Their generation is beyond my understanding. They have developed something new. They are eliminating right and wrong. They have no respect for their parents, and so far as I can see very little affection. They have a positive hatred for all restraint. They will not stand to be controlled. They have no faith in our old standards. As a rule they have no religion.”
                    –Zane Grey  (Lost Pueblo)

       “You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
                    –Psalm 16:11 (NKJV)
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In this next section of Proverbs 4, we see again the faithful father giving instructions to their son (child).  Oh, that we had more faithful fathers, but we know that our heavenly Father is faithful in His instruction.  

          10 — Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of your life will be many. (NKJV)

There is much foolishness that abounds in the hearts of youth.  Some have a death-wish it seems, while others love the dare-devil lifestyle.  The ESV puts it this way, “Hear…accept my words.”  No matter how much instruction there is; no matter how good and proper instruction is given; it must be accepted and obeyed.  Implied here is the concept of not being foolish or simple, but being serious about the journey of life.  Listen and heed to the good instruction.

          11 — I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in the right paths. (NKJV)

Proper teaching has been given, what will you do with it?  You have been taught properly, now what?  Warren W. Wiersbe states, “The will of God isn’t for the curious; it’s for the serious.”  Over the years I have seen so many young people go their own way, putting aside the teaching of parents, wise instructors, and the church.  They ignore and turn from sound teaching and advice such as Paul gave Timothy, “But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them.” (2 Timothy 3:14, NKJV)  
     Proper instruction is the teaching of the truth, which is knowledge.  Direction is the guiding for duty, putting into practice the things you have learned.  If you are told to not touch the stove because it is hot, then proceeding to do so is foolishness, not understanding.  Ralph Wardlaw said, “To teach duty without truth is to teach action without motive–virtue without its principle.  To teach truth without duty is to teach motive without the practice to which it should lead.”

          12 — When you walk, your steps will not be hindered, and when you run, you will not stumble. (NKJV)

If you do God’s will, you will have God’s guidance.  The way will be open, you will see what is in front of you.  The ESV says, “your step will not be hampered.”  If we listen to the words of wisdom and obey in faith then we will not stumble or be hampered along the way.  It is when we get things out of order, such as zeal before knowledge that we can end up stumbling.  There must be the proper mixture of zeal and knowledge and in the right order.  There must be godly wisdom that we adhere to; a wisdom of unity of principle.  We learn from the past, but we do not live there.  We do not step into the future simply because it is impossible; we can’t live in tomorrow with today’s knowledge and wisdom.  Augustine put it this way, “Trust the past to the mercy of God, the present to His love, and the future to His providence.”
     This morning we are encouraged to walk the path of faith and wisdom.  To obey the instruction of our parents and God.  This way is straight, safe, and unencumbered.  It is a path in which the way is well lighted and leads to promise, not only of long life, but of eternal life.  Tomorrow we will look at the other path.  The other choice that is before us in this life.

Morons don’t develop.”
                    –Zane Grey  (Lost Pueblo)

       “Now if I have indeed found favor in Your sight, please teach me Your ways, and I will know You and find favor in Your sight…”
                    –Exodus 33:13 (HCSB)
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Since Memorial Day put me a little off schedule I will resume Psalm 143 this morning.  Have you ever brought an urgent need to the Lord?  One that needs an answer immediately?  This Psalm finds David in that situation; he needs the Lord, he needs an answer, he needs help.

          7 — Answer me speedily, O LORD; my spirit fails!  Do not hide Your face from me, lest I be like those who go down into the pit.
          8 — Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, for in You do I trust; cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You.
          9 — Deliver me, O LORD, from my enemies; in You I take shelter.
        10 — Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; Your Spirit is good.  Lead me in the land of uprightness.
        11 — Revive me, O LORD, for Your name’s sake!  For Your righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.
        12 — In Your mercy cut off my enemies, and destroy all those who afflict my soul; for I am Your servant.  (NKJV)

     If God hides His face from us, especially in our dire circumstances, all that is left for us is the pit.  David realizes it and cries out to the Lord; he needs and wants God’s lovingkindness, or unfailing love.  This should be part of our prayer every morning.  The night is dark, as may be our soul, and we long for a new morning.  When the dawn comes he not only sees a new day, but there is a new dawning in his spiritual life.  Look at that prayer–show me the way I should walk.  In other words, he wants each step he takes to be ordered and guided by the Lord.
     But there is more to it than just a prayer.  Praying that God shows us the way, we then have to take the step.  If we pray for God’s lovingkindness upon us, we then must show kindness during the day.  Vincent Alsop said, “Knowledge without obedience is lame.  Obedience without knowledge is blind; and we must never hope for acceptance if we offer the blind and the lame to God.”  If sin has led us astray and we know it, then we must repent and obey.  If we know the path before us, then we must obey and walk in it.
     Verse 10 is a powerful lesson that we should take to heart.  David cries for the Lord to teach him the right way, teach him to do his will.  However, when we know the will of God, when we have been properly taught and trained, we must then do His will.  If we truly want to be led by the Lord, if we really want to be His disciple we must understand that discipleship implies apprenticeship.  James Merritt proclaims, “You don’t just learn facts from a teacher; you pattern your entire life after them.”  To be relieved from the pit, from the agony of despair we must realize that “genuine happiness is to be found in following the pathway of obedience.” (Alistair Begg)
     Look at those last three verses again.  David understands that his “confidence lies not in his own strength but in the fact that he is the Lord’s servant.  To attack God’s servant is to attack God.” (Steven Lawson)  Think of this.  When we are attacked for one reason or another it is really an attack on our heavenly Father.  To attack His child is to attack Him and He will defend His family name.  George Wood repeats David’s plea in a prayer, “Lord Jesus, unless You act for me, I will be destroyed, my enemies will prosper and justice will be trampled on…”  If not for the Lord intervening the devil would have his way with us, we would also be agents of our own destruction.  Oh, how we need the Lord!

               “When doubts and fears arise,
               Teach me thy way!
               When storm clouds fill the skies,
               Teach me thy way!
               Shine through the wind and rain,
               Through sorrow, grief and pain;
               Make now my pathway plain,
               Teach me thy way!”
                       –B. Mansell Ramsey

My sword I give to him that shall succeed me in my pilgrimage, and my courage and skill to him that can get it.  My marks and scars I carry with me, to be witness for men, that I have fought his battles who now will be my rewarder.”