5 Minute Simple Solutions You Can Use Now

Matthew Henry: Counsel For Direction When You Need It

Matthew Henry pastored churches in Wales and England during the late 1600s. He wrote one of the most well-known commentaries on the Bible that students still use today. Although written centuries ago, his wisdom stands the test of time.

He wrote his observations how to find direction in the midst of confusion. Take about 5 minutes and read his helpful comments. You will not regret it.

Can You Find Direction When You Need It?

5 Minute Simple Solutions You Can Use Now

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Matthew Henry Solution #1: We must have a continual regard to God's providence by faith.

1. “We must have a continual regard to God's providence, must own and depend upon it in all our affairs…"
2. “We must repose an entire confidence in the wisdom, power, and goodness of God, assuring ourselves of the extent of His providence to all the creatures and all their actions..."
3. “We must believe that He is able to do what He will, wise to do what is best, and good, according to His promise, to do what is best for us, if we love Him, and serve him."
4. "We must, with an entire submission and satisfaction, depend upon Him to perform all things for us, and not lean to our own understanding, as if we could, by any forecast of our own, without God, help ourselves, and bring our affairs to a good issue.”
5. “Those who know themselves cannot but find their own understanding to be a broken reed, which, if they lean to, will certainly fail them. In all our conduct we must be diffident of our own judgment, and confident of God's wisdom, power, and goodness, and therefore must follow Providence and not force it. That often proves best which was least our own doing."

Matthew Henry Solution #2: We must have a continual regard to God's providence by prayer.

1. “In all thy ways acknowledge God.”
2. “We must not only in our judgment believe that there is an over-ruling hand of God ordering and disposing of us and all our affairs, but we must solemnly own it, and address ourselves to Him accordingly.
3. “We must ask His leave, and not design anything but what we are sure is lawful.”
4. “We must ask his advice and beg direction from him, not only when the case is difficult (when we know not what to do, no thanks to us that we have our eyes up to Him), but in every case, be it ever so plain, we must ask success of Him, as those who know the race is not to the swift.”
5. “We must refer ourselves to Him as One from whom our judgment proceeds, and patiently, and with a holy indifference, wait His award.”
6. “In all our ways that prove direct, and fair, and pleasant, in which we gain our point to our satisfaction, we must acknowledge God with thankfulness.”
7. “In all our ways that prove cross and uncomfortable, and that are hedged up with thorns, we must acknowledge God with submission.”
8. “Our eye must be ever towards God; to Him we must, in everything, make our requests known...”
9. “For our encouragement to do this, it is promised, ‘…He shall direct thy paths…,’ so that thy way shall be safe and good and the issue happy at last.''

Summary

“Note, Those that put themselves under a divine guidance shall always have the benefit of it. God will give them that wisdom which is profitable to direct, so that they shall not turn aside into the by-paths of sin, and then will Himself so wisely order the event that it shall be to their mind, or (which is equivalent) for their good.”

“Those that faithfully follow the pillar of cloud and fire shall find that though it may lead them about it leads them the right way and will bring them to Canaan at last."

Matthew Henry at his best. You can find no greater counsel for your confusion than his comments on this popular Biblical verse. Put it into practice today, and you will find Matthew Henry relevant today as well as centuries ago.

© Thomas P. Hill (www.masterministries.org)

Personal Information: Thomas P. Hill, M. A. in Ministry, Luther Rice Seminary; author of 3 books: Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing; Homosexuality, Christians, and the Church; and Keys To A Revolutionary Life (all available online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Tom’s web site). To invite Tom to speak at your college, church, or group, contact him by email at hill_tom@att.net.

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