“Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.” (Psalm 86:11)

I was meeting with a group of ladies for a Bible study a few months back. Our theme for the meeting was “what teacher has influenced you”. As I looked at Bible verses related to teaching, I came across this verse in Psalm 86. This was the catalyst for my study of this Psalm.

My first study was a look at the word “teach”. It means to shoot, cast, or throw. So I thought about the influences in my life that had shot me in the right direction. I thought about the circumstances, people, books, and Bible passages that God had used to shoot me in the right direction. There were too many to count.

I realized the “LORD” that David was addressing in this verse was YHWH, the God, who exists. YHWH was the personal God, who had taught David and helped him to walk in truth. YHWH was the one who had protected David from countless enemies and given him strength in battle.

David was confident that he could find stability and a level path if he walked in YHWH’s truth. He understood the importance of trusting God’s lead. As I applied this to my life, I thought back on how many times I had stepped off the path, stopped walking or turned around. Each time I had either trusted in my own ideas or the words of others. What I had discovered was that the philosophy of man is often untrue and it does not lead us down a good road. God’s truth is the only roadmap that will take us to our eternal goal.

As I considered the last part of the verse, I realized that awe, admiration, and trembling are a natural response when we learn who God truly is and how He is at work in our lives. God’s truth is humbling. It causes our whole being to be united in the belief that God is Lord and deserves all honor, glory and praise.

This verse encouraged me that day, and it blessed me again today as I meditated on it again. This is an awesome verse in the midst of an awesome prayer, in the midst of an awesome story of God’s love for all mankind, including me. I have a reason today to cry out to the God who is there, “Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name!