Wisdom Wednesday: Wisdom in the Psalms
Part 8 The Psalms on the Way of Wisdom
Submitted by Debbie’s Dad
“So teach us to number our days, That we may present to You a heart of wisdom.
(Psalm 90:12) NASB 95
As we have studied the emphasis on wisdom in the Book of Psalms, we also saw that living in God’s wisdom is referred to as “the way” or “the way of the Lord”. While the term “walk” refers to our behavior in life, the “way” refers to the direction or pathway of our life and its destination. In rocket terminology, this is the trajectory of our life. Jesus referred to a narrow way that leads to life and a broad way that leads to death (Matt. 7:13-14).
The Israelite people were repeatedly instructed, “Therefore, you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him.” (Deuteronomy 8:6; 11:22; 19:9; 26;17; and 30:16)
We examine how the Psalms describe the way of a wise life. We already looked at the 49th Psalm that focused on the importance of a faithful walk with God. Here are some more direct references to the way of the Lord:
- The way is taught by the Lord – “Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name.” (Psalm 86:11) “Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning; For I trust in You; Teach me the way in which I should walk; For to You I lift up my soul.” (Psalm 143:8)
- We can ask God to show sinful ways in our life – “And see if there be any hurtful way in me and lead me in the everlasting way.” (Psalm 139:24)
- The way follows the word provided by God – “How blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord” (Psalm 119:1) “Oh that my ways may be established to keep Your statutes!” (Psalm 119:5) “How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word” (Psalm 119:9); “I have chosen the faithful way; I have placed Your ordinances before me.” (Psalm 119:30)
- Our way is observed by the Lord – “You scrutinize my path and my lying down and are intimately acquainted with all my ways.” (Psalm 139:3); “I keep Your precepts and Your testimonies, For all my ways are before You.” (Psalm 119:168)
- God blesses those who walk in His way – “How blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways.” (Psalm 128:1)
- The way of the righteous is guarded by God -“For He will give His angels charge concerning you, To guard you in all your ways.” (Psalm 91:11)
This is the way of wisdom – to walk in the way of the Lord. Our path through life should follow this pathway, and it is revealed in God’s word, and God will teach it to us.
It is no wonder that when Jesus was asked about what is the way that He referred to, Jesus responded, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (John 14:6). He lived the way of the Lord and He was the Lord of the way.
And so, those who gave their lives to Him as their Lord, of whom some were persecuted and killed for their steadfast faith, were called the people of the “Way”. (Acts 18:25f; 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22).
May we be faithful people of the Way!