(“When We Need Guidance”)

Psalm 48:14 (NASU)

(Psalm 48:14)

Heavenly Father, You once caused the darkness to flee by commanding light to shine (c.f. Genesis 1:3). We humbly ask You to do a similar thing this morning – use the light of Your inspired word to drive the darkness of misunderstanding, confusion, and ignorance from our minds (Psalm 119:105) regarding how You guide Your people. For we ask this is Jesus’ name – Amen.

(A) BAAAAAA!

(1) Scripture often compares God’s people to sheep (c.f. Psalm 100:3; Matthew 26:31). While many Christians draw comfort from this imagery (as well we should), it’s not an entirely flattering comparison because sheep are very needy creatures who require continuous care – indeed, they cannot survive long on their own without a shepherd. Happily, we have a Shepherd who has promised to “never leave (us) nor forsake (us)” (c.f. Hebrews 13:5c, NKJV) – and to “supply all (our) needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (c.f. Philippians 4:6).

(2) As sheep, one of the needs we have is for guidance – especially when it comes to making decisions. From the major to the minor – from the crucial to the mundane – from one-time decisions to daily choices, we’re bombarded with matters that require us to decide. What career should I choose? Whom should I marry? Should we go out and eat, or stay home? Should I change jobs?¹ Should I play golf today or not? Should I give to the church’s building fund? – and if so, how much?

(3) Sometimes we turn to our Shepherd for guidance – other times we don’t. Indeed, we’re apt to seek Christ’s guidance for the “big ticket” items of life – but, when it comes to the less important every-day issues, we’re just as likely to try and “go it alone” (so to speak).²

For example, I assume most of you would seek your Savior’s guidance about buying a home – but how about buying a computer? I assume most of you would seek your Shepherd’s guidance in choosing whether or not to have surgery – but how about choosing whether or not to take an afternoon drive in the mountains? I assume most of you would seek Christ’s guidance about whether to go to college or join the military after high school – but how about whether to get cable or satellite?

Assuming you would answer “Yes” to the first question in each set, and “No” to the second, what (if anything) does that tell us? Doesn’t it suggest we tend to divide life into two categories – things that are important enough to seek our Shepherd’s guidance about – and those that aren’t?² Doesn’t it suggest there are some decisions in life we know we need Christ’s help making – but the rest we figure we can make on our own?

Is this really a wise attitude to have – or am I making too much of our need for the Shepherd’s guidance? As sheep, shouldn’t we depend on God to guide all our decisions – or is that too cumbersome and/or impractical?

(4) There are numerous passages of Scripture that speak of God guiding His redeemed people – like this morning’s text, which says: “… our God … will guide us until death” (c.f. Psalm 48:14). There’s also Isaiah chapter twenty-eight, which says: “… the Lord of hosts … is wonderful in counsel and excellent in guidance” (c.f. Isaiah 28:29, NKJV).

In Psalm Seventy-Three, Asaph said: “With Your counsel You will guide me, and afterward receive me to glory” (c.f. Psalm 73:24) – in Psalm Thirty-One, David said: “…You are my rock and my fortress; for Your name's sake You will lead me and guide me” (c.f. Psalm 31:3) – and again, in Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Nine: “If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast” (c.f. Psalm 139:9-10, NIV).

In Exodus chapter Fifteen, Moses said: “in Your lovingkindness You have led the people whom You have redeemed; in Your strength You have guided them to Your holy habitation” (c.f. Exodus 15:13).

And although the word “guidance” isn’t used, the idea is certainly present in Proverbs chapter three, where Solomon said: “trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (c.f. Proverbs 3:5-6).

(B) OUR GOD WILL GUIDE US

(1) As sheep we need to be guided. As our Shepherd (c.f. John 10:14a), Jesus promises to give us the guidance we need. The question we want to address is, how does He do it? – and/or what means does He use to give us the guidance we need?

(a) We often wish God would guide us with a fleece, like He did Gideon (c.f. Judges 6:36-40)³ – or talk to us from a burning bush, like He did with Moses (c.f. Exodus 3:1-10) – or confirm we’re doing the right thing with fire from heaven, like He did for Elijah (c.f. I Kings 18:19-40). Ordinarily, though, He does not guide His people like that – nor did Gideon, Moses and Elijah experience such things more than once!

(b) What He does provide, however, is more than sufficient for our needs (c.f. II Corinthians 12:9a) – indeed, the means He employs today are actually better than fleeces and burning bushes, because, instead of being one-time events for one-time needs, we can use them over and over and over, as many times as necessary.

(2) First and foremost of all, then, God guides us through His infallible, written word. Psalm One Hundred Nineteen says: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (c.f. Psalm 119:105) – while in another place we read: “Show me Your ways, O LORD, teach me Your paths; guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long” (c.f. Psalm 25:4-5, NIV).

(a) Scripture is the chief means God uses to guide His people today.⁴ It is our “pillar of cloud by day”, and our “pillar of fire by night” (c.f. Exodus 13:21) – indeed, [1] all other means of guidance must be measured against Scripture in some fashion. As one writer said: “Any guidance we get from reading some other book must be tested by the Word of God. Whatever promptings come to us from some other source, be it human counsel or an invisible spirit, or in whatever way it may come, we must test the guidance and/or counsel we receive by the sure Word of God.” As the prophet Isaiah said: “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (c.f. Isaiah 8:20, NKJV).⁴

[2] In this regard, then, we are to be like the Christians in the city of Berea who were commended for going to the Scriptures to make sure what they were hearing was consistent with the Word of God (c.f. Acts 17:11).

(b) Although God’s written word is infallible, it does not provide infallible guidance to those who mishandle it and/or manipulate it. That’s why we’re exhorted to “accurately handl(e) the word of truth” (c.f. II Timothy 2:15) – while in another place we’re warned about “distorting the Scriptures to our own destruction” (c.f. II Peter 3:16b).

[1] Among other things, this means that when we turn to the Bible for guidance, we need to apply sound principles of interpretation – including (but not limited to) the principle of harmony, which reminds us Scripture does not contradict itself – and the principle of context, which reminds us not to interpret any single verse of Scripture in isolation from the rest of the Bible.

[2] When properly applied, these principles prevent us from randomly dipping into the Scriptures to find “proof text” answers to our questions – and/or opening our bible at random and putting a finger on some verse without regard to the context in which it was written.⁵

(c) God graciously guides those who put in the time to become familiar with His word, both through personal and corporate study. [1] In other words, a person doesn’t become familiar with the Scripture by osmosis – or by reading “about” the Bible instead of actually reading the Bible – or by occasional sorties into God’s Word – or by going to church a couple of times a year. That’s why we’re exhorted to “treasure God’s Word in our heart” (c.f. Psalm 119:11a) – to “meditate on it” (c.f. Psalm 119:148b) – and to “devote ourselves to studying it” (c.f. Ezra 7:10, NIV).

[2] The psalmist once said: “… Your law … is my meditation all the day” (c.f. Psalm 119:97). As a result, he was also able to say: “Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies … I have more insight than all my teachers … I understand more than the aged … (and) I have (been able to) (restrain) my feet from every evil way” (c.f. Psalm 119: 98a, 99a, 100a, 101a) – all because he put in the time the study God’s word, which the Lord (in turn) graciously blessed.

In short, then, in our day God guides His redeemed people first and foremost of all through His inspired written Word (c.f. Proverbs 6:23).

(3) A second, way God guides us is by the Holy Spirit – “us” being Christians, since the Holy Spirit comes to live in us at the time of our conversion to Christ. Hence, the Scripture says: “your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God?” (c.f. I Corinthians 6:19) – and again: “the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you” (c.f. Romans 8:11a) – and once more (Jesus speaking prior to Pentecost): “the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive … abides with you and will be in you” (c.f. John 14:17).

(a) Jesus once promised His disciples that “when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth” (c.f. John 16:13a). Along these same lines, our Lord also promised that “the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name … will teach you all things” (c.f. John 14:26a).

(b) One of the primary ways the Holy Spirit guides us is through the Scriptures, seeing as how He is its Divine Author (c.f. II Peter 1:21). This also illustrates how God’s various means of guidance are frequently intertwined.

[1] In our search for guidance, the Holy Spirit may lead us to a passage of Scripture that directly relates to the question we have, and/or the decision we need to make – other times He may give us the guidance we need by enabling us to understand a passage we’re already familiar with in a new and/or fresh way.

[2] Nor should we overlook the fact that many times His guidance is as obvious as the sun in the sky. Let’s suppose we’re thinking about getting married – but the person in question is not a Christian⁸ (c.f. I Corinthians 7:39c) – or they’re already married (c.f. Titus 1:6) – or they’ve gone through an unbiblical divorce (c.f. Matthew 5:32). In such cases, the Holy Spirit has already given us all the guidance we need in Scripture. We may want to seek the counsel of a brother or sister in Christ to get some clarification – but by and large, if we are familiar with Scripture at all, the guidance we need is as plain as day! The only decision left is, will we obey?

(c) Another way the Holy Spirit guides us is through an inward prompting and/or deep impression we should do (or not do) a certain thing – especially when there’s nothing in Scripture that would give us the specific guidance we need.

[1] For example, in Acts chapter eight Phillip was prompted to go to a certain place along a desert road.⁶ Once there, he saw an Ethiopian eunuch sitting in a chariot reading from the prophet Isaiah. At that point, the Scripture says, “the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go up and join this chariot’” – which he did – and a little while later the man professed faith in Christ and was baptized (c.f. Acts 8:26-38). In this instance, the Holy Spirit “prompted” Phillip to do these things (in part) because there was nothing in the Scriptures that would have guided him to that desert road on that particular day.

[2] The inward promptings of the Holy Spirit do not have to be spectacular – indeed, they are usually more like “a still small voice” than a violent wind or earthquake (c.f. I Kings 19:11-12, NKJV).

For example, several years ago Miss Karen and I were “prompted” to attend a reformed bible conference in Little Rock, Arkansas. After we decided to go, we also decided to make my youngest sister and her husband an offer – if they would let us stay with them in a nearby town, we would pay their registration fee so they could attend the conference with us. At that time they were worshipping in a church that was semi-charismatic and Arminian in its theology. Nevertheless, they accepted our invitation – and, to make a long story short, as a result of that week-end they came to embrace the doctrines of grace found in reformed theology and are now members of the church where that conference was held. Looking back, the whole thing was obviously “prompted” by the Holy Spirit – but He did so in some very ordinary ways.

[3] We do have to exercise some caution, though, because not every “impression” we have is from the Holy Spirit. Some come from the devil, and/or our own sinful desires – especially those that “prompt” us to do things God’s Word forbids⁷ (c.f. Joshua 7:21; Matthew 4:3-10).

[4] There are also instances where we don’t figure out the “prompting” wasn’t from the Holy Spirit until after the fact – like the new believer who became convinced God was “leading” him to marry a particular young woman. The first indication he was wrong came when he had the audacity to tell her about how the Spirit’s was “leading” him, only to be told in no uncertain terms that the Spirit was not guiding her in the same direction!⁹ The second indication came some time later, when she married someone else. Only then did he finally admit the Holy Spirit had not been leading him to marry this particular girl.

When we innocently misread the Spirit’s promptings, we can take comfort in the promise that says: “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (c.f. Romans 8:28). God’s sovereignty is so great He can use our mistakes to teach us things we need to know – like the importance of exercising some sanctified caution when it comes to discerning whether or not we are being lead by the Holy Spirit in certain instances.

(4) A third way God guides us is through prayer. In that well-known passage from the Book of Jeremiah God says: “Call to Me and I will answer you, and … tell you great and mighty things … you do not know” (c.f. Jeremiah 33:2). Elsewhere we’re told that after Saul’s death, “David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go up to one of the cities of Judah?’ And the Lord said to him, ‘Go up.’ So David said, ‘Where shall I go up?’ And He said, ‘To Hebron’” (c.f. II Samuel 2:1).

(a) We’ve all wished we could get such immediate, specific answers like that to our prayers – and sometimes we do. As Daniel was praying in chapter nine, the angel Gabriel appeared to him and said in part: “As soon as you began to pray, an answer was given, which I have come to tell you” (c.f. Daniel 9:23a, NIV). Likewise, when the servant sent by Abraham to find a wife for Isaac prayed for guidance near a well near a certain city in Mesopotamia, the Scripture says: “before he had finished speaking, behold, Rebekah (i.e. the girl the Lord had chosen to be Isaac’s wife) came out with her jar on her shoulder” (c.f. Genesis 24:15).

(b) Most of the time, though, we don’t get such immediate and/or obvious answers to our prayers. Hence, when seeking God’s help or guidance, we often combine prayer with other means – like our knowledge and/or study of the Scriptures, counsel from Christian friends, promptings by the Holy Spirit, and/or the providential ordering of circumstances. Hence, when the disciples chose Judas’ successor they prayed first and then drew lots (c.f. Acts 1:23-26). Likewise, when Queen Esther was trying to decide what she should do, she prayed and fasted, listened to the counsel of her uncle, and then stepped out in faith (c.f. Esther 4:13-16). And when Samaritans living in the land tried to discourage Nehemiah and the people from rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem by threatening them with violence, the Scripture says: “we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat” (c.f. Nehemiah 4:9, NIV).

(5) Other ways God guides His redeemed people include, (a) human counsel – by that I mean the advice, wisdom, instruction and/or information God enables us to glean from other people – including, but not limited to, our family, our brothers and sisters in Christ, or (in some cases) even non-Christians who are have more knowledge and/or expertise in a certain area than we do. Along these lines, the Scripture says: “A wise man will hear and increase in learning, and a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel” (c.f. Proverbs 1:5) – and again: “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel” (c.f. Proverbs 12:15).

Elsewhere, the Scripture says: “in an abundance of counselors there is victory” (c.f. Proverbs 11:14b; 24:6b) – and again: “Without consultation, plans are frustrated, but with many counselors they succeed” (c.f. Proverbs 15:22) – and again: “The righteous is a guide to his neighbor” (c.f. Proverbs 12:26a) – and once more, (directed especially to children and youth): “observe the commandment of your father and do not forsake the teaching of your mother; bind them continually on your heart; tie them around your neck. When you walk about, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk to you” (c.f. Proverbs 6:20-22).

(b) God also guides us through our conscience. After David secretly cut off the edge of Saul’s robe in a cave, the Scripture says his “conscience bothered him” because it was as though he had raised his hand against the Lord’s anointed king, which was something he knew he shouldn’t do (c.f. I Samuel 24:5-6). Paul also talked about the function and/or power of the conscience, saying: “when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them” (c.f. Romans 2:14-15).

That great philosopher, Jiminy Cricket, used to say: “Always let your conscience be your guide”. The problem is, our conscience can become an unreliable guide IF we repeatedly stifle or smother what it’s trying to tell us (c.f. Romans 1:18). Hence, the Scripture talks about those who have “become callous” (c.f. Ephesians 4:19a) – and/or who have “seared … their own conscience as with a branding iron” (c.f. I Timothy 4:2b) so that it no longer works the way God intended.

When shaped and/or formed by God’s Word, however, our conscience can become one of the ways Christ guides us in our times of need (c.f. I Timothy 1:5)!

(c) Still another way God guides His people is through providential circumstances – what we sometimes refer to as “closed doors”, or “doors of opportunity”.

Joseph’s life is a prime example. Those of you who are familiar with the story know that through a series of providential events, spanning a thirteen year period – events that were completely beyond his control – events which opened some doors and closed others – Joseph went from being a slave to the most powerful man in Egypt after Pharaoh himself (c.f. Genesis 39-41).

In Acts chapter sixteen, Paul wanted to preach the Gospel in Bithynia and other portions of western Asia – but the Scripture says: “the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them” (c.f. Acts 16:6-7) (assuming this happened via providential circumstances rather than visions, we have an example of the intertwining of the Holy Spirit’s guidance with that of providential events).

In Philippians chapter four, Paul acknowledged the people in that church had always been concerned for him, but up until recently they had “lacked (the) opportunity” to show it – once that opportunity presented itself, however, they took it (c.f. Philippians 4:10-14).

Elsewhere Scripture says: “as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith” (c.f. Galatians 6:10, NKJV) – implying that sometimes we have opportunities, and sometimes we don’t. Along these same lines, Proverbs chapter three says: “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it” (c.f. Proverbs 3:27) – implying that sometimes the Lord guides us by the opportunities He providentially makes available!

We should add a word of caution, however, because circumstantial opportunities often need to be filtered through other means of guidance like prayer, human counsel, and Scripture. In other words, just because we “can” doesn’t always mean we “should”.

(d) Finally, God guides His people through what I will call informed decisions and/or common sense. The Book of Proverbs says: “The integrity of the upright will guide them” (c.f. Proverbs 11:3a) – and again: “Make plans by seeking advice; if you wage war, obtain guidance” (c.f. Proverbs 20:18, NIV). Even Jesus talked about kings not rushing into battle without first sitting down and deciding if they have the resources to defeat their enemy. If they don’t, then that information, combined with common sense, says they should not go to war but work for peace instead (c.f. Luke 14:31-32).

Sometimes, though, God guides His people in ways that seem to be contrary to so-called conventional wisdom. For example, it didn’t make much sense for Israel to march around Jericho every day for seven days – but that’s what the Lord instructed them to do (c.f. Joshua 6:3-4). Hence, informed decisions and common sense often need to be supplemented by additional means of guidance, like prayer, Scripture, and the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

(6) A final word about how God guides His people.

(a) Obviously there are decisions that come along where it’s best to spend some extended time seeking our Savior’s guidance – where its essential to put in some serious time in His Word, in prayer, trying to be sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, trying to listen to our conscience, and/or trying to get input from people we know and trust. Sometimes, as a result of doing these things, God will either graciously give us a clear indication of “the way (we) should go” (c.f. Psalm 143:8c, NIV) – or at least give us a sense of peace about the decision we have made.

(b) Many of the decisions we make in life, however, are of the “every day” variety. Furthermore, they have to be made spontaneously – in the course of a day’s work – in the heat of the moment (as we sometimes say) – often with little or no warning. Most of our decisions fall into this category, where there’s little or no time to spend seeking our Savior’s guidance.

(c) Does this mean we are on our own? Not at all! For Christ’s redeemed people, who are walking by faith and not by sight (c.f. II Corinthians 5:7), the Scripture is true that says: “I have directed you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in upright paths. When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; and if you run, you will not stumble” (c.f. Proverbs 4:11-12) – and again: “The steps of a man are established by the Lord, and He delights in his way” (c.f. Psalm 37:23) – and once more: “He keeps the feet of His godly ones” (c.f. I Samuel 2:9a). In others words, He graciously guides our steps every moment – even in the ordinary decisions of life – even when we have little or no time to seek His guidance.

This is not an excuse to become lax about seeking His guidance whenever we can – rather, it’s meant to encourage us – to reinforce the truth found in our text that says: “For such is God, our God forever and ever; He will guide us until death” (c.f. Psalm 48:14)!

God’s Will Dynamically; p. 4.