There’s nothin’ like a trail to show character in a body.”
–Louis L’Amour (Under the Sweetwater Rim)
“I have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I may keep Your word.”
“I have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I may keep Your word.”
–Psalm 119:101 (NKJV)
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One thing we know about David is that he was sincere. When we read the rest of Psalm 86, I think of those who mouth the words, but their heart is just not in them. The words are fine, but the commitment is lacking. We see the person who sincerely wants grace bestowed and is willing to accept the responsibility that goes along with it.
11 — Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name.
12 — I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify Your name forevermore.
13 — For great is Your mercy toward me, and You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.
14 — O God, the proud have risen against me, and a mob of violent men have sought my life, and have not set You before them.
15 — But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.
16 — Oh, turn to me, and have mercy on me! Give Your strength to Your servant, and save the son of Your maidservant.
17 — Show me a sign for good, that those who hate me may see it and be ashamed, because You, LORD, have helped me and comforted me. (NKJV)
Here we see David calling upon God because He knows somewhat of God’s great character. Three times he mentions God’s mercy. When we get in trouble and run to the Lord we cry for His mercy upon us. When we come with an expectant and true heart God will show compassion. He is patient with our lives and how we handle circumstances, and then is abundant in mercy. I have always thought that David was an Old Testament character with a New Testament understanding. When David looks at the Lord’s mercy it brings him out from the abyss in which he had been wallowing.
Part of our problem lies in our attitudes. David was still in the same situation as before, what has changed? Attitude. Before he was in the pit of despair, now he has confidence in the Lord. Same problem–different attitude. He has come to an understanding that God is there with him. He realizes that He needs God’s strength to get through the situation. In this, he wants people to know that it was the Lord who helped him and delivered him. It was not through his might, nor that of his mighty men. It was not through personal mental prowess or physical strength, but it was the strength of the Lord and His mercy.
Back to the first thoughts, David was truly wanting the Lord to teach him. In my many years as an educator most students learn or attempt at it for the sake of a grade or to avoid the wrath of their parents. However, there are those few that brighten the heart of a teacher–those who want to learn for the sake of learning. Verse 11 is powerful. “Teach me Your way”… “I will walk in Your truth…” David does not say, teach me, but let me do things my way, but he is committed to learn from the Lord and then act upon what he has been taught.
“Teach me thy way, O Lord, teach me thy way!
Thy guiding grace afford–teach me thy way!
Help me to walk aright, more by faith, less by sight;
Lead me with heavenly light, teach me thy way!”
–B. Mansell Ramsey
————————
One thing we know about David is that he was sincere. When we read the rest of Psalm 86, I think of those who mouth the words, but their heart is just not in them. The words are fine, but the commitment is lacking. We see the person who sincerely wants grace bestowed and is willing to accept the responsibility that goes along with it.
11 — Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name.
12 — I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify Your name forevermore.
13 — For great is Your mercy toward me, and You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.
14 — O God, the proud have risen against me, and a mob of violent men have sought my life, and have not set You before them.
15 — But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.
16 — Oh, turn to me, and have mercy on me! Give Your strength to Your servant, and save the son of Your maidservant.
17 — Show me a sign for good, that those who hate me may see it and be ashamed, because You, LORD, have helped me and comforted me. (NKJV)
Here we see David calling upon God because He knows somewhat of God’s great character. Three times he mentions God’s mercy. When we get in trouble and run to the Lord we cry for His mercy upon us. When we come with an expectant and true heart God will show compassion. He is patient with our lives and how we handle circumstances, and then is abundant in mercy. I have always thought that David was an Old Testament character with a New Testament understanding. When David looks at the Lord’s mercy it brings him out from the abyss in which he had been wallowing.
Part of our problem lies in our attitudes. David was still in the same situation as before, what has changed? Attitude. Before he was in the pit of despair, now he has confidence in the Lord. Same problem–different attitude. He has come to an understanding that God is there with him. He realizes that He needs God’s strength to get through the situation. In this, he wants people to know that it was the Lord who helped him and delivered him. It was not through his might, nor that of his mighty men. It was not through personal mental prowess or physical strength, but it was the strength of the Lord and His mercy.
Back to the first thoughts, David was truly wanting the Lord to teach him. In my many years as an educator most students learn or attempt at it for the sake of a grade or to avoid the wrath of their parents. However, there are those few that brighten the heart of a teacher–those who want to learn for the sake of learning. Verse 11 is powerful. “Teach me Your way”… “I will walk in Your truth…” David does not say, teach me, but let me do things my way, but he is committed to learn from the Lord and then act upon what he has been taught.
“Teach me thy way, O Lord, teach me thy way!
Thy guiding grace afford–teach me thy way!
Help me to walk aright, more by faith, less by sight;
Lead me with heavenly light, teach me thy way!”
–B. Mansell Ramsey