Translations
Psalm 119:5 (ESV) – Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes.
Psalm 119:5 LXX
όφελον κατευθυνθείησαν αι οδοί μου του φυλάξασθαι τα δικαιώματά σου
Ought that. [be straightened out. my ways]. to keep. your ordinances
Psalm 119:5 Interlinear from the Hebrew – Oh that were directed my ways to keep Your statutes.
Connections
Psalm 37:23 [ESV] The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way;
Proverbs 16:9 [ESV] The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.
Jeremiah 10:23 [ESV] I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.
κατευθυνθείησαν – (kateuthuntheiesan). be straightened out
κατευθύνω [kateuthuno] appears 3 times only in the New Testament – and is translated as “to guide” and “to direct”. Luke 1:79 [ESV] to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of. death, to guide (κατευθῦναι) our feet into the way of peace. 1 Thess 3:11 [ESV] Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus. direct (κατευθύναι) our way to you. 2 Thess 3:5 [ESV] May the Lord direct (κατευθύναι) your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.
There is a cry within a believer for God’s direction for spiritual guidance,as we recognise our own shortcomings, we also recognise our deep and desperate need for some gudiance from Heaven. This cry echos over the two thousand years between the Old and New Testament writers and stays consistent. And as we today read these ancient words, they find resonance within our hearts and spirits.
Reflections
There are for sure storms in life, storms that affect our health, our minds, our finances, our families, and our hopes and dreams. These storms come, not to stay, but to pass. In some ways they test out what we have built our life on, and having done their worst, we find that not only are we still standing, but that we are more resilient than we have been before as a result of those storms. No one in their right thinking would wish one of these storms on themselves or anyone else, but they will come, unannounced, unexpected, and we will go through them. Let this be my prayer in life’s storms – “Oh Lord establish my ways before you”.
Strength Coaches thought – Restorative is such an excellent talent that runs towards problems. If you have this talent you are awesome at figuring out what is wrong and resolving it. Staying focused on discovering the root cause is an additional skill.
Blessings
Allan