“He leadeth me”

Written By Rev. Michael Stonhouse

Meditation – Sunday, November 28, 2021

Psalm 25:1-10 (Forward, p. 30) CEV p. 568

Sometimes the Bible is a bit difficult to fathom.  David, for instance, in the 23rd Psalm, speaks of God leading him as a shepherd does his sheep.  With a literal shepherd and sheep, this makes abundant sense, but what if there is no physical, flesh and blood shepherd present?

Surely this in not a theoretical or academic question, for today’s psalm repeatedly talks about God’s leading, God’s guidance in everyday affairs:

“Show me your paths and teach me to follow; guide me by your truth and instruct me.  You keep me safe, and I always trust you” (verses 4-5);

“You are honest and merciful, and you teach sinners how to follow your path” (verse 8);

“You lead humble people to do what is right and to stay on your path” (verse 9);

“You will show the right path to all who worship you” (verse 12).

None of this sounds ever in the least big vague.  To me, this sounds pretty definite, pretty explicit.  And that, indeed, is how Scripture makes it out to be.  Scripture seems pretty well united in saying that God can guide and direct our paths, our doings.  Occasionally, it was through other people, people such as prophets (Nathan, in 2 Samuel 7:1-17, or Agabus, in Acts 11:27-29), or a group of believers (as in Acts 13:2).

But more often it was through a direct revelation from God, though often through tremendously differing ways.  With Joseph, the stepfather of Jesus, and the magi, this came through dreams (Matthew 1:20-21; 2:12, 19-22).  With Peter, prior to his visit to Cornelius, it came through a vision (Acts 10: 9-16) and likewise with the prompting of Paul to head into Europe after his time in Asia Minor (Acts 16:9-10).  But often the method that God’s guidance came to people is rather undefined, yet amazingly definite, as with Anna and Simeon (Acts 2:27-38) in the Temple in Jerusalem.  The Scriptures are most definite in saying that God speaks to His people—if only they will let Him.

So, what about today?  One of the early influences of my adult Christian life was the Oxford Group.  It believed, and put into practice, the idea that God did speak directly, and explicitly, to ordinary people like you and me.  It suggested a time of quiet each morning, a time of prayer and Scriptural meditation, where the individual could listen for God’s voice.  To give it shape, they were encouraged to ask two questions of God: a) who do you want me to be reconciled to today, or make amends with?  And b) who do you want me to minister to today?

Then, to critique those thoughts, they were to ask four questions of them, four questions based on Jesus’ Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount:

a)   Is it absolutely loving?

b)   Is it absolutely unselfish?

c)    Is it absolutely honest?

d)   Is it absolutely pure (meaning lacking in any questionable motive)?

They were expected to ask all four questions simultaneously, as it is quite possible to be absolute honest and yet not at all loving, and then, as a kind of double check-up, to share them with a fellow, more experienced, more mature believer.

The testimonies of the group were quite incredible in terms of the very precise and dead-on guidance they received over the years, advice from God that was exactly what was right, what was needed in that particular situation.  But that is not exactly unique: it is what many believers have claimed over the centuries.

Why, then, not us?  My explanation is two-fold.  Number one, that we have not taken the time, carved out the time, to listen to God in quite this way.  And number two, that we have not willingly and quickly obeyed whatever it was that God told us to do.  My own experience is that when we don’t obey God’s prompting, and do so fairly immediately, the prompting soon dries up.  So, maybe this could be a whole exercise and discipline for this Advent season, a kind of experiment to tap into the God does indeed speak to us—and lead us--if we are but willing to listen.  Amen.

Forward notes: “Show me your ways, O LORD, and teach me your paths” (verse 3).

“Since I have walked the Way of Christ, I have learned that ‘there are many trails to the mountain top.’  I have met dozens of individuals along the Way who taught me a thing or two about scripture, theology, traditions, prayer, and a spiritual life. 

“One summer years ago, a friend and I walked to the summit of Mato Paha (Bear Butte) in the Black Hills of South Dakota to pray.  As we were going up the trail, three whitetail does bounded not far in front of us.  My friend asked if we should take it as a sign of some sort.  I shook my head, replying something akin to ‘I don’t know.’  We made it to the top, said our prayers, and began our walk back down the trail.  As we neared the base, we saw three nuns in full black habits walking up the path toward us.  We passed each other, nodding hello, and my friend and I exchanged incredulous looks.  What did it mean? 

“I think often about that experience.  Was there a deeper meaning to be had from our encounters on that trail?  Today, it is a reminder that I need to be more aware of and pay attention to what the Lord puts in my path.”

Moving Forward: “Do you believe in coincidences?  Or God-instances?”