“THY WAY”

This psalm is a psalm of David, the sweet psalmist. It was a rich and comforting experience in his life that he might receive the Lord’s help. And this did not only happen once; no, time and again the Lord had helped him. No matter how difficult and dangerous his circumstances were, the Lord helped him. Almost all of the psalms testify of this. We hear of his strife, of his despondency, of his sin and foolishness; but the Lord has helped him.

David wrote this 37th psalm when he was old. We can read this in the 25th verse, “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.” What a comforting instruction David gives. It is not only for himself that he may receive the Lord’s help, but it is his hearty desire to also direct others in the way to seek help of the Lord. It is also the desire of my heart to direct our readers, also young readers, in this way.

We as congregations are standing at the beginning of a new year, the year of our Lord 1985. What shall the future bring us? No one can give an answer to this question. For us the future is a closed book, but this is not so for the Lord. His counsel shall stand, and He shall do all His pleasure.

We do know what the results of sin are. Mankind has a warfare upon earth, and because of sin we are subject to all sorts of crosses and difficulties. If we take notice of the signs of the times, then the dark clouds of God’s righteous displeasure are hanging above the year 1985. The prospects for all situations of life are somber, for mankind turns away more and more from the Lord. And those who desire to live according to God’s Word find it constantly more difficult. This is also true in young families. Boys and girls live in this world with many questions in their hearts. What shall take place in the future? Where shall we find help? Where can we seek advice?

Let us listen to David. He was a child of God, and had received wisdom from above, and love in his heart to direct others to the way. He said, Seek not thy help in the world. Seek not your support in men. Trust not in yourself. Everything which you attempt in your own strength shall not prosper. This is also such a wise and loving instruction for you, beloved readers. Trust not in your own strength, nor in your own wisdom. This is also such a humiliating instruction, for it says to us that we are nothing. We have no strength and no wisdom. It teaches us that we are sinners — that we have lost our ability to help ourselves. We are totally incapable of any good.

David learned this in the way of disappointments. Often nothing remained of himself. But in the depth of his impossibility he encouraged himself in the Lord his God. He says, “Commit thy way unto the Lord.” This is good advice for old and young.

We stand at the beginning of a new year. To what does David’s hand point? He directs us to the Lord. He points upward unto the Lord Who made heaven and earth, Who rules over all things, the God in Whose hand our life is and Whose are all our ways. In Christ He will help the poor, the foolish, the weak, the helpless. O, He is mighty and willing to help time and again. And He never does it because we are worthy of it. It is always of grace.

And wherein will He help? David said, “Thy way.” It signifies your total circumstances. Your way — that is, your entire life, concerning both soul and body, concerning temporal and spiritual needs. In the wilderness the Lord provided for Israel; their shoes and their clothing did not wear out. He gave them bread, meat and water. He preserved them in the heat of the day and in the cold of the night. But He also gave them food for their souls. He gave them the administration of atonement in the service of the tabernacle. The Lord bestowed His care in faithfulness and love for their souls and bodies.

That same God yet lives. At the beginning of this year we direct you to Him. Do you hear it, boys and girls, fathers and mothers? Look not to yourselves; look unto the living God, the God of David, the God of your Godfearing mother and father. “Commit your way unto the Lord.”

How must we do this? Well — in the way of prayer. In Psalm 81 the Lord says, “Open thy mouth wide.” Readers do you know of these hidden places where you bow your knees? Fathers, do you take time to bow your knees with your family to commit your ways unto the Lord? You must begin to do so this year. To commit our ways unto the Lord means to humble ourselves before the Lord, confessing that we cannot help ourselves. It is a pleading and begging for mercy, but having no right. It is an acknowledging of our unworthiness, and a waiting upon the Lord, for Jesus’ sake.

“Thy way” means that we may come to Him with all our needs. Nothing is too great for Him, nor is there anything too small for Him. O, how our life should be a praying life. There are so many cares — in married life, in family life, in respect to our health, our children, the needs and concerns of our land and government, the extension of God’s kingdom, the needs of our congregation. O, “commit thy way unto the Lord.”

If we are yet unconverted, this should be our greatest concern. It is the spiritual need of God’s children. May the Lord give the Spirit of prayer in our hearts, so that we continually commit our ways unto the Lord. Unbelief keeps us from prayer. The devil makes us believe that we need not pray. But the Godfearing David said, “Bow your knees. Bring your cares, strife, sorrows, cross, impossibilities unto the Lord.” And we pass on this earnest and loving advice to you.

David said, “He shall bring it to pass.” David himself has experienced it. The Lord has never put him to shame; the Lord has helped him. The Lord has brought him out of the depths of sin and discouragement. The Lord is so faithful; He is plenteous in mercy and lovingkindness.

No, this was not merited by David; nor was it because of David’s praying. The Lord never hears because of our praying but it is always for Jesus’ sake. Beloved readers, do you know of that praying as an unworthy one? Of a renouncing of yourself? Of ending in your prayer in Christ — in faith placing your life, your way in God’s hand? Of a stammering in submission to His holy will? Then we trust in Him. Then we lay our entire way in His almighty and pierced hands; then we rest in His sovereign good pleasure. Then that which the Lord does is good, and we follow His footsteps. Then we permit Him to rule.

Dear friends, the future lies in good hands. The year 1985 is the year of our Lord. The year 1985 again brings us closer to that moment to which the church of God looks forward; namely, the coming again of Christ. “He shall bring it to pass.” With our eye upon that coming, we point upward with David, “Commit thy way unto the Lord.” In all things we wish you a blessed 1985. Rev. H. Hofman

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