“…He shall not judge after the sight of His eyes, neither reprove by the hearing of His ears, but with righteousness shall He judge the poor.” Isaiah 11:3,4
It was early morning one day when Jesus came into the temple in Jerusalem to teach the people. The Pharisees and scribes brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, placed her before Jesus, then sought to trap Him in His words to accuse Him. When their accusation concerning the woman was laid before the Lord, He “…stooped down, and with His finger wrote on the ground.” The Pharisees persisted in their attempt to push Jesus to say something that could be used against Him. It is only after not responding for a while, that He rose up and told the Pharisees: “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” (Luke8:7) How is it that Jesus was able to give the perfect word for the moment, a word that would affect all concerned, from the Pharisees to the accused woman? Jesus was utterly relying on the Spirit of God for the Father’s words which applied to that situation. His anointing had provided for this. It would be by the Spirit, and not trusting in what He saw and heard, that true justice was rendered, to the Pharisees and scribes, convicting them of their sin, but also with regard to the woman who needed to be forgiven of her sin. By words given to Him of the Spirit, as He relied upon the Spirit beyond what sight and hearing could provide, He was able to discern the truth of what was occurring, both in the hearts of the accusers and the accused. Indeed, Christ came to save all men, but only by the Spirit, who sees and knows all things, both seen and unseen.
In one of Jeremiah’s prayers, he reveals to us the absolute need of man, not to trust in himself, specifically that which he sees and hears, as opposed to that which is true in the unseen. He writes: “O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.” (10:23) What is Jeremiah saying here? He speaks basically of two fundamental issues, the first being the limitations of man to understand, and to grasp, all that is involved in his decision-making process, in particular with regard to choosing the right and good way in which he should go. The man who truly fears God, sees and worships Him for who He truly is, both Creator and Redeemer, is that one who will trust Him above and beyond his own meager, limited, and failing resources. The more one truly understands that he is powerless, and without the capacity to truly guide his steps, is the one who becomes a candidate to be led by God. It is for this reason that we speak of surrendering oneself to God, his way, path, and direction to be taken. To have not deliberately surrendered to Christ the way which we are to take in life, is to believe in one’s limitations at the expense of the limitless wisdom, knowledge, and love of God.
The second reason for which it is true folly to trust oneself, and not God, in the pursuit of that which is right, whether it be in guidance or in living justly, and righteously before God, with men, is the sinfulness of man’s heart. The man without Christ is totally in the dark with regard to being able to truly know God’s way, and following it. The principle, or law of sin, in his heart, is like a weight, always holding sway on the discerning capacity of man to do that which is right in the sight of God. Not only does this sin create the effect of blindness, but it leads the individual in a direction away from God.
Solomon wrote: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” (Prov. 3:5-6)
Dear Father, Teach us THY way of faith, trusting wholly the Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.