25/08/2020

Psalm 19
Learn to discern

The book of Psalms addresses all the feelings one could experience, challenges we might face and also offers guidance for serving the Lord. Let’s spend some time and discuss these over the next few days or weeks, depending on how the Lord leads us.”

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in your sight…” (vers 14)

Discernment: the quality of being able to grasp and comprehend what is obscure. [Merriam-Webster]

Spiritual discernment is a gift (1 Cor 12 v 10) and therefore David asks if we are [actually] able to simply discern our own errors and subsequently requests that the Lord “acquits” him of his unseen (hidden) faults and guard him against inappropriate behaviour.

How can we then be sure about our judgments when it comes to the things of God, being confident in discerning every spirit that seems to be from Him? The same also applies to our sins, off course.

David mentions six aspects that is crucial in assisting us with this important task as believers and notes that through them we are warned and in keeping them there is great reward:

1. God’s perfect law
2. The Lord’s sure testimony
3. His just precepts
4. God’s pure commandment
5. Fear of the Lord
6. The true judgments of God

If I were to sum up the above in one sentence, I would say that;
The only way to be sure about anything related to our christian life and relationship with God, is to interpret the Word of God correctly, and the only way to do this is to allow the Holy Spirit to remove the veil that blinds us, in order to teach us and illuminate the Scriptures for us.

How do we put this into practice? Humble yourself before the Lord, acknowledge that you only see in part and therefore depend on His guidance. Pray for wisdom and understanding, that He may enable your spiritual eyes to see and ears to hear.

This will allow you to filter through all the deception, and only listen to His still, small voice, that whisper in the wind, instructing you to go left or right, to speak or keep silent and above all to share God’s truth with the world.

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB, Life Application Study Bible, unless stated otherwise. Copyright by “The Lockman Foundation“