Divine Guidance
“With Your counsel You will guide me, And afterward receive me to glory.” Psalm 73:24 NASBS
Beloved of God, for those who place their faith in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins, may the abundant grace of God provide us with a deeper understanding of the psalmist’s heart. It is through His grace that we are led along the path of righteousness, and through His word He shapes our wills to follow Him closely. This way, we can avoid finding ourselves under the weight of His corrective hand. As it is written, “For the Lord disciplines the one He loves and chastises every son whom He receives.” Let us remember that “Blessed are those who keep His testimonies and earnestly seek Him with their entire heart.” In doing so, we align ourselves with His divine purpose and experience the fullness of His love and guidance.
The Psalmist lived in troubling times, when it appeared that wickedness would triumph and the righteous would be crushed beneath it. This period was defined by the immoral indulging in their most base desires, with acts of violence following every footstep. Those who embraced evil were openly defiant towards God and His word. They were insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, ensnared by deceit, and driven by unrestrained passions. Their thoughts were persistently evil, and they diligently plotted schemes aimed at undermining the godly, intent on bringing them to public shame and disgrace. Just as every other time in history, the Psalmist was facing a serious battle against wickedness.
However, when the Psalmist began to question God’s judgment, he recognized his need for divine guidance. He came to understand the folly within his own heart and, to avoid being led astray by it, resolved that from that moment on, he would seek God’s counsel. With a repentant heart, the psalmist writes, “You guide me with your counsel, and afterward, you will receive me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? There is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. Though my flesh and my heart may fail, God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Indeed, those who are far from you will perish; you put an end to all who are unfaithful to you. But for me, it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, so that I may proclaim all your works.”
Christian, acknowledging our own shortcomings is a crucial step toward wisdom, especially when it drives us to depend on the Lord’s understanding. This world often comes at us like a flood, attempting to drown out the heavenly truth revealed by God regarding the deceitfulness of the world and its enticements. Just as a blind man relies on his friend’s arm to guide him safely home, we should completely surrender ourselves to God’s Word for direction in our lives. We need to maintain our faith in the Lord, trusting confidently in the all-sufficient, all-seeing God, even when it seems as if all the doors have closed in our pathway.
Oh, the depravity of man in his fallen state! How he challenges the King of Glory, living as if he will never face the consequences of his actions. His path is one of destruction and misery, for his god is his appetite and his glory is in his shame. He sets his mind on worldly pursuits, unaware that one day he will face ruin. His pride leads him unknowingly toward divine judgment, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. In that moment, he will glorify God through his indignation as justice is executed, much like a winnowing fork separates the wheat from the chaff, destined for the fires of hell.
If anyone reading this small devotion has not yet placed their faith in Christ, I urge you to turn to the living God and be saved. Come to Jesus in faith and repentance. Cry out for Him to rescue you from your sins. One day, you will stand before God the Father who will not acquit the wicked. Every thought you have ever had will be brought to light, and you will be judged accordingly on that great day when all your sins are revealed. Understand, Jesus is the only one who lived the life we cannot achieve—holy, perfect, and innocent in thought and deed. Therefore, He alone can grant you a righteousness that will acquit you before the great Judge. My friend, apart from Jesus, there is no hope.