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Welcome to Day 2482 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 28:1-9 Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2482 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2482 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.. In today’s Wisdom Nugget, we continue our journey through the Psalms. We’ve reached Psalm 28, a powerful prayer and declaration by David that teaches us about seeking God’s help in times of trouble and recognizing His role as our protector and strength. In Psalm 28, David turns to the Lord in a moment of deep need, pleading for God’s mercy and intervention. As we walk through these verses, we’ll see David’s heartfelt cry for help, his trust in God’s deliverance, and his praise for the Lord’s faithfulness. Let’s read through Psalm 28:1-9 from the New Living Translation together: Psalm 28:1-9 (NLT): 1 I pray to You, O Lord, my rock. Do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if You are silent, I might as well give up and die. 2 Listen to my prayer for mercy as I cry out to You for help, as I lift my hands toward Your holy sanctuary. 3 Do not drag me away with the wicked— with those who do evil— those who speak friendly words to their neighbors while planning evil in their hearts. 4 Give them the punishment they so richly deserve! Measure it out in proportion to their wickedness; pay them back for all their evil deeds. Give them a taste of what they have done to others. 5 They care nothing for what the Lord has done or for what His hands have made. So He will tear them down, and they will never be rebuilt! 6 Praise the Lord! For He has heard my cry for mercy. 7 The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust Him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. 8 The Lord gives His people strength. He is a safe fortress for His anointed king. 9 Save Your people! Bless Israel, Your special possession. Lead them like a shepherd, and carry them in Your arms forever. Crying Out in Desperation (Verses 1-2): In the opening two verses of Psalm 28, David begins with a cry of desperation: “I pray to You, O Lord, my rock. Do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if You are silent, I might as well give up and die.” David’s words here reveal his deep dependence on God. He refers to the Lord as his “rock,” which symbolizes a place of stability, safety, and refuge. Yet, despite this confidence in God’s role as his protector, David is experiencing a moment of intense need. He fears what might happen if God does not respond to him. This is a powerful reminder that even those with strong faith, like David, experience moments of fear and desperation. It’s not that David doubts God’s power or goodness, but the intensity of his circumstances makes him feel as though God’s silence would be unbearable. In verse 2, David continues: “Listen to my prayer for mercy as I cry out to You for help, as I lift my...

Welcome to Day 2481 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom – Theology Thursday – Standing in the Council – I Dare You Not To Bore Me With The Bible. Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2481 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2481 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.   Today is the twenty-sixth lesson in our segment, Theology Thursday. Utilizing excerpts from a book titled: I Dare You Not To Bore Me With The Bible written by Hebrew Bible scholar and professor the late Dr. Michael S Heiser, we will invest a couple of years going through the entire Bible, exploring short Biblical lessons that you may not have received in Bible classes or Church. The Bible is a wonderful book. Its pages reveal the epic story of God’s redemption of humankind and the long, bitter conflict against evil. Yet it’s also a book that seems strange to us. While God’s Word was written for us, it wasn’t written to us. Today, our lesson is: Standing in the Council. Most people think a prophet is someone God empowers to foretell the future. No doubt, prophets announced God’s intentions, but forecasting future events wasn’t their primary job description. A prophet’s chief task was to serve as God’s mouthpiece to His covenant people, Israel, and her enemies. So, how did someone become a prophet? Was there some sort of heavenly qualification? In fact, there was. You might think the standard for a prophet was whether their words came to pass exactly as uttered (Deut 18:15-22). But that’s actually a by-product of the real litmus test, which we read about in Jeremiah: For who among them has stood in the council (no, sod) of the Lord to see and to hear his word, or who has paid attention to his word and listened? [The Lord says] ... “If they had stood in my council (no, sod), then they would have proclaimed my words to my people” (Jer 23:18, 22). What does it mean to “stand in the council”? Jeremiah elaborates: “to see and to hear his word ... to pay attention to his word and listen.” The one essential test of a prophet—that preceded their ability to deliver a divine message—was that the prophet had to see and hear God in His council. In the Bible, God and His heavenly host were thought to live and conduct business in the divine throne room. This assembly, with God as its CEO, is called “a divine council” (Pss 82:1; 89:5-7).- God chose prophets and commissioned them directly for ministry. When a prophet “stood in the council,” they had a direct encounter with God in His throne room. This motif of “standing in the council” is a repeated pattern in the Bible. In the case of Isaiah, the prophet was transported to the throne room of Yahweh (Isa 6:1-6) to receive his call to service (Isa 6:8-9). For Ezekiel, the circumstances were reversed, with the throne of the Lord coming to him (Ezek 1:1-14, 26-28). Jeremiah was also commissioned via a direct encounter with God. At the beginning of his ministry, the “word of the Lord” came to him (Jer 1:4) and appointed him a prophet. The “word” is identified as Yahweh (Jer 1:6-7) who has come in human form. He reaches out His hand to touch Jeremiah’s mouth (Jer 1:9). It was this encounter that...

Welcome to Day 2480 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 27:7-14 Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2480 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2480 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.. In today’s Wisdom Nugget, we continue our exploration through Psalm 27. This psalm is a powerful declaration of trust in God, especially when life feels overwhelming and uncertain. Last time, we walked through verses 1-6, where David expressed his confidence in God’s protection and presence. Today, we’ll be focusing on Psalm 27:7-14 from the New Living Translation. In this section, David moves from a confident proclamation to a heartfelt prayer. We’ll see him calling out to God in a moment of need, seeking assurance and guidance. Even as David asks for God’s help, his trust in the Lord remains firm. Let’s read the passage in its entirety before we dive into the details: Psalm 27:7-14 (NLT): 7 Hear me as I pray, O Lord. Be merciful and answer me! 8 My heart has heard You say, “Come and talk with Me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” 9 Do not turn Your back on me. Do not reject Your servant in anger. You have always been my helper. Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me, O God of my salvation! 10 Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close. 11 Teach me how to live, O Lord. Lead me along the right path, for my enemies are waiting for me. 12 Do not let me fall into their hands. For they accuse me of things I’ve never done; with every breath, they threaten me with violence. 13 Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living. 14 Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord. A Cry for Help and Mercy (Verses 7-9): In the opening verses of this section, David shifts from his earlier confidence in God’s protection to a direct and earnest plea for help. He begins in verse 7, saying, “Hear me as I pray, O Lord. Be merciful and answer me!” This is a deeply personal cry. David is not reciting a formal prayer or offering a distant request; he is pouring out his heart to God. He knows he needs God’s mercy and intervention, and he is asking for an answer. What’s significant here is the relationship David has with God. He doesn’t approach God timidly or with uncertainty; instead, he calls out, knowing that God hears him. David is confident that God will respond to his cry. In verse 8, David expresses a beautiful truth about his relationship with the Lord: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’” This verse reveals the intimacy between David and God. God has extended an invitation to David, saying, “Come and talk with Me,” and David responds with a willing heart. What an amazing privilege it is to know that the Creator of the universe invites us to come and speak with Him! God...

Welcome to Day 2479 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2479 – Counsel From a Concerned Apostle – Daily Wisdom Putnam Church Message – 10/06/2024 Jesus Christ, Our Lord – Counsel From a Concerned Apostle - Colossians 2:1-10 Last week, we continued in the letter of Colossians and dove into what authentic Christian Ministry really is. Today’s passage is Colossians 2:1-10 on page 1833 of your Pew Bibles. We will investigate the heart of Paul and his love for the early church. I am reading from the NLT. 1 I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and for the church at Laodicea, and for many other believers who have never met me personally. 2 I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself. 3 In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.4 I am telling you this so no one will deceive you with well-crafted arguments. 5 For though I am far away from you, my heart is with you. And I rejoice that you are living as you should and that your faith in Christ is strong. 6 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 7 Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.8 Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers[a] of this world, rather than from Christ. 9 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.[b] 10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority. There is a period of time during most young Christians’ lives when we go through an unhealthy phase of spiritual independence. We think that we don’t need anybody but God or anything but the Bible. We know Christ. We have the Holy Spirit. We begin to read God’s Word. We engage in daily study of Scripture. For many of us, our parents had played their part in raising us and sending us on a wholesome spiritual trajectory. Our spouse or other family member was there to provide encouragement and companionship. We plow forward with a go-it-alone attitude and a pioneering spirit. It’s the way of Western culture, especially in America. This thinking is not Biblical. As we grow spiritually through the years, one of the greatest things we learn is that we need others. Not occasionally, but continually. And not just our families and close friends. We need all our brothers and sisters in Christ, in our local churches, and in the universal body of Christ. This is one of the most challenging truths to convince believers of. We talk about accepting Christ as our “personal Savior” and

Welcome to Day 2478 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 27:1-6 Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2478 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2478 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.. In today’s Wisdom Nugget, we embark on another trek through God’s Word. Today, we’re diving into a powerful and encouraging passage—Psalm 27:1-6 from the New Living Translation. This is a psalm of David, where he expresses his unwavering trust in the Lord, even in the face of danger and adversity. It’s a psalm that teaches us about finding confidence and security in God, especially when life feels uncertain. Let’s start by reading the passage in full, and then we’ll walk through it together: Psalm 27:1-6 (NLT): 1 The Lord is my light and my salvation— so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? 2 When evil people come to devour me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. 3 Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident. 4 The one thing I ask of the Lord— the thing I seek most— is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in His Temple. 5 For He will conceal me there when troubles come; He will hide me in His sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock. 6 Then I will hold my head high above my enemies who surround me. At His sanctuary, I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy, singing and praising the Lord with music. Confidence in God’s Protection (Verses 1-3): David opens this psalm with a bold and clear declaration of confidence: “The Lord is my light and my salvation—so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?” (Verse 1) What a powerful way to begin! David acknowledges God as his light, his salvation, and his fortress. These three distinct images reveal the fullness of God’s protection and provision. God is the light that dispels the darkness of fear and uncertainty. He is the salvation that rescues David from his enemies, and He is the fortress that provides shelter and security. David’s rhetorical questions—“So why should I be afraid? Why should I tremble?”—are meant to reinforce his confidence. There is no reason to fear when the Lord provides protection and deliverance. David understands that his security doesn’t come from his own strength or resources but from God alone. In verse 2, David continues, “When evil people come to devour me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall.” Notice the certainty in his language. David doesn’t say “if” enemies attack but “when.” He knows that trouble is inevitable in life. But he is equally confident that those who oppose him will ultimately fail because God is on his side. Verse 3 takes this confidence even further: “Though a mighty

Welcome to Day 2476 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 26:1-12 Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2477 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2477 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.. In today’s Wisdom Nugget, we’ll be exploring Psalm 26:1-12 from the New Living Translation. This is a powerful psalm in which David, the writer, boldly declares his innocence and integrity while asking God for protection and vindication. We’ll unpack these verses to understand David’s confidence in the Lord, his commitment to integrity, and how this can apply to our lives today. As we explore Psalm 26, I invite you to reflect on your own walk with God, seeking to live in integrity and trusting Him to guide and protect you. Let’s begin by reading Psalm 26 in its entirety: Psalm 26:1-12 (NLT): 1 Declare me innocent, O Lord, for I have acted with integrity; I have trusted in the Lord without wavering. 2 Put me on trial, Lord, and cross-examine me. Test my motives and my heart. 3 For I am always aware of Your unfailing love, and I have lived according to Your truth. 4 I do not spend time with liars or go along with hypocrites. 5 I hate the gatherings of those who do evil, and I refuse to join in with the wicked. 6 I wash my hands to declare my innocence. I come to Your altar, O Lord, 7 singing a song of thanksgiving and telling of all Your wonders. 8 I love Your sanctuary, Lord, the place where Your glorious presence dwells. 9 Don’t let me suffer the fate of sinners. Don’t condemn me along with murderers. 10 Their hands are dirty with evil schemes, and they constantly take bribes. 11 But I am not like that; I live with integrity. So redeem me and show me mercy. 12 Now I stand on solid ground, and I will publicly praise the Lord. A Declaration of Integrity and Trust (Verses 1-3): David begins this psalm with a bold declaration: “Declare me innocent, O Lord, for I have acted with integrity; I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.” From the start, we can sense David’s confidence in his relationship with God. He is unafraid to ask God to declare him innocent because he knows he has lived a life of integrity. But this isn’t a prideful statement. David is not claiming perfection; instead, he’s acknowledging that his heart is committed to the Lord and has walked according to God’s truth. In verse 2, David goes even further by inviting God to test him: “Put me on trial, Lord, and cross-examine me. Test my motives and my heart.” This is a courageous request. David isn’t hiding anything from God. He’s opening himself up to God’s scrutiny, asking God to evaluate his actions, heart, and motives. What would it look like for us to have that same kind of confidence before God? It’s important to note that...

Welcome to Day 2476 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom – Theology Thursday – Immanuel's Mother: Virgin or Not? – I Dare You Not To Bore Me With The Bible. Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2476 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2476 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.   Today is the twenty-fifth lesson in our segment, Theology Thursday. Utilizing excerpts from a book titled: I Dare You Not To Bore Me With The Bible written by Hebrew Bible scholar and professor the late Dr. Michael S Heiser, we will invest a couple of years going through the entire Bible, exploring short Biblical lessons that you may not have received in Bible classes or Church. The Bible is a wonderful book. Its pages reveal the epic story of God’s redemption of humankind and the long, bitter conflict against evil. Yet it’s also a book that seems strange to us. While God’s Word was written for us, it wasn’t written to us. Today, our lesson is: Immanuel’s Mother: Virgin or Not? Immanuel’s Mother: Virgin or Not? The prophecy of Isaiah 7:14 is among the most well-known passages in the book of Isaiah. It’s also one of the most controversial, for many reasons. All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin[a] (almah) will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’). It’s difficult to get through the Christmas or Easter season without seeing one of the major news periodicals or educational television networks cast doubt about the meaning of almah in Isaiah 7:14. A favorite argument is that the Hebrew word almah cannot mean “virgin” but instead refers to a young woman of marriageable age—without respect to prior sexual activity. The more precise word for “virgin” is betulah, a word not used in Isaiah 7:14. The New Testament author Matthew, we are so often told, mistakenly assumed the term meant “virgin.” His ignorance led to the doctrine of the virgin birth of Jesus. But are these assertions correct? Betulah indeed refers to someone who has been sexually inactive (Lev 21:3; Judg 21:12: Deut 22:23, 28; Exod 22:15), but does that mean almah never means virgin? Outside of Isaiah 7:14, the word almah occurs only six times in the Old Testament. In all but one of those occurrences, the context provides no clue as to the sexual status of the young woman or women (Gen 24:43; Exod 2:8; Psa 68:25; Song 1:3; 6:8; Prov 30:19). Virginity is suggested, however, in Song of Solomon 6:8, where almah occurs in the plural (alamot): “There are sixty queens and eighty concubines, and virgins (alamot) without number.” The distinction between queens, concubines, and alamot is important. A queen was a...

Welcome to Day 2475 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 25:16-22 Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2475 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2475 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.. In today’s Wisdom Nugget, we’ll explore Psalm 25:16-22 from the New Living Translation. These verses represent the concluding portion of a prayer from King David, where he expresses deep feelings of loneliness, distress, and the need for God’s help. In this passage, David opens his heart to God, pleading for deliverance from his troubles and asking for protection. As we unpack these verses, I invite you to reflect on how they speak to the struggles and challenges we face in our lives and how they encourage us to lean on God for strength and relief. Let’s read the passage together before diving into the details. Psalm 25:16-22 (NLT): 16 Turn to me and have mercy, for I am alone and in deep distress. 17 My problems go from bad to worse. Oh, save me from them all! 18 Feel my pain and see my trouble. Forgive all my sins. 19 See how many enemies I have and how viciously they hate me! 20 Protect me! Rescue my life from them! Do not let me be disgraced, for in You I take refuge. 21 May integrity and honesty protect me, for I put my hope in You. 22 O God, ransom Israel from all its troubles. A Cry for Mercy (Verse 16): David begins this final section of the psalm with an impassioned plea in verse 16: “Turn to me and have mercy, for I am alone and in deep distress.” The tone is one of personal anguish. David feels isolated—cut off from those who might comfort him—and he recognizes that his only hope is to call out to God. This feeling of loneliness is something many of us can relate to. There are moments in life when it seems like no one understands what we’re going through, and even if people surround us, we can still feel alone. David’s response is to cry out for God’s mercy. He doesn’t approach God with pride or a sense of entitlement; instead, he comes humbly, acknowledging his need for God’s compassion. This is a crucial reminder for us: when we’re in distress, it’s not a time to rely on our own strength or wisdom. Instead, like David, we need to turn to God and ask for His mercy. God’s mercy is His loving response to our weakness. It’s not something we earn, but something He freely gives when we come to Him in humility and faith. Escalating Troubles and the Need for Salvation (Verse 17): In verse 17, David continues to pour out his heart, saying, “My problems go from bad to worse. Oh, save me from them all!” Here, we see David acknowledging that his troubles are not easing up—they’re intensifying. It’s a vivid expression of how we often feel when life seems to be closing in on us. Problems can pile up, and the weight of it all can become overwhelming. What’s striking here is that David doesn’t simply ask for relief from one...

Welcome to Day 2474 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2474 – A Precise Explanation of Ministry – Daily Wisdom Putnam Church Message – 09/29/2024 Jesus Christ, Our Lord – A Precise Explanation of Ministry Colossians 1:24-29 Last week, we continued in the letter of Colossians, explored the great Christ Hymn, and studied the six realms in which Christ is supreme. Today’s passage is Colossians 1:24-29, on page 1832 of your Pew Bibles. We are going to dive into what Christian Ministry really is. I am reading from the NLT. 24 I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am participating in the sufferings of Christ that continue for his body, the church. 25 God has given me the responsibility of serving his church by proclaiming his entire message to you. 26 This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to God’s people. 27 For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory. 28 So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect[g] in their relationship to Christ. 29 That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me. (Show large knife) If used occasionally, a knife remains sharp and continues to cut with precision. However, when we use a knife regularly, it begins to lose its edge. Words are like that. Certain words are used so frequently that they begin to lose their edge. Their real meanings become blunted by clichés, dulled by familiarity, and rendered ineffective by diminished precision. This is especially true of the word ministry, a word that is tossed around in churches and other Christian contexts. Because of its overuse, the term now conveys a wide variety of meanings, many of which have little, if anything, to do with actual ministry. The same could be said of those who serve as “ministers.” What exactly does it mean to be a “minister”? And what is involved in having a “ministry” in the lives of others? Interestingly, when we think about ministry, we’re often better at pointing out what it’s not supposed to be | than explaining what it should be. For example, we know it’s not supposed to be a commercial enterprise that involves the sale of goods and services. We know it’s not supposed to be an entertainment industry that sells tickets to an eager audience, hoping to get great reviews and boost ratings. And we know it’s not supposed to be an educational institution that charges tuition, offers degrees, or provides on-the-job training to further a person’s career. A ministry should not be a country club, a manufacturing plant, or a war room. We know that much. But how do we define an authentic, healthy ministry? Paul understood his role as God’s servant. He was first and foremost under the authority of the Lord, to whom he had to give an account....

Welcome to Day 2473 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 25:8-15 Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2473 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2473 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.. In today’s Wisdom Nugget, we’ll be diving into Psalm 25:8-15 from the New Living Translation. This section of the psalm continues David’s heartfelt prayer for guidance and forgiveness, as he reflects on God’s character and how the Lord leads those who trust in Him. As we explore these verses together, let’s keep in mind how they apply to our daily walk with God. Whether seeking direction, struggling with sin, or wanting to grow closer to the Lord, these verses offer profound wisdom and hope. Let’s read the passage together before we unpack it. Psalm 25:8-15 (NLT): 8 The Lord is good and does what is right; He shows the proper path to those who go astray. 9 He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them His way. 10 The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all who keep His covenant and obey His demands. 11 For the honor of Your name, O Lord, forgive my many, many sins. 12 Who are those who fear the Lord? He will show them the path they should choose. 13 They will live in prosperity, and their children will inherit the land. 14 The Lord is a friend to those who fear Him. He teaches them His covenant. 15 My eyes are always on the Lord, for He rescues me from the traps of my enemies. The Goodness and Guidance of the Lord (Verses 8-9): David begins this portion of the psalm by focusing on the goodness of the Lord. He declares, “The Lord is good and does what is right; He shows the proper path to those who go astray.” Here, we are reminded of God’s fundamental nature: He is good. He is just. Everything He does is right and aligned with His perfect character. This is the starting point for understanding how God relates to us as His people. His goodness is not just a passive quality; it’s active. Because He is good, He leads us. He shows the proper path to those who have gone astray. All of us, at some point, stray from the right path. We make mistakes, choose the wrong direction, or allow sin to cloud our judgment. But God, in His goodness, doesn’t leave us to wander aimlessly. He guides us back to the proper way. His goodness actively seeks to correct and direct us. In verse 9, David tells us who God leads: “He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them His way.” Humility is essential if we are to be led by the Lord. Pride says, “I can figure this out on my own,” but humility recognizes our need for God’s guidance. The humble heart is teachable, willing to submit to God’s leading, and eager to learn His ways. And when we approach God with this kind of heart, He leads us in doing what is right. There is a beautiful simplicity to these verses. The Lord, who is good, shows the way to those who go astray and leads...