Psalm 32:8 (NKJV)
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.
Bible Commentary
Psalm 32:8 is a Bible verse from the Old Testament where God assures us about His guidance in our lives. We have all experienced times in our lives when we just didn’t know what to do or where to go. We’re at a crossroads, and it seems as though our future lies in the important decision in front of us.
We’re terrified of making the wrong decision, or even worse we are frozen in indecision. Both are rooted in fear. We don’t know what’s around the bend, but we know the One Who does. God says in Psalm 32:8,
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.
He is an all-knowing God, and He knows exactly what He wants for each one of us. If you think about it, since He is Almighty God, He can bring to pass exactly what He wants no matter what decision we make.
He Fixes What is Broken
As long as we are rooted in His Word and seek His face each day, we already have the wisdom we need to discern what is right and what is wrong. It’s His still small voice from within that we need to listen to. But even if we make a mistake, which we all do, He comes behind us and fixes what is broken.
That’s what Jesus Christ came to do—to seek and to save that which was lost. When we make the wrong turns, we lose more than just time. We lose the blessings we would have had if we had made a different decision.
But Jesus Christ is the answer. He is the resurrection and the life. We don’t have to sink in despair over spilled milk. He cleans up our mess and sets us on the path again. He restores what is lost.
Psalm 23:3 says, “He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.”
Let’s remember, it is for His name’s sake we live and learn—not for our own.
Affliction = Success
The word “instruct” in Hebrew means: intelligent: consider, expert, prosper, have good success.
If we never made any wrong decisions, we wouldn’t have much to learn from, and we might not have much of a testimony. Once again, our lives are to give Him glory.
We might not be at a place in our lives that we would consider prosperous or successful, but God sees it differently than we do. Look at Psalm 32:8 again.
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.
We look up to Him when we’re in a difficult situation. He instructs us through it and beyond it.
We have situations in our past that He continues to teach us from. The word “teach” from Psalm 32:8 means: to flow as water; to rain, to point out, direct.
As we learn what He teaches us, we are successful and prosperous in His eyes. That is where our intelligence and wisdom come from. Our rewards are being built up in Heaven.
Kingdom Rewards
Because we seek Him, we become more like Him and therefore gain more Kingdom territory and rewards. The more we are formed into the image of Christ, the more successful we become. Remember, God looks upon the heart and that is where He sees success and prosperity.
Let’s look at the last part of Psalm 32:8, “I will guide you with my eye.”
The word “eye” in Hebrew means: a fountain, affliction, countenance, resemblance, sight.
Just as Jesus experienced affliction during His earthly ministry, so we too, experience affliction. Because of what we learn through affliction, we have a testimony that brings glory to God’s Name, and He rewards us for that—in the here and now, and in the ever after.
We are like a fountain that houses the living water—Jesus Himself. Just as He poured Himself out for us, so we too are called to pour ourselves out for others for His Holy Name.
Study the Bible verse of Psalm 32:8 and be assured of the Lord’s perfect guidance in your life.
