC Study Bible formatted electronic database Copyright © 2005-2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Spurgeon seems to agree:

Him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose. Those whose hearts are right shall not err for want of heavenly direction. Where God sanctifies the heart, he enlightens the head. We all wish to choose our way; but what a mercy is it when the Lord directs that choice, and makes free will to be goodwill! If we make our will God's will, God will let us have our will. God does not violate our will, but leaves much to our choice; nevertheless, he instructs our wills, and so we choose that which is well pleasing in his sight. The will should be subject to law; there is a way which we should choose, but so ignorant are we that we need to be taught, and so willful that none but God himself can teach us effectually.
(from The Treasury of David, PC Study Bible formatted electronic database Copyright © 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Perhaps the sage view of the venerable commentator, Matthew Henry, is appropriate to end on here:

Him that feareth the Lord he will teach in the way that he shall choose, either in the way that God shall choose or that the good man shall choose. It comes all to one, for he that fears the Lord chooses the things that please him. If we choose the right way, he that directed our choice will direct our steps, and will lead us in it. If we choose wisely, God will give us grace to walk wisely.(from Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible, PC Study Bible Formatted Electronic Database Copyright © 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All Rights reserved.)