BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT YOU ASK GOD

PROCLAMATION

“Remnant of Judah, The Lord has told you, ‘Do not go to Egypt.’  Be sure of this: I warn you today that you made a fatal mistake when you sent me to The Lord your God and said, ‘Pray to The Lord for us; tell us everything He says and we will do it.’  I have told you today, but you still have not obeyed The Lord your God in all He sent me to tell you.”  Jeremiah 42:19-21 (NIV)

EXPLANATION
These are the words of The Lord God which were spoken to the prophet Jeremiah and proclaimed to the people of Judah.  After the remnant returned to Judah, they sought out Jeremiah and asked him to pray to God for them. (Jeremiah 42:1-3)  They said, “May The Lord be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act in accordance with everything …” (Jeremiah 42:5-6)  The Lord God told Jeremiah to tell them to stay in this land and He will build them up. (Jeremiah 42:7-12)  However, if they choose not to stay and go to Egypt then they will die there by the sword, famine, or plague. (Jeremiah 42:13-18)  Unfortunately, they chose to go to Egypt.  They did not believe that God sent Jeremiah to tell them to stay in that land. (Jeremiah 43:2-3)

APPLICATION

Some people will occasionally ask a question when they really do not want to hear the truth as an answer.  The only answer they want to hear, and the only option that is acceptable to them, is the one that they want to hear.  Don’t pretend to ask The Lord God for guidance and direction when you have already made up your mind what you are going to do.  We should only go to God with sincere requests.  We should not pray publicly to impress others with our words.  God knows our hearts and our intentions.  Be sincere when you pray or don’t pray.

PLEASE KEEP ME FROM MY DECEITFUL WAYS

Proclamation:

“Keep me from deceitful ways; be gracious to me and teach me Your law.  I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on Your laws.”  Psalm 119:29-30 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by King David under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  This is the fourth part, Daleth, of this twenty-two part psalm.  David is continuing his conversation with The Lord God and here requests that The Lord God keep him from his deceitful ways.  David has made a commitment to walk God’s way and he knows that he will need God’s help in order to do that.

Application:

We may read The Word of God on our own but we need His help in order to understand what we read. (Psalm 119:27)  If we truly want to walk God’s way, we will need to pray and ask Him for His help.  The more that we try to do things God’s way, the more we can expect to be attacked and tempted.  We need His strength so that we don’t grow weary. (Psalm 119:28)

LEAD ME LORD IN YOUR WAY

Proclamation:

"In the morning, Lord, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait expectantly ... Lead me, Lord, in Your righteousness because of my enemies, make Your way straight before me ... But let all who take refuge in You be glad; let them ever sing for joy.  Spread Your protection over them, that those who love Your name may rejoice in You.  Surely, Lord, You bless the righteous; You surround them with Your favor as with a shield." Psalm 5:3-12 (NIV)

Explanation:

This psalm was written under the influence of The Holy spirit of God by King David.  It is both a song and a prayer.  David prays that God will hear him and help him.  He also wants God to destroy his enemies.  He not only prays for God's intervention in his life, but he asks for God's guidance and direction. (Psalm 5:8)  Then he very unselfishly asks that God protect all those who love Him. (Psalm 5:11-12)

Application:

The first thing that David did each morning was to pray and meditate. (Psalm 5:1-3)  It is probably a good idea for us to begin and end each day with prayer.  Pray for guidance and direction in the morning, and for forgiveness and thanks in the evening.  David was not perfect, like us he committed a number of sins, but he was always straight forward and honest with God.  When he messed up, he confessed it, and asked for forgiveness.  We should do likewise.  We should not expect God to overlook our sins and punish others for their sins.  We need to pray that God will make His way clear to us, and that He will give us the strength and faith to follow Him.  We need for Him to lead us and to guide us so that we walk in his way.