We can find the phrase “the way” in over 300 places in the Scriptures. Many of ‘the way‘ verses are very significant for those who desire to love the heavenly Father and walk in His ways.
The Hebrew word for ‘way’ is ‘derek’ <Strong’s # 1870> and it means ‘a road (as trodden); and, a course or direction of life, and a manner of action, in other words, a lifestyle’.
In this series of articles, we will be looking at this phrase – ‘the way‘ – and this word ‘way‘ and its meaning as a course or direction of life, and a manner of action, or a lifestyle.
The Way of the LORD
In this article entitled, “The Way of the LORD”, we are talking about the way(s) of Yahuwah Elohim [the Hebrew name for the LORD God]. The name ‘Yahuwah’ is seen in the Hebrew text of the Scriptures around 7,000 times. The title ‘LORD’ was substituted for the Creator’s name, by the translators. For the most part, I do not use the traditional title ‘LORD’ except when quoting Scripture passages.
The phrase ‘the way(s) of Yahuwah [the LORD]’ appears seventeen times in the Scriptures. Rather than give all the verses here, I have listed the references below.
For me, the most significant of these seventeen verses is the statement made by King David:
For I have kept the ways of Yahuwah [the LORD], and have not wickedly departed from my God. (Psalms 18:21)
Since King David was a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22), the above statement should be a clue as to why David was so highly favored by Yahuwah. Though David made his mistakes and was a sinner, just as we all are, yet he sincerely confessed his sins and was repentant! He always returned to his relationship and fellowship with the Father with a true heart.
If David ‘kept the ways of Yahuwah’, then we can surely learn and keep Yahuwah’s ways also. Yahuwah wants us to learn His ways, and we are capable of learning His ways IF we have a willing heart to learn and be teachable.
We can find great insight into the ways of Yahuwah by searching out the phrase “His ways“. I have chosen only fifteen of the verses that give us significant instruction on the ways of Yahuwah whenever the verse refers to ‘His ways’.
Rather than give all fifteen verses here, I have listed the references below. Instead I want to summarized the important points from the fifteen verses that refer to ‘His ways‘ – Yahuwah’s ways:
- As for God, His way is perfect. (Psalms 18:30)
- All His ways are judgment (just). (Deuteronomy 32:4)
- Yahuwah [the LORD] is righteous in all His ways. (Psalms 145:17)
- Fear Yahuwah Elohim [the LORD your God], walk in all His ways, love Him, and serve Yahuwah Elohim [the LORD your God] with all your heart and all your soul. (Deuteronomy 10:12) (Loving Yahuwah is repeated four times in these fifteen verses.)
- Walk in His ways, keep His statutes, His commandments, His judgments, and hearken unto His voice. (Deuteronomy 26:17) (Keeping Yahuwah’s Words [His Torah] is repeated at least three times in these fifteen verses.)
(There are more insights to be gleaned if we search the phrase “Your (thy) ways”.)
The above five points give us a very good understanding of ‘the way(s) of Yahuwah [the LORD]’.
What a wonderful and awesome God He is! For He has told us that all His ways are perfect, just, and righteous! And He has revealed to us how to walk in His perfect, just, and righteous ways, by learning to live our life according to His ways. How do we do that? We begin by choosing to love Him, serve Him and by keeping [obeying] His statutes, His commandments, and His judgments, which is The Torah as we discussed in That It May Be Well With You – Part Two.
If we begin to do these things, we will then begin to understand the fear of Yahuwah [the LORD]. And, we will begin to know how to hearken to His voice.
Our love and obedience to Yahuwah’s ways will automatically lead to His blessings:
Praise ye Yahuwah [the LORD]. Blessed is the man that fears Yahuwah [the LORD], that delights greatly in His commandments. (Psalms 112:1)
Blessed is every one that fears Yahuwah [the LORD]; that walks in His ways. (Psalms 128:1)
Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law [the Torah] of Yahuwah [the LORD]. 2) Blessed are they that keep His testimonies, and that seek Him with the whole heart. 3) They also do no iniquity: they walk in His ways. (Psalms 119:1-3)
The above verses give us clear direction for how to walk in His ways:
- We are to learn to walk in the fear of Yahuwah.
- We are to delight greatly in His commandments.
- We are to seek Him with all our heart.
- We are to learn and obey His instructions given in the Torah.
The ways of Yahuwah are truly mysterious and full of wonder. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so His ways are higher than ours! And yet, He has chosen to reveal much of His wisdom and knowledge to us, if only we will be of a humble and teachable spirit (Isaiah 55:8-9; Proverbs 15:33; Proverbs 6:23).
It is Father’s desire that we learn to walk according to His ways! Why? So that things will be well with us (Deuteronomy 4:40)!
“If the Lord has ordained to save you, surely He will not refuse to instruct you in His ways.” — Charles H. Spurgeon
As we have seen in the Scriptures, if we wish to follow Yahuwah [the LORD], then we will begin to seek Him with the whole heart! And we will begin to trust in His mercy and abundant grace when we ask Him to help us — ask His help to be obedient and to walk according to His marvellous and excellent ways!
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The Way(s) of the LORD:
Genesis 18:19; Judges 2:22; 2 Samuel 22:22; 2 Kings 21:22; 2 Chronicles 17:6; Psalms 18:21; 138:5; Proverbs 10:29; Isaiah 40:3; Jeremiah 5:4-5; Hosea 14:9; Matthew 3:3; Mark 1:3; Luke 3:4; John 1:23; Acts 18:25
His Ways:
Psalms 18:30; 119:1-3; 128:1; 145:17; Deuteronomy 8:6; 10:12; 11:22; 11:22; 26:17; 28:9; 30:16; 32:4; Joshua 22:5; 1 Kings 2:3; 8:57-58
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See the Companion Articles in this series:
Related Articles:
- Six Little Things that Make a Big Difference
- Messiah is Our Example
- Prayer Quotes
- Acquiring a Teachable Heart
- Following Messiah: Two Basic Qualities
- 7 Tips For Enduring Trials
- Learning to Hear Father’s Voice: Removing the Obstacles
- Dying to Self– A brief list of practical examples of how we experience “dying to self.”
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Cold Waters to a Thirsty Soul 