"Let Them Lead Me"

Before we discover the identity of the "them", we need to establish a couple of cogent facts, and then three meanings of this clause.

This comment by David, nine hundred years before Christ, directly infers two significant facts. One is that each of us is "moving"...even if we bodily and physically stop and stand, we continue on our life's unstopable journey. Even if we are asleep in bed in unconscious slumber, we are still unknowingly but continually moving on to a destination. DAvid recognized this. Also inferred is that David wanted a leader. It is as though he was walking in the dark... at least, as it concerned what was a head, and that he could not see ahead.

Three meanings: One, it was a prayer. It parallels an aspect of the so-called Lord's Prayer where Jesus said we should pray, "Lead us not into temptation". Okay, so the opposite is also prayed, "Lead us away from temptation and into wherever You want to go, and whatever You have planned for me." Two, it was a request. This is a continually paramount truth that God forces no person. He leads who will follow. He leads who wants to be led. Three, it was a choice. Knowing David from his writings, I would classify this as a yearning choice; an earnest choice; a hungering choice; yes, a passionate choice.

NOW, what are the "them"? (let them lead me). The Bible being its own best commentary, there are two
identities: (SEE Psalm 43:3 "Oh send out Thy light and Thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me into Thy holy hill, and to Thy tabernacles".)

Both "light" and "truth" are elements of illumination, of revelation, of uncovering and opening, and David was passionate and direct in his insistance that his God would shine into his mind and heart and soul the ideas, the thinking, the logic and the meanings of HIS ways.

I have no question that God answered David's prayer...that day, and throughout his earthly journey with God...and He does the same today for those hearts who question and hunger and seek Him today!

"Don't Rain on My Parade"

When this *idiom (see below for definition) first came in to common useage it initially impressed my mind as quite clever, slightly humorous and considerably enigmatic (puzzling).

Each time it was used in my presence, it produced the same mental effect - the question of "whose parade"? Probably the speaker's. As though his/her parade was most important - was more important than anyone else's parade. Hmmm.

The obvious villian here is the rain - at least from the viewpoint of the speaker's parade. The fact is that the rain could conceivably be of more benefit to many others because of greater needs than those of a short-lived - albeit very important - need of the "parader".

What impacts my mind is how thoughtlessly selfish it may be any time we want our plans to turn out favorably to the exclusion of how unfavorably they may affect anyone else's "parade". In fact, the greater good may accrue if it did rain on our parade!

The Bible has two, cogent comments - one from Jesus and the other from James' writings (the brother of Jesus). In Matthew 5:45 Jesus said that the "rain falls on the just and the unjust". In other words, generally and indiscriminately. (And then added that we will be like this if we are Christlike) With rare exceptions, God gave/gives the rain in an umbrella fashion, and all are equally benefited.

James counsels us (SEE James 4:15) to always submit all of our plans "to the will of the Lord, intending to do this or that, or go here or there". They must always fall under the umbrella of God's will. Nature's systems would be chaotic and disastrous if God answered every request for favorable weather.

The truth is that the same rain that dampens a parade also puts food on our tables. The winter storms that clog sidewalks, driveways, lanes, roads and freeways - and accordingly brings many sore backs and aching muscles - also graciously stores snowpacks for our world's watersheds.

SO...it could be a rather selfish request to ask for there not to be a rain on "our" parade. A question comes to any thinking mind, "Are we really wanting our parade to be sunny...and could care less if it is someone else's?"


* "Idiom": Redneck lingo for the feminine suffix of "ot".