Waiting to Know the Ways of God

Psalm 25 is a song about the ways of God. The Hebrew word derek, which is translated “ways,” is used several times in this psalm. It is also translated in this psalm as the word “lead.” When you decide to follow Jesus, He leads you in the ways of God.

In 25:4 – 5 you see the connection of learning the ways of God, from the word of God, as you wait upon the Lord. “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.”

In learning this prayer you discover that the ways of God are learned from a personal, intimate, interactive relationship with God. The word “know” in the first line is the Hebrew word yada. This is not the knowledge about something, it is the knowledge of someone. It is a personal relationship word. This means that you can only know the ways of God within a personal, intimate, interactive relationship with God. Learning the ways of God is a worship experience!

The request “Lead me” in 25:5 is the Hebrew word derek, the same word for “way.” God leads in one direction; according to His ways and His word. As you desire to learn the ways of God from the word of God and begin moving in His direction, your request for guidance and being in His will is answered.

Another instructive Hebrew word in this passage is the word for “wait.” It is the Hebrew word kavah. It is first used in the OT in the creation account in Genesis 1:9, when God “gathered” the waters together to form the seas and the dry land. It also means to join and bind together. It was the word for making rope out of three cords as they are bound together into one. This word is used in Isaiah 40:31, “…but they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

Learning the ways of God requires waiting upon the Lord, which means to be gathered and bound together with Him in His word. This requires your time and your attention. This is simple, but not easy. Laziness is the enemy of learning the ways of God. The world, the flesh, and the devil will fight you every step of the way. But the reward is eternal! And this is what it means to worship the Father in spirit and truth.