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Walking together requires a “meeting of the minds.”
Can two walk together, except they be agreed? (Amos 3:3)
Do two walk together if they have not met? (Amos 3:3 YLT)
Dissension interferes with resolution. Matters reach an impasse; a standstill.
A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle. (Proverbs 18:19)
The inability to resolve conflict creates a wedge in relationships. Division drives toward divorce. (Irreconcilable differences)
… Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand (Matt. 12:25)
Even as unity is a great blessing; disunity is a cause of heartache and misery.
A Song of degrees of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore. (Psalm 133:1-3)
Two people can look at the same thing, but not see “eye to eye” on the matter.
Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.
Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 9:8,9)
joyfully > Hebrew – ra’ah > see (879 times) look (104 times) behold (83 times)
Look on life with the wife whom you love all the days of the life of your vanity … (Ecclesiastes 9:9 GLT)
In deep trials there is perplexity. We can instinctively lean on our own understanding. Pride fuels competition and the desire to be “right.” God allows us to enter “storms” which bring us to our “wit’s end.” The solution is not found in another listening to us, but in our listening to God. We must cry out to the “only wise God.”
For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.
Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. (Psalm 107:25-30)
We can think we see things right, while not knowing the way God would have us walk.
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Proverbs 14:12)
Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known (Romans 3:16,17)
God’s thoughts and ways are higher than ours and must be diligently sought.
Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:6-9)
If we are to be rewarded with the wisdom we need to wisely handle any situation we must diligently seek God for it.
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)
If we are lazy in our seeking of God, the way forward continues to be very difficult.
If we diligently seek God, He will reveal to us His “high way” to walk on.
The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain. (Proverbs 15:19)
made plain > Heb. – sâlal > “The primary meaning of the words seems to be “cast up.” Since the meaning of the Hebrew verb is unparalleled in other occurrences of the root in Semitic, it is probably a denominative from Akkadian sl? “highway” (from sal? “to throw up (off/out).”
The theme of casting up a highway is utilized by the prophets. The figure, derived from building a road higher than the adjacent terrain, is natural. Cf. our English word highway which shows a similar semantic development. While Jeremiah (18:15) lamented that Israel had left “God’s highway” to follow false bypaths, Isaiah (57:14; 62:10) foresaw the time when all obstacles would be removed from the path of a repentant Israel, returning on the highway to Zion.” (Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament 626–627)
When facing daunting challenges, combined with opposition from others, we don’t have much “margin for error.” We need God’s help for our every step. His way is perfect, and He can make our way perfect.
He will gives us hind’s feet for our high places, enlarging our steps under us so our feet don’t slip.
For thou art my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness.
For by thee I have run through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall.
As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him. For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock, save our God?
God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect.
He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet: and setteth me upon my high places.
He teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.
Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great.
Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; so that my feet did not slip. (2 Samuel 22:29-37)
When two are in unity, and helping each other with the problems they face, two are better than one. But when they are not walking together, problems become compounded.
Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?
And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)
Will we continue to walk with God through every challenge of our life? Our cord with another may have come undone; but will our connection with God remain tight? Disaster is certain when both parties are not walking with God. But if one party is seeking God and finding His thoughts and ways that are higher than their own, there is hope for a good ending.
He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he. (Proverbs 16:20)
When we have reached an impasse, and our mind is not meeting with another, we must be sure that our minds are aligned with God’s. We can go through anything as long we are going through it with God, and receiving His wisdom to know the way forward. If our ways please Him, we put ourselves in the best possible position to see others come around, not to our thinking, but to His.
When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. (Proverbs 16:7)