Wisdom Wednesday: Wisdom in the Psalms
Part 7 The Psalms on the Walk of Wisdom
Submitted by Debbie’s Dad
“Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name.”
(Psalm 86:11) NASB 95
As we have studied the emphasis on wisdom in the Book of Psalms, we recognized several references to the daily life of living with God, referred to as the walk with the Lord. We will now examine the passages in Psalms that iterate this theme.
First, we look at the early passages that precede the Psalms that refer to this walk with the Lord by the patriarchs and the Israelite people:
- Enoch walked with God (Gen. 5:22-24)
- Noah was a righteous man and walked with God (Gen. 6-9)
- Abraham, at 99 years, was met by God and told: “I am God Almighty; Walk before Me and be blameless.” Gen. 8:15
- Jacob acknowledged, “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, The God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day …” (Gen 48:15)
- To the nation of Israel, God instructed, “You shall walk in all the way which the Lord your God has commanded you …” (Deut 5:33 and see this instruction to “walk in His ways” repeated in 8:6, 10:12, 26:17; 11:22; 26:17; 28:9; and 30:16)
- Joshua reminded the people to walk in God’s ways (Josh 22:5)
Several Psalms enhance our understanding of this walk with the Lord. Consider these examples:
- The observed behavior of those who walk with the Lord – “He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, And speaks truth in his heart. (Psalm 15:2)
- The walk is along the way of the Lord, revering God – “Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name” (Psalm 86:11)
- The walk receives the Lord’s blessing – “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” (Psalm 84:11)
- The walk is in the light and favor of God’s countenance (Hebrew (pānîm) face) – “How blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! O Lord, they walk in the light of Your countenance.” (Psalm 89:11)
- The courage of the walk with the Lord – “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4)
This is how the Lord characterizes believers who live (walk) in His wisdom – They exhibit integrity, righteousness, and truthfulness. They live as before the face of the Lord and His favor; they are blessed with His protection and face adversity, even death, with courage.