January 17 -- "Guide Me to the Level Ground"

Today’s Reading: Psalms 143 & 144 

"Guide Me to the Level Ground"

Have you ever gotten lost while hiking or walking through unfamiliar territory? If you have, then you probably wished that someone with knowledge of the terrain would show up to lead and guide you out of the spot you're in and back onto the right path.  This is exactly how David is feeling as he cries out for God's Spirit in verse 10 to lead him to level ground.

This Psalm is a cry for help.  David, whose desire was to live his life according to the will of God and not according to the will of David, finds himself lost in the "dense forest" and "rocky cliffs" of life. He is tired and thirsty and hungry and needs help getting back to the clearing.
The phrase “lead me on level ground” at the end of this verse has a very interesting meaning in the original Hebrew language. This verse literally means “guide me to level plain.” It carries the picture of a being on a hike in the wilderness, caught in the thorns and thickets and surrounded by cliffs and rocks and calling out for a wise and experienced guide to lead you  confidently back into the solid level clearing. 

In the Scriptures, the “level plain” was a safe and proper place for God's children to walk – the place of holiness, righteousness, faith, and obedience. It alludes to a spiritual condition in which there is a firm foundation of solid ground underneath us – a spiritual level ground so to speak.

David knew that if his plea to fulfill God’s will with his life were to become reality, he would have to be taught and guided by His all wise and knowing God. In fact, if he was not taught by God what His will is, he had no hope of discovering that will, let alone doing it.

What about you? Do you want to live your life according to the will of God? Do you want to discover His highest and greatest calling for your life? If so, are you pleading with God to lead you to that level ground? Stop trying to figure it out with human reasoning or problem solving. Simply acknowledge your own wretchedness and cry out to Him to teach you His will and to lead you to the place of holiness and righteousness.