The Director of Our Way
The sermon emphasizes the importance of trusting in God's sovereignty and divine guidance, recognizing the limitations of human wisdom and the impermanence of human existence.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the profound truth found in Jeremiah 10:23, illustrating that humanity lacks the ability to direct its own steps. He describes man as a traveler navigating a complex journey from an uncertain past to an unknown future, highlighting the futility of relying on oneself for guidance. Tozer contrasts the living God, the King of Eternity, with the vanity of idols, underscoring the necessity of divine direction in our lives. The sermon invites reflection on the importance of seeking God's guidance in our daily paths.
Text
Among the many wonders of the Holy Scriptures is their ability frequently to compress into a sentence truth so vast, so complex, as to require a whole shelf of books to expound. Even a single phrase may glow with a light like that of the ancient pillar of fire and its shining may illuminate the intellectual landscape for miles around. An example is found in Jeremiah 10:23.
After the Lord had spoken of the vanity of idols and had set in contrast to the gods of the heathen the glory of the living God, the King of Eternity, the prophet responded in an inspired exclamation that very well states the whole problem of humankind: O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.
The prophet here turns to a figure of speech, one which appears in the Scriptures so frequently that it is not easy to remember that it is but a figure. Man is seen as a traveler making his difficult way from a past he can but imperfectly recollect into a future about which he knows nothing. And he cannot stay, but must each morning strike his moving tent and journey on toward-and there is the heavy problem-toward what?
Sermon Outline
- The Problem of Human Direction
- The Figure of the Traveler
- The Need for Divine Guidance
- The limitations of human knowledge
- The importance of trusting in God's sovereignty
Key Quotes
“O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.” — A.W. Tozer
“Man is seen as a traveler making his difficult way from a past he can but imperfectly recollect into a future about which he knows nothing.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- Recognize the limitations of your own knowledge and wisdom, and trust in God's goodness and sovereignty.
- Acknowledge the impermanence and uncertainty of human existence, and seek divine guidance for your life.
- Trust in God's plan and purpose for your life, even when you don't understand what's ahead.