Topic Study - Guidance

Guidance is defined as follows:

noun

1. the act of guiding; direction; leadership
2. something that guides
3. advice or assistance, as that given to students by vocational or educational counselors
4. the process of directing the course of a spacecraft, missile, etc.

I am going more about guidance as the first three definitions describe, since guiding a spacescraft isn't mentioned much in the Bible, and it is from the Bible that I am studying.

So, what does the Bible have to say about Guidance? I'll enter the words "guidance" and "guide" into the the search engine on e-sword, which I have downloaded on my computer. I'll be using the King James Version, because that is the version I'm used to reading and studying.

The first verse I pull up is in Job and God is asking Job if he can guide something. I don't think it is quite relevant to the search I'm making. 


Therefore, I'll move on to the next verse, 

      (Psa 25:9)  The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way. 

This verse says that God will guide the meek. The Hebrew word here is dârak. According to Strong's Concordance it means to tread; by implication to walk; also to string a bow (by treading on it in bending). So, God will guide the meek like an archer guides an arrow. He sends us where we need to go.  Another picture would be a  path that has already been drawn out. There is no other path, we just have to walk down it.

Another verse:

    (Psa 31:3)  For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me. 

Here David is asking that God guide him and protect him. The Hebrew word used here is nâhal, meaning, properly, to run with a sparkle, that is, flow; hence (transitively) to conduct, and (by inference) to protect, sustain. So guidance, it appears, is not only in sending, but also in protecting. This gives a picture, not merely of sending, but going with and protecting while they go. When God guides us, he sends us, and comes with us. 

    (Psa 32:8)  I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. 

Here God is telling us that he will guide us where we need to go. The Hebrew word used here is yâ‛ats, which means to advise; reflexively to deliberate or resolve. So in this one, he guides by giving counsel. This gives the picture of someone watching and offering advice while the task is being done. God tells us what we need to do. And where do we find his advise? In the Bible, of course.

    (Psa 48:14)  For this God is our God for ever ever: he will be our guide even unto death. 

God will always guide us! The word used here is nâhag, which  means to drive forth (a person, an animal or chariot), that is, lead, carry away; reflexively to proceed (that is, impel or guide oneself); also (from the panting induced by effort), to sigh. This is the picture of someone doing something on their own, with instructions from their guide.

    (Pro 11:3)  The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them. 

This says that if we aren't guided by what we should do, we will destroy ourselves! The word used here is 

nâchâh which means to guide; by implication to transport (into exile, or as colonists). Picture the person behind the steering wheel in a car. If he has integrity, he will be a good driver, follow the traffic rules, have a good driving record. Without integrity, he would not be a man I would like driving me places!

   (Joh 16:13)  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 

So the Holy Spirit is our guide today. The Greek word used here is hodēgeō, which means to show the way (literally or figuratively [teach]). The Holy Spirit teaches us how we need to live. He is all of the things above. He holds our hand and protect us. He shows us our path that we need to go down. He provides us with advice (whether from the Bible or a mentor) when we need it. He gives us integrity. 

   (Act 8:31)  And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. 

This was when Phillip met the Ethiopian Eunuch. The Eunuch is saying that it is impossible to understand the scriptures without someone else guiding and teaching you, for the word used here is the same word used in the previous verse. We have someone to guide us. We have the Holy Spirit.