'He who is his own teacher, has a fool for his master.'

Posted : 14 Mar, 2013 02:25 AM

Psalm 119:34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law; yes, I shall observe it with my whole heart.





'He who is his own teacher'-says Bernard-and one greater

than Bernard, 'has a fool for his master.' Man cannot teach

what he does not know; and of God, and of His law, he knows

nothing. Therefore the beginning of wisdom is a

consciousness of ignorance, a distrust of our own understanding, and the heartfelt prayer-"Give me

understanding." The spiritual understanding is the gift of Jesus

Christ. He directs us to Himself, as its fountain-"I am the light

of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but

shall have the light of life." This understanding differs from

mere intellectual discernment or speculative knowledge. It is

the spring of spiritual activity in our walk with God; so that our

obedience is not outward and reluctant, but filial delight and

wholeness of heart:-we desire not only to keep the law of God

to the end, but every day to the end-"with our whole heart."-

Such are our obligations towards Him, that we ought to study

very accurately the character of our walk with Him; always

remembering that service without the heart-the whole heart-is

hateful in His sight; and that what is now wilfully withheld, will

gradually draw away the rest in apostasy from Him. Now are

we seeking more "engagedness of heart" for Him? Then will

this prayer be a suitable expression of our need, and the

utterance of a humble, resolute petitioner. It is not, however,

enough, that we have once received, unless we are constantly

receiving. We must ask, that we may receive; but after we

have received, we must ask again. Yet is this prayer never

offered up, until the soul has in part received what it is here

seeking for. The natural man is "wise in his own conceit," and

has therefore no idea of his need of Divine teaching.

But we must not be satisfied with even a clear apprehension

of the doctrines of the Bible, and of the "truth as it is in Jesus."

"Give me understanding"-'not only that I may believe these

doctrines, but that I may keep and observe them.' In every

path of duty, this cry is repeated, with an importunity that is

never wearisome to the ears of our gracious Father. And in

how many unnoticed instances has the answer been given,

when some clear and heavenly ray has darted unexpectedly

into the mind, or some providential concurrence of unforeseen

circumstances has disentangled a path before intricate and

involved, and marked it before us with the light of a sunbeam! How many whispers of conscience! how many seasonable

suggestions in moments of darkness and perplexity, may the

observant child of God record, as the answer to this needful

prayer! "Whoever is wise, and will observe these things, even

they shall understand the loving-kindness of the Lord." Nor will

our growth in spiritual understanding fail to evidence itself in

the steady consistency of a well-ordered conversation! "Who

is a wise man, and endued with knowledge among you? Let

him show out of a good conversation his works with

meekness of wisdom." If then knowledge is valuable

according to its usefulness, one ray of this practical

knowledge-the result of prayer for heavenly teaching-is more

to be prized than the highest attainments of speculative

religion-flowing from mere human instruction.



by

Charles Bridges

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