Psalms 25:4 - Exposition

Show me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths . An echo of the prayer of Moses when his people were rebellious at Sinai ( Exodus 33:13 ), reiterated by David in Psalms 27:11 , and perhaps again in Psalms 86:11 (see also Psalms 119:33 ). Man is so wanting in spiritual understanding, so morally blind and ignorant, that, unless enlightened from on high, he cannot discern aright the "way of godliness;" he does not know at any given moment what God would have him to do. Hence it is the constant prayer of every religious man that God will "lighten his darkness;" "make his way plain before his face;" "show him the path that he should walk in;" enable him to see, if no more, at any rate the next step which it is his duty to take. The idea has been beautifully expressed by a modern poet—

"Lead, kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom

Lead thou me on.

The night is dark, and I am far from homo;

Lead thou me on.

Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see

The distant scene; one step enough for me."