FEBRUARY 23

I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye—Psa. 32:8. 

One of the most important lessons for the spiritual Israelite to learn is to look to the Lord for leading in all of life's affairs—never to attempt any undertaking, either temporal or spiritual, without seeking to note the will of the Lord concerning the same. … We are marching toward Canaan and know that other experiences are due us and must be undergone ere we are to inherit the promises. The lesson for us is prompt and thorough obedience to the Lord's leadings without murmurings—with joyfulness; and this can only be expected on the part of those who have learned the lessons previously given them, and above all the lesson of faith, confidence in the Lord's power and goodness and faithfulness—Z '02, 251, 249 (R 3062, 3061). 

Our Heavenly Father trains His children in their course of life. Three means are used whereby He gives the instruction. The primary one is His Word, whereby He enlightens their minds and guides their hearts. The secondary one is His Spirit, whereby He energizes them in knowledge, grace and service. The tertiary one is His providences, amid which they are given the opportunities through the exercise of their various qualities of heart and mind to develop their characters by the power and along the lines of His Word. Thus His wisdom guides them in their conduct—P '33, 16. 

Parallel passages: Ex. 13:21; 15:13; 33:13-15; Psa. 23:2, 3; 25:5, 8, 9; 27:11; 31:3; 48:14; 73:24; 78:52; 107:7; 139:9, 10, 24; Prov. 8:20; Isa. 40:11; 42:16; 48:17; 54:13; Luke 1:79; John 10:3, 4; 16:13. 

Hymns: 87, 293, 46, 63, 11, 110, 99. 

Poems of Dawn, 122: Divine Guidance. 

Tower Reading: Z '11, 223 (R 4858). 

Questions: What were this week's experiences in line with this text? How were they met? What helps and hindrances accompanied them? How did they affect me? 

DIVINE GUIDANCE

LORD, when I strive to serve Thee most, 

Yet toil in vain; 

When I can see but labor lost, 

Instead of gain; 

When plans fall out another way 

From what seems best, 

And failure comes though I obey 

Thy clear behest;

When hopes whereon I dare to lean 

Thou dost deny; 

When Thou forbiddest me to glean 

The fields near by; 

When fairest prospects, opening wide 

Before mine eyes, 

Thou wallest in on every side, 

And mountains rise 

That faith seems powerless to remove— 

Then, dearest Lord, 

Draw near to me, draw near and prove 

Thy written Word! 

That Thou in all things dost ordain 

Thy children's good; 

That joy shall be the fruit of pain, 

When understood. 

I know, and yet—O, slow of heart— 

But half believe; 

And when I fail, in secret smart, 

And fret and grieve, 

Fill me with faith's complete content 

In Thee, O, lord, 

And make me willing to be spent 

Without reward— 

Of earthly sort, but heavenly gain— 

To seek alone 

For other's good, by toil and pain, 

Not for mine own. 

And when my failures cast me down, 

Make me to rest, 

In glorious hope of victor's crown, 

Forever blest. 

I would not look at "things behind" 

With wistful eye; 

Nor seek in earthly things to find 

A comfort nigh. 

The weary sea-bird goes to sleep 

On tossing waves, 

Untroubled by the storm, the deep, 

In trust that saves. 

It is the hollow of Thy hand 

That shapes its nest; 

So, though I may not understand, 

Make me to rest. 

R4858: GUIDED BY GOD'S EYE

"I will guide thee with Mine eye."—Psa. 32:8

THE EYE is one of the most important organs of the body with which to give expression to the feelings. Either anger or pleasure are usually expressed by this means. One thought which we may take from the text is that one may be so desirous of doing the Divine will that he will be continually on the alert to please, just as a dutiful child, being on the alert to do the will of the parent, would look at the parent's eye, not waiting for the rod. So all of God's dear children of the Church should be looking unto Jesus for the expression of the Father's will concerning them. They look to Jesus as the Author of their faith and the One who shall be the Finisher of it. They look to Him as the great Counselor and Guide of life. As we sometimes sing: 

"Oh, let no earth-born cloud arise 

To hide Thee from Thy servant's eyes!" 

Another thought is that as the eye is the symbol of wisdom, so God guides all things in wisdom. He sees to it that His children receive the necessary counsel, the necessary aid. Since He is the All-Wise One, nothing can escape His attention. Still another thought is that as we recognize the Divine purpose, the Divine will, the Divine outworking of that will, we see that in the present time God is not trying to save the world, but only "the called," "the elect," who are obedient in sacrifice. All who are of the First-Borns should seek to follow the same course as God, to be co-workers with Him. They should have no will of their own, but do the Father's will. 

One of the most important lessons for the spiritual Israelite to learn is to look to the Lord for leading in all of life's affairs—never to attempt any undertaking, either temporal or spiritual, without seeking to note the will of the Lord concerning it. We are marching toward the antitypical Canaan and know that other experiences are due us and must be undergone ere we can inherit the promises. The lesson for us is prompt and thorough obedience to the Lord's leadings without murmurings—with joyfulness; and this can be expected only on the part of those who have learned the lessons previously given them, and above all, the lesson of faith—confidence in the Lord's power and goodness and faithfulness.