Psalm 143, I believe, is a good follow up for our last week’s message, concerning ‘understand and prudence’.  Today I would like to look at verse 10,
“Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God!
Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground!”

‘Teach me…’
Scripture gives us examples of those who are seeking to be taught.  The following are some of those.  Please be sure to read them in context to get a clear picture.

*Here is an illustration in the life of Ezra:
In chapter 8:21-23 Ezra is seeking the Lord for a safe journey to Jerusalem,
“Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods.
For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and horsemen since we had told the king, ‘The hand of our God is for good on all who seek Him, and the power of His wrath is against all who forsake Him’.
So we fasted and implored our God for this, and He listened to our 
entreaty.”

*Being teachable as children is essential to entrance into God’s kingdom:
Jesus speaking, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”  Matthew 18:3-4

*Exhibited by the disciples:
“Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when He finished, one of His disciples said to Him, ‘Lord teach us to pray as John (the Baptist) taught his disciples.’”  Luke 11:1

*As seen in the interchange with Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch:
“And the Spirit of the Lord said to Philip, ‘Go over and join this chariot,’
So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’
And he said ‘How can I, unless someone guides me?’  and he invited Philip to come up and sit with him”
Read verses 32-39 for the glorious response of the eunuch to the gospel message!  It is a beautiful picture!

*The beginning of the Apostle Paul’s life in Christ is another beautiful picture.  Read the conversion of Saul in Acts 9:1-18.
“And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him. ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’  
And He said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’  ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.’”  Vs.4-6

‘to do Your will’
Concerning submission to divine will--
*It is the result of inward law:
“I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart.”  
Psalm 40:8

*It establishes a divine relationship:
“For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”  Matthew 12:50 

*Christ Jesus is the perfect example:
Read Matthew 26:36-46 where Jesus prays in Gethsemane.
“And going a little farther He fell on His face and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.’”  Vs. 39
“Again, for a second time, He went away and prayed, ‘My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, Your will be done.’”  Vs. 42

*Whole heartedness is required:
Paul speaking of obedience to a master, says in Ephesians 6:6,
“not by the way of eye service, as people pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.”

*It is for Believers everyday:
As our times are in God’s hands, of our plans; we need to lay hold of James 4:15,
“Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’”

With the Psalmist in Psalm 24:4-5 we say,
“Make me to know Your ways O LORD; teach me Your paths.
Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You I wait all the day long.”

All praise to our One and Only Savior, our Lord and God.  He deserves nothing less than our all.  Amen