Teach me your way, O Lord,
That I may walk in your truth;
Unite my heart to fear your name.
I give thanks to you, O Lord my God,
With my whole heart,
And will glorify your name forever.
For great is your steadfast love toward me;
You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.
Thinking back, David’s first request was for grace. It seems that God gave it to him in the midst of the prayer — grace to get a glimpse of God and to put things into perspective.
His second request is not to be delivered; it’s to be taught.
Here he is the king, who began the Psalm saying he was “godly,” humbling himself, asking to be taught. What a contrast!
He desires to know truth — truth about himself, truth about the circumstances, truth about God.
And with it, he knows he needs a united heart to fear god’s name. His heart cannot be divided. If I’m trusting in God and in electing the leader of my country (or despair if they are not elected), then my heart is divided. I can’t trust two things at once.
In contrast to the fear David exhibited in the first few verses, now he “gives thanks….with his whole heart.”
Why? Because he’s feeling God’s steadfast love. It reminds me of Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:14-21. Right before Paul urges them “to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called” (the “to-do/not to do” list), he prays that they would know God’s love. Before David could know what to do/not to do, he needed to grasp God’s love.
God’s love delivers us from the depths of Sheol. Circumstances initially put us there; trying to solve it ourselves digs even deeper. Love is sweet release. Love is hope.
Just like David, when I grasp the depths of God’s love from me, I can pick up myself again, brush off the dirt of doubt, and step into the light.
How does knowing “truth” help in the midst of confusing circumstances? What truths are helpful to you?
