Psalm 119:169-176
The psalmist finishes this psalm by continuing to proclaim the value of God’s Word and the importance of keeping His regulations, with the hope of God’s deliverance.
Scripture often uses the metaphor of a shepherd and his sheep to describe God and His people. The ultimate protection for the sheep lies in recognizing and following the shepherd’s voice; otherwise, they would be lost to the elements and predators. Our walk with God depends on knowing His Word, recognizing His voice when He calls, and following His instructions.
The Bible is full of information that benefits us, but without vital communication with the Lord, it becomes mere knowledge—knowledge that puffs up the mind without transforming the heart, much like the Pharisees. They knew the law, yet, in the words of Jesus:
““What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you cross land and sea to make one convert, and then you turn that person into twice the child of hell you yourselves are!”
Matthew 23:15 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.23.15.NLT
How is it that they knew the Scriptures yet failed to understand their message? We must be careful not to do the same. Sometimes, in all our knowledge, we wander off and need to be found again because we failed listen to His voice. Consider the words of Jesus:
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me,”
John 10:27-28 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.10.27-28.NLT
There is protection in walking close to the Shepherd.
There is an element of following in our walk with God that we sometimes overlook. Knowledge is important but incomplete if we are unsure of where to walk. Individual direction comes by revelation of the Spirit of God. Will He speak to us? Absolutely! Consider Proverbs 8:34-35.
“Joyful are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me outside my home! For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord.”
Proverbs 8:34-35 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/pro.8.34-35.NLT
And consider what God said in Isaiah 30:21:
“Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left.”
Isaiah 30:21 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/isa.30.21.NLT
We must learn to recognize His voice when He speaks to us, giving us direction for our unique circumstances. No two walks are alike, and we must stay connected to God to understand His direction for our lives. There is a plan, and the only place we will learn of it is from the Father. Without His voice, we tend to follow our own plans and eventually discover the truth found in Proverbs 19:21:
“Many plans are in a man's mind, but it is the Lord's purpose for him that will stand.”
Proverbs 19:21 AMPC
https://bible.com/bible/8/pro.19.21.AMPC
If we want to be successful in this life and the next, we must learn to follow God’s voice. It was for His purposes that you were created. Don’t you want to know why?
Scripture often uses the metaphor of a shepherd and his sheep to describe God and His people. The ultimate protection for the sheep lies in recognizing and following the shepherd’s voice; otherwise, they would be lost to the elements and predators. Our walk with God depends on knowing His Word, recognizing His voice when He calls, and following His instructions.
The Bible is full of information that benefits us, but without vital communication with the Lord, it becomes mere knowledge—knowledge that puffs up the mind without transforming the heart, much like the Pharisees. They knew the law, yet, in the words of Jesus:
““What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you cross land and sea to make one convert, and then you turn that person into twice the child of hell you yourselves are!”
Matthew 23:15 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.23.15.NLT
How is it that they knew the Scriptures yet failed to understand their message? We must be careful not to do the same. Sometimes, in all our knowledge, we wander off and need to be found again because we failed listen to His voice. Consider the words of Jesus:
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me,”
John 10:27-28 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.10.27-28.NLT
There is protection in walking close to the Shepherd.
There is an element of following in our walk with God that we sometimes overlook. Knowledge is important but incomplete if we are unsure of where to walk. Individual direction comes by revelation of the Spirit of God. Will He speak to us? Absolutely! Consider Proverbs 8:34-35.
“Joyful are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me outside my home! For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord.”
Proverbs 8:34-35 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/pro.8.34-35.NLT
And consider what God said in Isaiah 30:21:
“Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left.”
Isaiah 30:21 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/isa.30.21.NLT
We must learn to recognize His voice when He speaks to us, giving us direction for our unique circumstances. No two walks are alike, and we must stay connected to God to understand His direction for our lives. There is a plan, and the only place we will learn of it is from the Father. Without His voice, we tend to follow our own plans and eventually discover the truth found in Proverbs 19:21:
“Many plans are in a man's mind, but it is the Lord's purpose for him that will stand.”
Proverbs 19:21 AMPC
https://bible.com/bible/8/pro.19.21.AMPC
If we want to be successful in this life and the next, we must learn to follow God’s voice. It was for His purposes that you were created. Don’t you want to know why?
Recent
Archive
2026
January
Matthew 4:3-11John 1:32-34John 1:45-51John 2:6-11John 2:13-17John 2:18-25John 3:13-17John 3:18-21John 3:27-32, 36John 4:3-10John 4:11-15John 4:16-21John 4:22-26John 4:27-30John 4:31-38John 4:39-42John 4:46-53Mark 1:21-28Matthew 5:1-6Matthew 5:7-12Matthew 5:13-16Matthew 5:17-20Matthew 5:21-26Matthew 5:27-30Matthew 5:31-32
February
Matthew 5:33-37Matthew 5:38-42Matthew 5:43-48Matthew 6:1-4Matthew 6:5-13Matthew 6:14-18Matthew 6:19-21Matthew 6:22-23Matthew 6:24-30Matthew 6:31-34Matthew 7:1-5Matthew 7:6Matthew 7:7-11Matthew 7:12Matthew 7:13-14Matthew 7:15-20Matthew 7:21-23Matthew 7:24-29Matthew 8:1-4Matthew 8:5-12Matthew 8:14-17Matthew 8:18-22Matthew 8:23-27Matthew 8:28-34
March
Sunday 3-1-26Luke 7:11-17Mark 5:25-34Mark 5:22-42Matthew 10:1-8Matthew 10:38-40Matthew 11:28-30Matthew 12:33-37Matthew 12:46-50Matthew 10:10-13Mark 4:13-20Matthew 13:36-43Matthew 13:44-46Matthew 13:47-52Matthew 13:53-58Matthew 14:14-21Matthew 14:24-33Matthew 14:34-36John 6:29-35Matthew 5:1-9Matthew 15:10-20Matthew 15:21-28Matthew 15:29-31Matthew 15:32-39Matthew 17:14-20Hebrews 10:24-25Matthew 8:1-6Matthew18:18-20
Categories
no categories
No Comments