Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to Thy word. Psalm 119:9
My brother and I used to occasionally make a hike through two miles of forest to reach the community of Millbrook, emerging into one of Ed Cain’s back fields. For almost a third of the distance, there was a woods road that we could follow. Then, we would follow traces of an old woods road that had overgrown with bushes for another third of the distance. The last third of the way had no road of any kind, and we simply travelled due north. One of the interesting aspects of the middle third of that hike was the way in which the road was filled in by bushes. One long stretch crossed a boggy ground filled with alders. The alders didn’t actually grow in the old road, they leaned over into it from the sides. They leaned so tightly that it was impossible to walk through, even if we had boots for the bog, which we didn’t. We found we could actually walk on the trunks of those leaning alders, all the way across the bog, turning an obstacle into an opportunity. The psalmist in today’s text also speaks of turning obstacles into opportunities in making progress for God.
The word ‘cleanse’ is a bit misleading. The thought is actually to prepare or to establish a way, so the person travelling will be able to move ahead in the right direction. And that is what the Word of God does for us, whether we are young or old. But this lesson is especially important for the young. If we are to move in the direction that God wants us to, it is better if we start early, because if we move aimlessly for much of our lives, our progress for God will be small. But if we prepare our way by using the light of Scripture, and the guidance of Scripture, we will make progress. We will be using something that the world doesn’t have, even with all its self-help systems and support groups; we will be tapping into divine wisdom that can never fail or misdirect.
My brother and I didn’t enjoy using the alders to cross the bog because they were awkward. But we did it because it kept us near the old road, on track for our destination. If we had gone around, we might have become disoriented or lost, and, at the very least, we would waste a lot of time. That is why we need to stick close to the instructions in the Bible, even when it makes us uncomfortable or if it’s inconvenient for our own little plans. Obedience to the Word of God is the best way to make sure we stay on the path to progress for our Lord.
God has given us an excellent Guide for obedience and service for Him. Following that Guide will always give us the best in this like and the next. -Jim MacIntosh