Online Bible Audio/Readings Links (ESV)
8/19 Reading Portions: 1 Samuel 11; Romans 9; Jeremiah 48; Psalm 25
Make me to know Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths. Psalm 25:4
WAY
Interestingly, while the ESV translates this verse a little more accurately than the KJV, “Shew me Thy ways, O LORD; teach me Thy paths,” there is still a translation difficulty in every English Bible I’ve come across. “Shew me” is more literally translated, “Make me to know” or “cause me to know” (YLT). The other translation difficulty is in the words, “Your ways” or “Thy ways” (KJV). While “Your paths” is correctly translated in the plural, it would be more accurate to translate the first part as “Your way.” This would be precise from a gospel perspective as Jesus said that He is…
“the Way, and the Truth, and the Life.” John 14:6
Therefore, I might translate our verse from Psalm 25 in this manner:
“Make me to be more intimately knowledgeable of Your Way, O LORD; teach me Your paths.” Psalm 25:4, PJT
While the two different Hebrew words for “way” and “path” can have the same meanings, used together like this provides a blessed truth from a gospel perspective. Since God’s glory is our ultimate goal (1 Cor 10:31), and because it is achieved through the exaltation of Jesus Christ (Phil 2:9-11), this is the singular objective: we should want YHVH God to make us intimately acquainted with Jesus (the Way) as we grow in grace and are strengthened in faith (Make me to know your ways). Yet each one of us, in the providence of God, have different personalities, possess various upbringings, live in diverse places and cultures, and have been graced with differing gifts by the Spirit. Moreover, the path, though singular, is still plural because it will differ in manner and difficulty at different times for each individual in Christ. Our trembling, spiritual feet must rely upon our Lord every step upon those paths His providence leads (teach me Your paths). The Lord Jesus can grace anybody to do what you do; yet He will not get anyone else to be who you are, or grow you where you go. Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Please, make me know Your Way, O LORD,
Our Savior, Jesus Christ;
Teach me those paths found in Your Word,
Lit by Christ’s life and light.
