Teach me thy paths

Three verbs, rising in commitment: shew me, teach me, lead me. Showing can happen at a distance — a signpost does that much. Teaching takes time together. Leading means the Guide walks the route with you. David asks for all three, which tells you he wanted more than information about the way. He wanted the company of it.

It is worth noticing what David does not pray: make my way succeed. He asks for God’s ways, God’s paths, God’s truth — three times over. Most of our direction-seeking is really ratification-seeking: we have chosen, and we would like heaven to countersign. This prayer starts further back, with the route itself surrendered.

And then the closing posture: on thee do I wait all the day. Not a morning consultation followed by self-navigation until bedtime — an all-day waiting, checked and re-checked like a walker glancing at his guide. Today has junctions in it you cannot see from here. Ask early for the Guide, not just the map.