Following God's Direction

12/6/2025

Elijah McSwain, Sr.

Psalm 25:4-5 NKJV — Show me Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day.

The author of Psalm 25 is David. In this psalm, he asked the Lord for divine guidance along the pathway of life. Apparently, David faced opposition from his enemies, as seen in verse two. Therefore, in this passage, he appeals to God to protect him by not allowing his enemies, who are cruel, to triumph over him (v. 2 and v. 19). He pleaded with God to look upon his pain and to deliver him from his distress, affliction, and trouble (vv. 16-17). The writer was also grappling with sin and iniquity in his life. David pleaded for mercy, pardon, and forgiveness from the Lord for his sinful actions (v. 11, v. 16, and v. 18). Thus, at the beginning of this passage, the psalmist lifted up his soul to the Lord in verse one for these reasons. David’s disposition illustrates his reliance on the Lord. By declaring his dependence on the Lord, he demonstrated the essence of trust. As David was in the midst of turmoil caused by sin and relentless attacks from his adversaries, he pleaded with God to show him, teach him, and lead him.

 H.B. Charles, Jr. clarified, “David’s prayer is for himself but not about himself. He prays, “Make me, teach me, lead me.” But these personal requests have a God-centered focus: “Make me to know your ways, Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth…” (vv. 4-5). The focus of David’s prayer is the Lord: “your ways…your paths…your truth…”. David’s primary concern is not his enemies. It is his companion. David prayed to get closer to the Lord. This is what would help him walk right along the right path, even in the presence of his enemies. More important than anything else, you need to get close to the Lord.” ₁

Like David, throughout our journey of life, we also need the Lord to show us His way, teach us His paths, and lead us in His truth. As we embark upon this sermonic discourse, let us pray that God would show us, teach us, and lead us. This helps us keep God at the center of our lives despite challenges.

Show Me

David entreats God to “Show me Your way.” The ESV renders the phrase as “Make me to know Your ways.” It is evident that the author aimed to align his life with God’s guidance.  

David knew that if he relied on his own logic and reasoning, he would only make more irrational decisions. By trying to manage his life in the context of his adversaries, he might have ended up complicating things even further. He also might have fallen deeper into sin had he followed his own path. Adam Clarke notably asserted, “The psalmist wishes to know God’s way, to be taught his path, and to be led into his truth. He cannot discern this way unless God show it; he cannot learn the path unless God teach it; and he cannot walk in God’s truth unless God lead him: unless God continue to teach, he shall never fully learn the lessons of his salvation.” ₂

The phrase “Show me Your ways” suggests that David wanted to understand and grasp God’s standard for living. It is as if the writer said, Show me Your ways so that I can follow Your guidance. It is to recognize that my way is not suitable for my life; therefore, I acknowledge that Your way is the best to follow. When we ask someone to show us something, we recognize that they have a better way of doing things, possess wisdom about the matter, and that we are unable to figure things out without their help. Basically, this was David’s position when he approached God. We should adopt this approach across every aspect of daily life. Relying on the Lord helps us avoid unwise decisions and keeps us from engaging in unbiblical activities. Asking God to show us His ways reflects a desire to abide by what He has sanctioned for human life and conduct.

• Psalm 119:27 (NKJV) declares, “Make me, understand the way of Your precepts; So shall I meditate on Your wonderful works.”

• Psalm 143:8 (NKJV) states, “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.”

Every believer should recognize that God is the best source for guidance and advice. The people of God can discover God’s chosen ways through the pages of Scripture. Scripture is the active voice of God that reveals His ways to humanity.

William MacDonald affirmed, “Divine guidance is indispensable. We simply do not know the way, or what would be best for ourselves. Only the God-directed life is effective and enjoyable.” ₃ Followers of God perceive and understand that God knows what is best. Since He knows what is best, we take delight in following His ways. Psalm 37:23 (NKJV) is written “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way.” As we journey through life, it is imperative to consult the ways of the Lord. In consulting Him, we find reassurance that He understands what is best suited for us. Therefore, as David did, we should continually ask the Lord to “Show me Your ways.”

Next, David eagerly asked the Lord to “Teach me”.

Teach Me

The assertion is made, “Teach me Your paths.” It is implied that the composer had a teachable spirit. The desire to learn reveals that God was David’s divine teacher, imparting knowledge and godly instruction throughout his life. The writer sought wisdom from God regarding living, conduct, and cognitive ability. He wanted to live on God’s terms and think biblically according to God’s prescribed way of doing things. To David, God was the master teacher who possessed all the knowledge; therefore, he longed for God to teach him.

By the psalmist lifting his soul to God in this way, it demonstrated his reverence for the Lord. Proverbs 9:10 (NKJV) states, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Revering God results in submission to His authority. Submitting to His authority results in divine guidance to follow God's outlined paths. Like David, we may lack wisdom about life and the issues of the heart; therefore, we need to ask God to teach us. James 1:5 (NKJV) is written “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

The Lord graciously gives wisdom to those who ask and acknowledge their own weaknesses and inadequacies.

Our inability to lead ourselves should prompt every person to seek God’s leadership. Seeking advice and instruction from God will help us avoid wandering down inappropriate paths in life. Solomon penned in Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV) — “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” The Lord will direct the steps of those who implore Him by leading them on the Highway of Holiness (cf. Isaiah 35:8). The willingness to be taught by God enables us to walk in love, joy, peace, faithfulness, goodness, meekness, forgiveness, holiness, righteousness, justice, kindness, gentleness, truthfulness, purity, and more.  

Thomas Constable echoes the thoughts that “The psalmist sensed his need for divine guidance and instruction. He wanted to walk in the Lord’s righteous ways but needed help in discerning them.” ₄ Do we sense the need for God’s help? Are we spiritually discerned to walk in the paths of holiness and righteousness?

Paths, as mentioned here, equate to God’s chosen method, standard, direction, and purpose that He gives for life.

The reference to paths is the God-directed ways of morality and heavenly influence that align with God’s nature, standards, character, principles, His Word, and His intent for living that lead us to fulfill His purposes.

Christians should seek to walk in the paths that God has outlined. Psalm 86:11 (NKJV) acknowledges “Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name.” Humility is essential for a person to humble themselves and be taught by God, so His truth can tailor their lives. A genuine desire to follow God through humble submission leads to obedience when divine instruction is applied to our lives. Not only will we learn the paths of God, but a true follower of the way will humbly walk in His paths. Psalm 25:9-10, 12 (NKJV) records “The humble He guides in justice, And the humble He teaches His way. All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth, To such as keep His covenant and His testimonies. Who is the man that fears the LORD? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses.”

David was discipled by God. We, too, should experience the discipleship of the Lord as we submit ourselves to the authority of His Word both corporately and individually. Adherence to being taught by Him allows His followers to walk in the proper paths. Albert Barnes commented this about Psalm 25:4. He stated, “The prayer is expressive of a desire to be wholly under the direction of God.” ₅

Scripture provides spiritual signage on the paths of God.

We are encouraged along God’s paths to uphold justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8). We see the signage of not walking in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standing in the path of sinners, nor sitting in the seat of the scornful, but to delight in the law of the LORD, and to meditate on it day and night (Psalm 1:1-2). The sign of loving “your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” is what God teaches us on His paths (Matthew 5:44). These are some of the biblical signs we observe as we walk the paths God has ordained.

When God’s people follow the paths of God, which correlate to His God-directed ways, then we will walk into the purpose and blessedness of the Lord. In Psalm 23:3 (NKJV), David proclaimed that God “leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.” Psalm 143:10 (NKJV) reveals “Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness.” Psalm 25:10 (ESV) remarks, “All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.” Proverbs 4:18 (NKJV) is documented “But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.” Psalm 119:33 (NKJV) records “Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes, And I shall keep it to the end.”

Walking in all aspects of God’s law — testimony, statutes, commandments, and judgments — helps us stay faithful to God and showcase His glory to others as we are governed by His truth.

Lead Me

Lastly, David petitioned God to “Lead me in Your truth and teach me” in verse five. The psalmist understood that the truth marks the paths of God. He longed to follow God’s established pattern and order of divine reality. The truth of God is the absolute truth and way of living. Jesus, the Son of God, declared in John 14:6 (NKJV), “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” The truth is what is right, good, true, holy, and what is settled in heaven by God’s own decree.

David wanted his life to be regulated and governed by the truth.

God’s concrete truth constructed the course of life that David desired. In this verse, along with verse four, David requested to be led in truth, taught God’s paths, and shown God’s ways as a student of grace. Even though David already knew God, he still sought guidance from Him to follow His direction. He desired more of God. Charles Spurgeon wrote, “Lead me in thy truth, and teach me.” The same request as in the last verse. The little child having begun to walk, asks to be still led onward by its parent’s helping hand, and to be further instructed in the alphabet of truth. Experimental teaching is the burden of this prayer. Lead me according to thy truth, and prove thyself faithful; lead me into truth that I may know its preciousness, lead me by the way of truth that I may manifest its spirit. David knew much, but he felt his ignorance and desired to be still in the Lord’s school; four times over in these two verses he applies for a scholarship in the college of grace.” ₆

The composer desired greater knowledge of God in accordance with divine truth. Psalm 119:18 (NKJV) proclaims, “Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from Your law.” Open eyes refer to being enlightened. Every Christian should seek God to be enlightened by divine truth. Psalm 43:3 (NKJV) asserts, “Oh, send out Your light and Your truth! Let them lead me.” The pursuit of God’s truth will prevent us from making errors. It will shield us from falsehoods. It will protect us from fabricated ideas about how to live.

God’s truth suppresses worldliness and secular ideology.

To be guided by truth is to be led directly from the mind of God, His character, nature, and being. The truth transforms our minds, provides light like a lamp for our life’s journey, and takes root in our hearts to be applied and lived out. In life, we should be willing to seek God’s truth and be molded by the truth because God is trustworthy. Psalm 119:160 (NKJV) explains, “The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.” John MacArthur acknowledged, “There is not a speck of untruth in Scripture.” ₇

Since God’s Word is true, pure, unblemished, holy, inerrant, and infallible, then we should sit under its tutelage to follow God’s direction.

David understood this truth and certainty, so he said, “Lead me in Your Truth and teach me.” He reflected again on the idea of being taught by God, since His truth is true. A hunger for the truth will lead to actions of seeking and engaging with it. Matthew 5:6 (NKJV) implies “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.”

Those who are truth-seekers of God’s Word will be satisfied by it.

Following the truth of God will free us from the destruction of sin, reassure us of God’s protection, bring clarity of mind, and order our steps. Thus, the essence of trust and dependence on God will help us live a God-centered life when we seek His ways, walk in His paths, and are led by His truth. David mentioned for God to show me, teach me, and lead me “For you are the God of my salvation.” David had love for God. His reasoning for God to show him, teach him, and lead him stemmed from God being the source of His salvation. His hope, confidence, and assurance for his entire life were woven into God. God provided deliverance from his sinful state. God was his protection from enemies. His safety was rooted in God.

Like the biblical writer, we should also have the same mindset as David so that God will show us, teach us, and lead us, for He is the God of our salvation.

He has saved us.

He has sustained us.

He has preserved us.

He has restored us.

He is the God who saved us spiritually and physically.

Praise be to the Lord. Follow His lead in every aspect of life. Acknowledging God leads to divine guidance.

Notes

1. Charles, Jr., H.B. 2025. Treasures of Truth.

2. Clarke, Adam. “Commentary on Psalms 25:4”. “The Adam Clarke Commentary”. https://www.studylight.org/​commentaries/​acc/​psalms-25.html. 1832.

3. The Believer’s Bible Commentary

4. Constable, Thomas. DD. “Commentary on Psalms 25:4”. “Dr. Constable’s Expository Notes”. https://www.studylight.org/​commentaries/​dcc/​psalms-25.html. 2012.

5. Barnes, Albert. “Commentary on Psalms 25:4”. “Barnes’ Notes on the Whole Bible”. https://www.studylight.org/​commentaries/​bnb/​psalms-25.html. 1870.

6. Spurgeon, C. H. n.d. The Treasury of David: Psalms 1-26. Vol. 1. London; Edinburgh; New York: Marshall Brothers.

7. The MacArthur Study Bible