Immediately, I am struck by the writer's (David) view of God......High and lifted up, far, far above him. He is aware of God and views Him correctly, and in so doing, he knows his own place.....lowly , poor and needy, totally dependent upon God. "Bow down Your ear....." he prays. i.e. I can't attain to You. Effective prayer must begin with this attitude. We must not be chummy with God. We are not His equal.
This song of pleading for mercy and grace if full of
1. confidence and hope in God and His proven character.
God is, well, God! He is abundantly merciful, good, quick to forgive, hears our prayer and
answers; He is above all other gods, indeed above the nations. He is great, working wonders.
He delivers, is full of compassion, grace, longsuffering, mercy and truth. He helps and comforts.
2. the psalmists own committment to God.
he states that he is holy.....set apart for God. e trusts God, cries to Him all day long, is His servant lifts up his soul to God (seeks Him), calls on God alone, walks in His truth, and praises and glorifies Him
Based on these things (knowing God, and being committed to Him alone), he pleads for help. The specific circumstances of life at the time the psalm was written are not given, butthe prayer is appropriate for a myriad of situations.
He asks God, in confidence, based on his understanding of God, to hear him, and demonstrate mercy and forgiveness to him, because he calls solely upon Him.
There is no other God. Pagan gods can't hear, or answer. God alone is supreme over all and will be praised.
David asks for understanding of God's Word......to apply it to life every day. "Unite my heart..." help me focus on the right things...on You...and not be tossed to and fro by worldly pursuits.
Praise God for His great mercy in hearing and answering! Enemies have not set God before them, but God is full of compassion and grace....longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.
>>I was struck by the fact that there is no request here for justice on the 'enemy' as is usual<<
David asks that God's response to him be so evident that all will see it and be ashamed of their unbelief and apostacy.
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Always concerned for God's name to be lifted up and praised....rather than simply wanting to be rescued from bad circumstances.
How often are we the opposite? We cry out to God for help, but we are not concerned that He receive praise and glory for it. We are only (usually, it seems) concerned that we get out of the uncomfortable circumstance.
How weary God must become of me! But, he is indeed longsuffering, merciful, and kind, as is demonstrated in the fact that I am His. He disciplines me, and trains me as a child (Hebrews 12) preparing me to run the race with diligence and success.....for the prize at the end....life with Him.
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