Psalm 143:10 reads, “Tech me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.” It is both heart-rending and encouraging, at the same time, to read this psalm of David.  Heart-rending because we can identify with the cry of one who longs to hear from his heavenly Father and seeks His help. We feel that emotion because we have felt it, ourselves. Encouraging because David remembers the good that God has done for him in the past and knows that he can trust in God for more help as he faces his enemies.

David seeks God’s help, but not at the expense of obedience to His will. Our world is caught up in the “blames game” of faulting God for everything bad that happens. “Why did God do _______?” “If God is so good, why did He allow _________to happen? Many are unwilling to follow God, but expect Him to give them “the land of uprightness” (some versions render this, “level ground”) In other words, “Dear God, give me you good things. Make life easy and without trouble even though I choose not to follow you.”

David saw the connection between God’s expressed will and the benefit of walking it.  Only in obedience could David expect to have the better life God promises to those who follow Him. Let me explain: God’s ways lead to a better life. If the world lived by God’s will, we would have fewer problems. It’s that simple! God’s ways are good and they create a heart that is less interested in sin. It is not God who creates problems. It is men who refuse to follow in t he right path.!

We can blame all kinds of things for the problems we have, but nothing will be resolved.  In Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar,” Cassius says, “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in the stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings.” In other words, mankind is the reason for the problems of the world!

David found hope in God’s word and it is there that we should go for instruction and guidance. Peter wrote, “According as His divine power hath given unto us all things pertaining to life and godliness, through the knowledge off him that hath called us to glory and virtue.” (2 Peter 1:3) David described God’s word as “a light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:1105) It is in God’s word that we will find the answers we need, but the advice and counsel provided therein must be followed! Faith and practice go hand in hand.

-Gary Knuckles preaches for the Briensburg Church of Christ in Benton, KY