Teach Me Your Way

(Psalm 86:11)

Mike Johnson

Psalm 86 is a psalm of David, and verse 11 is a part of a prayer he prayed during a time of extreme distress.  People are trying to kill him (14), and he turns to God for help.  He implored, “Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name.”  

It is interesting, although experiencing turmoil, that the Psalmist wanted to learn.  The desire to learn is essential in gaining knowledge in anything, and this concept is especially true with the Scriptures.  Consider Ezra’s heart described in the Old Testament (Ezra 7:10).   “For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.”  Other passages in the Bible teach this idea.  For example, 1 Peter 2:2 says, “as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.”  (Some translations render the Greek word “crave” or “long for.”)  In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Mt. 5:6).  Thus, wanting to learn God’s will is essential.

Consider the following illustration.  A young man was trying to learn the language of another country and was having trouble — it was a slow process.  Finally, however, he met a woman from that country and learned the language in practically no time.  What was missing earlier?  It was the motivation!  Similarly, we must be motivated to understand God’s Word to succeed.

To successfully learn God’s Word, it is also vital that we have a love for it.  Consider the attitude of the Psalmist in Psalm 119:97 as he says, “Oh, how I love Your law!  It is my meditation all the day.”  The first part of the verse relates to the second part — those who love the law of God are more likely to meditate on it “all the day.”  Sadly, some may not care for Bible study because God’s Word condemns them for sins they are not ready to stop practicing.

Further, the text (11a) says, “teach me YOUR way.”  We must be willing to submit to God’s will, not follow our own.  From the earlier verses, it is clear that David knew who God was and wanted to humbly submit to His will, not someone else’s.

After expressing a desire to learn the Lord’s way, he says (11b), “I will walk in your truth.”  The writer wanted to understand God’s way, not just for intellectual curiosity or to be able to have a conversation about it, but he wanted to “walk,” or live, by God’s Law.  In the earlier verses, we learn what God has done, but we must do our part to know and obey His will.

Yet what is truth?  Pilate asked this question at the crucifixion of Jesus (Jn. 18:38).  Philosophers have also asked it throughout the history of mankind.  The Scriptures teach that God’s Word is truth.  In John 17:17, Jesus prayed to God for His apostles just before His arrest, “Sanctify them by Your truth.  Your word is truth.” (Note also Eph. 3:3-4; 1 Thess. 2:13; Gal. 1:12; 2 Tim.  3:16-17.)

We also see in Proverbs 23:23 that truth is vital as it says, “Buy the truth, and do not sell it, also wisdom and instruction and understanding.”   The writer compares truth to a commodity.  First, we should do anything it takes to “buy” it; then, we should not give it up for any price.  Only truth (“Your way”-11a) can make us free  (Jn. 8:32).

Then he says (11c), “Unite my heart to fear Your name.”  Many people have divided loyalties, as their hearts may not be entirely into an endeavor.  This type of heart is also found as people try and serve God.  Since God alone is God (10c), the Psalmist did not want a divided heart where he might partially serve God but also serve  idols or other gods.  If he did this, he could never walk in God’s truth (11b).

Are we motivated to learn God’s truths?  Do we, like the Psalmist, strongly desire to know God’s ways so we can walk in his truth with an undivided heart?