WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU DON’T KNOW

READING: PSALM 71:12-16

Verse 15: “My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness and Your salvation all the day, for I do not know their limits.”

Above, the writer admits that he does not know the extent of God’s righteousness and salvation, and that they exceed his understanding. So how do people react when something exceeds our understanding? Usually we attempt to extend our understanding in order to rectify the lack. If understanding continues to elude us, eventually we will usually evade the matter or even drop it. In this psalm, the psalmist models a better alternative. His response to his lack of understanding of the limits of the righteousness and salvation of God was to: hope continually, to praise God more and more and to tell of His righteousness and salvation all the day long. This example set by the psalmist in his situation, is still current for our application after all these years. His prescription is good advice about what to do when you don’t know what to do. Our answer is always found in Jesus! That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. What is your usual response when you encounter something in your Christian experience that exceeds your understanding?

2. Identify one aspect of your life in Christ where you lack understanding, then apply the psalmist’s model and note the results.