I. I Samuel 15:22
A. The lyricist for this song was John H. Sammis (1846-1919) and
the composer was Daniel B. Towner (1850-1919). After a young man
made this statement concerning what he would do in his life: "I
am not quite sure-but I am going to trust and I am going to obey",
D. L. Moody sent these words to J.H. Sammis who wrote the 5 stanzas
that we have.
B. Life can often be a restless, disrupted existence until we
give ourselves wholeheartedly to something beyond ourselves and
follow and obey is supremely. Such implicit trust in God's great
love and wisdom with a sincere desire to follow his leading should
be every Christian's goal Our willingness to trust and obey is
always the first step toward God's blessings in this life and
in the one to come.
II. Verse 1-Read
A. "Walk with the Lord"-Gen. 17:1, Leviticus 26:3, Deuteronomy
30:16, Psalms 119:1-2--The underlying theme in all these verses
and many others is that, to walk with the Lord is to Obey his
commandments!
B. "In the Light of His Word"-Psalms 119:105, Isaiah
8:20- Light and darkness are used throughout the scriptures synonymously
with righteousness and unrighteousness. The only way that we can
stay out of darkness, while seeking to walk with the Lord, is
to obey the "light" of His Word!
C. "What a glory he sheds on our way"-II Peter 1:17
Christ and him sacrificed is the glory that God has shed on our
way! It is through Christ that we receive God's word and can walk
in the light. Christ is God manifested in this world.
D. Remainder of Verse1-I John 2:6, I John 2:14-17, II John:9.
Please notice that if we do not abide in the doctrine of Christ,
we do not have God. But if we trust and obey the doctrine of Christ
we have both the Father and the Son and the blessings from both!
III. Verse 2-Read
II Cor. 6:4-11-For God to Smile upon us is for us to meet with
his approval. Nothing can harm us spiritually by separating us
from God, except our own foolishness. Romans 8:34-39.
IV. Verse 3-Read
II Tim. 4:1-8, Our toil (light affliction-IICor. 4:17) upon this
earth can never measure up to the reward that God and Christ will
give us in the judgment, if we trust and obey. That reward, (crown
of righteousness), is eternal life with them in heaven. When we
add up all that we must endure here on this earth, while following
him, the reward so greatly outweighs these trials that it takes
the grace of God to make up the difference-manifested in the sacrifice
of his Son!
V. Verse 4-Read
Eph. 5:2, Rom. 12:1, Phil 2:17, Heb 13:15- Christ sacrificed all
for us, we present our bodies a living sacrifice, Paul sacrificed
himself to others, and we sacrifice praise to God. But the point
already made in verse 3 is that for all we may do-God gifts to
us are greater.
VI. Verse 5-Read
A. "We will sit at His feet"-Luke 10:39, Just as Mary
and the Apostles were able to sit at the feet of Jesus to be taught
and to have fellowship with him, we sit at his feet and have fellow
ship with him when we read and heed the words of Jesus.
B. "Or we'll walk by his side in the way"-Eph 4:17-19,
Eph. 5:8,9, Col. 1:10-12, I Thess. 4:1. To walk by his side in
the way is to do all these things and more!
C. "What he says we will do, where he sends we will go, never
fear"-Mark 16:15, Luke 12:4.,5.
VII "Trust and Obey"
A. Trust-Belief in and reliance on the integrity, strength, ability,
and surety of a person or thing. Heb. 2:13-15
B. Obey-To comply with, or follow the commands, restrictions,
wishes, or instructions of. Acts 5:28-31
When we put our belief and reliance on the commands and wishes
of God, we have committed our selves to the greatest purpose that
we as human being can do-giving ourselves hope-confidence that
God will save us from our sins!!