Psalms 27:11:  “Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.”

 

So the Psalmist is asking God to teach him His way.  We know he is asking God because he says: “O Lord or YHWH.”  We could probably render this as: “Teach me Jehovah’s way” except the context indicates He is addressing someone which is why we make the word YHWH an exclamation.

 

He wants the Lord to teach him.  Now I have been a teacher practically all my life so I think I understand a few things about the nature of teaching.  Teaching is more than just imparting knowledge, it is also motivating and inspiring a student to continue learning long after the class has been concluded.  So the Psalmist is not only asking for knowledge but inspiration as well, he wants God to motivate him.  Many Christians will only admit in the hearts that they are not really interested in studying the Word of God, they wish they were. Perhaps you should pray like the Psalmist and ask the Lord to teach you, to motivate you to wet you appetite for His Word.

 

The word teach that is used here in the Hebrew is horeni from the root word yarah.  It is an archer’s term for an arrow that is in flight or has been shot.  Once released there is nothing more the archer can do to direct the arrow, it is that moment that you hold your breath waiting for the arrow to strike its target. It is also a time to appreciate the clear, direct flight of the arrow and that satisfying thud when it hits the bull’s eye.  This is sort of like it is when teaching. You throw the information out to your students, you do it in a way that you hope your students will be motivated, excited and even inspired. Then you sit back and wait for the results, you appreciate grading their papers, like watching that arrow fly, as they share their learning experience with you.  Then you sit back waiting for that thud as the arrow hits the bulls eye. Or you students actually use the have been taught.

 

Some translations say Show me your way, but yarah is more than just showing or pointing a direction,  A road map and a sign will show you the way, to use the word teach is to put it into an emotional context, to cause it to stir one’s heart to action.

 

I once asked my father to show me how to fish. However, he did not just show me, that is how to use a fishing pole, cast a line or bait a hook, he also taught me how to fish.  He taught me how to wait patiently by appreciating the flow of the waters, the rocks, the surrounding shore line with the trees and grass.  He taught me how, as I patiently waited for the fish to bite to pass that time observing God’s creation, listening to the sound of every bird, the movement in the shoreline grass of snakes and other animals. He taught me how to appreciate the setting of the sun and the smells and crisp air of the early morning when the sun arose.  He taught me how to carefully remove a hook from a fish so as not to make it suffer and if it was too small to use as personal nourishment  to release it back into the water.  He taught me to respect all life. To this day I have not once used what my father showed me in how to fish.  I don’t even owe a fishing pole, but I am always using what my father taught me about fishing.

 

If the Psalmist only wanted God to show him His way, he would have used the word ra’ah, but instead he uses the word yarah to indicate that he wants more than a direction he wants God to give him the reason for that direction to understand why He is taking that direction and to know how to adequetly prepare for the direction and appreciate that direction.

 

The word way in Hebrew is derek which is a road, distance, a journey, a manner, habit or even a course in life.  It is sometimes used for moral character.  In middle Aramaic the word represents something that is rough or severe.  The Arabic equivalent  has the idea of overtaking. The Persian word carries an idea of a threshold or entrance way.    All this indicates that this way or path is one that may be a rough path but it will open the way to a something new and exciting.

 

Many of us feel like we are standing on a threshold, we are faced with decisions on which direction to take and we cry out to God to show us the way.  All we really want is for God to point us in the right direction and we will just take it from there.  How about we pray like the Psalmist for God to not only show us the right direction but to teach us His way.  To give us a direction that will lead us into a new and exciting life and to teach us how to appreciate all that will take place, even when that way gets rough to appreciate the all the bumps, hills and obstructions.  He will teach us not only what road to take but how to find the most enjoyment and pleasure in that journey.  He will help us understand the reason for the journey and he will be there to guide us on our derek or way.

 

I have heard people pray, “Lord, give me some direction.”   They seem to just want God to give them the way like a GPS. I call my GPS Madge (for Megellian and the feminine voice that gives me directions).  Once I know the direction I pay little attention to Madge as she tries to warn me about speed limits, traffic congestion and the many other benefits she has to offer, but I am so focused and single minded, I just want the direction and that is it and her irritating voice warning me that I am exceeding the speed limit is a nuisance.   Sometimes our prayer is just for a nathan or a giving a direction and not a yarah for all the other benefits that God has to offer once we get on course.  Getting our direction from God just does not end there, teaching is a process and we need to continue to follow up.

 

I once had a student who was a pastor of a small country church.  He came to me one day and said he wanted to learn just enough Hebrew to preach from the pulpit. He would drive up to the college every day in the church van and attend class. He attended for a couple months and I never saw him again.  I guess he got just enough Hebrew to teach from the pulpit.  However, if he stayed around he might have learned some very practical tips and guidance. I simply nathan gave him information, but he could have had yarah, a practical understanding if he stayed around long enough.

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