Teach Me Your Paths

Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Psalm 25:4

During sabbatical, I’ve spent a good deal of time in the Psalms. Several things have stood out, but none more so than the repeated requests, especially after confession, for God to teach and instruct the humbled heart. As beloved and forgiven sons and daughters, we are to call upon God to teach us his way (Psalm 25:9).

Some of my other favorite examples of these short, powerful prayers:

For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light. Psalm 36:9

Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. Psalm 86:11

Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. Psalm 119:18

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground! Psalm 143:9-10

This pattern of a request for instruction following confession was classically noted in Christian liturgy by following the confession of sin with a prayer for illumination prior to the sermon. It is a humble prayer in which we acknowledge our helplessness to discern and apply the truth of God’s Word apart from the Spirit. Jesus promises that the Spirit—the Helper—will teach us all things, remind us of all that he said, and guide us into all truth (John 14:26; 16:13). The prayer for illumination asks God to actualize this promise.

Calvin, despite many modern perceptions, held a robust view of the Spirit’s work and activity in the Christian life, especially in his role to illumine the Scriptures. For Calvin, illumination was not a one-time event, but rather a constant need. In Institutes II.2.25, Calvin explains: “Nor does Scripture teach that our minds are illumined only on one day and that they may thereafter see of themselves.” Then, commenting on David’s remarks from Psalm 119, the Reformer writes: “Although he had been reborn and had advanced to no mean extent in true godliness, he still confesses that he needs continual direction at every moment.”

It is this continual direction at every moment that we must seek from the Spirit as we come to God’s word. No matter our learning or familiarity with the Bible, we only come to Scripture rightly when we come with a humble prayer for God to teach us his paths.