Paths of Mercy and Truth

Daily Reading: Zechariah 7 & 8, Psalm 25, 55, 85, 115, 145

Psalm 25:4 “Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths.” Whenever I read that I picture a forest that is overgrown and though there are paths cut out and obvious…God’s ways are covered and He has to lift some of the brambles and vines in order to teach us His paths. His paths are narrow and overgrown from lack of use. Once you are on His path the way is firm, but the path is hard and because few choose to take it, it can be lonely.

Psalm 25:10 “All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.” His paths are mercy and truth to those who are faithful to His ways. You can’t walk His paths with idle mind or selfish ambition. There isn’t room for what you want to take and what He wants you to take on the same path…in fact…you can’t take anything with you. He will carry whatever you need. He said that His yoke is easy and His burden is light…He wants your hands free and your feet swift.

Psalm 55:22 “Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” The righteous shall never be moved… shaken… disturbed… afraid… deprived or left alone. We are sustained by an ever present guide and companion who shows us a path that is difficult, but rewarding and then allows us to give Him every ounce of baggage we think we are going to need along the way. Little by little He proves to us that we have never needed any of it and that if we trade in our burden for His…we will find ourselves delivered in peace from the enemy of deception and confusion.

Psalm 85:10-13 “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. (11) Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven. (12) Yea, the Lord shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase. (13) Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.” Mercy and truth again…these are the definition of the paths of the Lord according to Psalm 25:10. These paths meet each other and are taken by righteousness and peace who commune with one another and are so close they literally kiss each other…they love each other…they are not the same without the other. Truth springs out of the earth…coming up from the foundation and righteousness looks down from the canopy above…We are surrounded, covered above and supported beneath by the absolute reality of the love of God. His law and His goodness are met in our hearts as we walk this road of mercy and truth. How can we even consider going another way?

Psalm 115:1 “Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake.” Give glory to the name of the Lord for the sake of the pathways. For the sake of the clear understanding and open door to peace…give glory to the name of the Lord.

My hope is set on the reality of these words. Knowing that I am guided by a hand that longs to set me on paths of mercy and truth allows me to take each step with confidence and look before me with joy.