Active Obedience to the Will of God
G. Bainton. Psalm 143:10 Teach me to do your will; for you are my God: your spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness. : — I. ASPIRATION REVEALED. The great essential to a religious life is active obedience to God's will. The knowledge is not in itself religion; but the Christian is "that faithful and wise servant whom the Lord, when He cometh, shall find so doing." Hence perfection of character consists not in knowledge, but obedience, because — 1. Obedience is superior to knowledge. It is possible for a man to have a Scriptural creed and to have an ungodly heart. The question must ever be, "Is thine heart right?" For "if ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them." 2. Knowledge alone is positively criminal. How vast the dishonour done to God, when, with a perfect knowledge of duty, the man is neglectful of his privilege, and refuses the obedience which of right he owes to God l The possession of the knowledge will be but an aggravation of the offence. II. DEFICIENCY ACKNOWLEDGED. it was a practical deficiency — 1. As the knowledge of God's will in the particular circumstances of life. 2. As to the knowledge of the hindrances to the performance of God's will. 3. As to the practical skill of doing the will of God. III. DESIRE EXPRESSED. Like the psalmist, we must seek to be taught obedience to God's will. 1. In the particular circumstances of life. It must be our prayer in the minute detail of life to fulfil the will of God. "He that is faithful in that which is least," etc. 2. In dealing with the hindrances to its fulfilment. The best and holiest must feel that they have reason to prostrate themselves before the Lord. He knows the ills and difficulties of life, and He will help us to overcome them. The mysteries of life must quicken us to place ourselves under the guidance of our heavenly Father. 3. In its active fulfilment. "Teach me to do Thy will." Self-reliance gives place to self-confidence, and hence the necessity to trust in God and not in self. (G. Bainton.) Parallel Verses KJV: Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness. WEB: Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness.