MasterTruth

Cancel Condemning

We are on to another characteristic of David, which will become evident. One time, while David and his men were out fighting battles, some enemies came into their village and took their wives and sons and daughters and burned the village. When David and his army came back, they found their families were missing and their village burnt down.

David, whom we have seen was a wise man, prayed. And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.  (9)  So David went, he and the six hundred men that were with him, and came to the brook Besor, where those that were left behind stayed.  (10)  But David pursued, he and four hundred men: for two hundred abode behind, which were so faint that they could not go over the brook Besor. 1 Sam. 30:8-10

Here's the picture. He had an army of 600, but only 400 went with him to chase the enemy because 200 of them were too exhausted to help out. How many spiritual leaders can you think of who would likely grant grace to the 200 who were feeling wimpy? How many of the 400 who went with David do you think were compassionate toward those 200 faint men?

Reading 1 Sam 30:16-19, you find that David and the 400 found the Amalekite enemies eating, drinking and dancing as they celebrated their great "victory." David and his army whipped them and got all their families and all their possessions back, plus more.

When David and the army returned home with everyone and everything that had been stolen, those 400 men thought they should get to keep everything, and the 200 who didn’t go shouldn’t get anything, because they didn’t help.

I don't know if there's just one word that summarizes how David handled this matter. We already know he was wise. Here he shows another characteristic. Let's look at this together and choose how we will describe this.

1Sa 30:21-24  And David came to the two hundred men, which were so faint that they could not follow David, whom they had made also to abide at the brook Besor: and they went forth to meet David, and to meet the people that were with him: and when David came near to the people, he saluted them.  (22)  Then answered all the wicked men and men of Belial, of those that went with David, and said, Because they went not with us, we will not give them ought of the spoil that we have recovered, save to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away, and depart.  (23)  Then said David, Ye shall not do so, my brethren, with that which the LORD hath given us, who hath preserved us, and delivered the company that came against us into our hand.  (24)  For who will hearken unto you in this matter? but as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike.

I want to use the word fair, because obviously he was. Unselfish and uncondemning are other appropriate words. How could he be this way? Because of his upward focus. The 400 looked at the 200 with disdain. David looked to God. Do you see how he viewed the situation? …Ye shall not do so, my brethren, with that which the LORD hath given us, who hath preserved us, and delivered the company that came against us into our hand. The 400 thought they were the heroes. David knew that God was the hero.

It's easy to fall prey to a condemning attitude. From today's verses, I see that a condemning attitude comes from a failure to see that God is in control. Really, others can mess up, and it doesn't mess up God's determined plan. Remember, David had prayed first, and God told him Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.

Where there's a promise from God, there's no need to condemn other people. God is going to come through.

1Pe 3:8-9  Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:  (9)  Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. -- Let it go.

The Ups and the Downs

In the four verses we are looking at from Ps. 119 today, it's interesting that the first and third verses, David talks about what a mess he is, and in the second and fourth verses, he focuses on God's righteousness. There is a huge salvation lesson in that, because we all have challenging times mentally, emotionally and spiritually, but if we know Jesus as savior, his righteousness is put to our account, and our disposition swings don't matter so much. But I get ahead of myself. We have great verses to look at today.

 

Ps. 119: 141  I am small and despised: yet do not I forget thy precepts.	David is self-depreciating. Is that a good thing? I have thoughts on that, but I'd be interested in knowing others' thoughts. At any rate, while he didn't think much of himself at the time, David thought highly of God's precepts (codes of wisdom and principles to live by) all of the time.
(142)  Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.	What is lasting? So many things are fleeting, including positive thoughts about myself. God's righteousness is everlasting. It's a good thing, because I have God's righteousness, which was put to my account in exchange for my sins when I accepted Christ as my savior on Sept. 23, 1972. That righteousness is everlasting, and it needs to be in order for me to be accepted by God. And here's another question. What is the truth? It's not up to individuals to decide that. God's law is the truth. And by the way, it is the law that condemns me and tells me I'm not righteous in myself. When I agree that his law is the truth, and I don't keep the law, then I need to have his righteousness put to my account, because I'm not righteous in myself.
(143)  Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delights.	In this life, I still have trouble and anguish, just like David, who really had trouble and anguish. After all, I've never had someone hunt me down and try to kill me like David did. But he managed to find delight, not in his circumstances, but in God's commandments. That's remarkable to me, because the parts of God's word that I find delight in aren't his commandments. Maybe his testimonies, but his commandments? I'll have to talk to David when I get to heaven and ask him about that.
(144)  The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live.	Ah. Here David goes to the part of God's word that I easily go to… his righteous testimonies. The way God dealt with people in the Old Testament is a testimony of God's righteousness that I can see. It's a great idea to pray for understanding as I read his testimonies. I want to learn the lessons, which are like jewels to be found and treasured.

The Origin of Spiritual Passion

It’s Monday, and who is going to be with me all week? God is. He is loving, merciful and faithful. Our Monday Ps. 119 focus is God, and our example to be closer to God is David.  He just pretty much lived in God’s presence when he wrote his Psalms. I can relate to him, because I also easily feel closer to God when I write. It helps me direct my thoughts. David makes a great coach and cheerleader in that. I may never achieve his zeal, but I can follow his heart to God.

 

Psa 119:137  Righteous art thou, O LORD, and upright are thy judgments.	No prayer request here. Just praise.  It’s a great way to start a rainy Monday morning. Lord, I agree that you are correct, right and just, and the way you decide to handle things is completely right and perfect. I align myself with you.
(138)  Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful.	David’s prayer continues. Let’s join him. Lord, you decide and determine how matters are handled and how they turn out, and the way you do that is correct and true to who you are. I’m with you.
(139)  My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy words.	Turning this verse around, as David realized the spiritual state of his enemies, that they had forgotten and so disregarded God’s word, it made him all the more zealous or fervent for the Lord. His intensity for the Lord ate him up. Where does passion for the Lord like that come from?
(140)  Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.	I think David’s spiritual passion came from two places: the word, which he thought was very pure and which he loved—and also from the fact that he had the Spirit of God. Remember 1 Sam 16:13:  Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. I also have the word of God and the Spirit of God. That’s a start to having a heart like David’s.

Be Wise and Be Careful

The most intriguing period of David’s life, to me, is from when Samuel anointed David as the next king and the time he actually became king. In the meantime, Saul was king, and he didn’t know that David was going to replace him. But we know.

What happened in that interim period …. Consider it one of the “testimonies of the Lord.” That is, the Scriptures we read that show us how situations are handled that we can learn from. David himself said the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. (Ps.19:7b)

First, we read how David killed Goliath after he first became the king in waiting, unbeknownst to Saul. The Goliath show impressed Saul so immensely that he didn’t let David go home to his father. (1 Sam 18) Saul thought that David obviously belonged in the palace with him. Te he.

And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants. (1 Sam 18:5)

The quality of David’s life for today is that he behaved himself wisely, and other people noticed. Is that something that can be said about me? There’s a lot to be said for behaving wisely. Other ways I could behave are emotionally, selfishly, greedily, foolishly, etc. To walk wisely is to have insight and comprehension and then walk calmly, the way I should. I want that.

The Proverbs 31 woman behaves wisely. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. (Prov. 31:26) Honestly, I read Prov. 31, and I think, “There’s no way I’m like that.” She brings food from afar; she gets up early (while it’s still night!) and gives food to her household; she sews; she shops (for real estate!). I’m doing good if I just clean the house. I’m a little jealous of this model woman.

That brings me to another point about the characteristic of David we’re looking at today (He behaved himself wisely, and other people noticed). Yes, it would be nice to be like that, but sometimes people get jealous of those who behave wisely. So if I’m going to be wise, I’m going to have to understand that I’ll need that wisdom to deal with the people who can’t deal with me being wise.

And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him.  Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him.  But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them. (1 Sam. 18:14-16)

Some loved and followed David because they could see he was wise. But Saul was afraid of him and was jealous of him (1 Sam 18:8). His jealousy led him to extremes.

All I’m saying is, yes, be wise, but be careful. Not everyone can deal with wise people. So, here’s something to pray back to God, if that’s the case: When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. (Prov. 16:7)

What Are We Waiting For?

I think it’s interesting that there was SO much time between when the prophet Samuel anointed David to be the next king and when he actually became king. Remember this? Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. (1 Sam 16:13)

Yet it was uncertain years and so many tears before David actually took up his kingly position.

This reminds me of the fact that I’ve been anointed by the Holy Spirit. I’m a child of the king. I have an inheritance. But there’s a long waiting period before actually receiving that inheritance. There’s a reason for that: But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. (1 Pet 5:10)

David was called, then he was perfected, stablished, strengthened and settled. It happened through trials. The character quality that emerged was a fearless trust in God.

In the Bible, he went from his anointing in chapter 16 to his bout with the giant Goliath in chapter 17. Here are some stand-outs from that episode:

• And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.   (1 Sam 17:32)
• David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee. (1 Sam 17:37)
• Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.  (46)  This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.  (47)  And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hands.  (1 Sam 17:45-47)

He fiercely believed when he couldn’t see. He proved it. He trusted in the LORD with all his heart; and leaned not unto his own understanding. In all his ways he acknowledge him, and he directed his paths. (Prov 3:5-6)

Here, I won’t go deeply into the other events of David’s waiting period, but to say that Saul presented his clearest challenge. Saul continually hunted David to kill him. People problems dogged him. Yet David grew in favor with God and men as he continued to trust God, just like he trusted God regarding Goliath. When David could have turned around and killed Saul (it would have relieved his anguish and hastened him becoming king), he didn’t. He trusted God to eliminate Saul. His fearless faith was evident in the things he did (killed Goliath) and things he didn’t do (kill Saul).

We have such a clear window into how our hearts are supposed to be during our waiting period. The take-away is, when facing trials. Face them nobly with growing faith. We are being perfected, stablished, strengthened, and settled. Hang in there!

The Heart of David

I’ve noticed that Ps. 119 is a window into David’s soul. He’s my favorite Bible character. So we are going to dive into a study of his life to go along with the study on Ps. 119.

David often talks about God’s testimonies in Ps. 119. To him, those were Old Testament stories that he learned from. God’s testimonies show how he works in people’s lives. Little did David know that he would be part of “the testimony of the Lord” through the recording of his life and his psalms.

Look at Ps. 19:7 The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. When we study the testimony of the Lord in David’s life, we become wise, if we pay attention to it.

Another reason to study David’s life has come up in this blog several times recently from what the Apostle Paul said about David: Act 13:21-22  And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years.  (22)  And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.

Our goal is to see how David was a man after God’s heart, so we will be women after God’s heart.

First, David had the Spirit of God. The prophet Samuel, at God’s direction, went to the house of Jesse to find out which of his eight sons God had picked to be the king:

1Sa 16:5-7  And he (prophet Samuel) said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.  (6)  And it came to pass, when they were come, that he (Samuel) looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD'S anointed is before him.  (7)  But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

1Sa 16:11-13  And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.  (12)  And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.  (13)  Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward.

We also have the Spirit if we are saved. But do we live lives controlled by the Spirit? David often did (but not always, we know).

Let’s remember that the Israelites already had a king, Saul. But he was disobedient to God. God had asked him to go to the enemies of God and kill them and the animals. It was God’s way of judging his enemies. But Saul saved some of the animals. When Samuel asked him why he didn’t obey God, Saul said to Samuel, 1Sa 15:20-24  Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.  (21)  But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal.  (22)  And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.  (23)  For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.  (24)  And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.

This tells us what God likes and doesn’t like. He wants us to obey him. When we hear a sermon from the word of God and the Holy Spirit touches our heart and tells us we have failed in some area, we need to ask him to forgive us and turn our heart back to him. He would rather have our obedience than our sacrifices or our praise.

And so, God asked the prophet Samuel to anoint a new king. … The key to David’s success from that point on was that the Spirit of God was on him.

That will be our success as a Christian too... the Spirit of God living in us and guiding us.

Rom 8:8-9  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.  (9)  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

We can’t live by human reasoning. That is living in the flesh. That doesn’t please God.

Zec 4:6b  Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.

We can’t live by our own willpower and our own strength. We must live by God’s spirit, who directs us in our hearts and tells us what is the right thing to do.

Gal 5:16  This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. Walk in dependence on the spirit to guide, and then we won’t follow our own natural desires.

Pro 3:5-6  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  (6)  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

All the Right Motives

I’m impressed with David’s example of having God-directed motives in Ps. 119. He asked for God’s help, but not so he could have a more comfortable, happy life. It was for God’s benefit that David was taken care of, because then he’d obey God better.

When we’re wretched and miserable, that becomes our focus. But David just wanted to know God’s word so he could obey it. He redefined “obedient child.” He didn’t just do what he was told. He wanted God to tell him things so he could obey. Where does a heart like that come from?

As we noticed yesterday, And when he had removed him [ Saul ], he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. (Acts 13:22) 

 

Ps. 119: 133 Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.	“Lord, let my footsteps be firm and stable—in your word.” David knew, and we know, that won’t happen if we’re letting any sin control us. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. (Matthew 7:24-25) These verses compare hearing and doing God’s word to founding your life on a rock. What is more firm and stable than that?
(134)  Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts.	David is back to his theme of needing to be delivered from the oppression or cruelty of men. He’s done that several times in Ps. 119. That tells me that one prayer doesn’t take care of people problems forever. Sometimes it’s a daily prayer. Notice where his heart is in this prayer. It isn’t, “deliver me because I can’t take this anymore.” His heart is “deliver me so I will keep your precepts (codes of wisdom and principles to live by). Lord, it’s in your best interest if you deliver me. I’ll be a better doer of your word.”
(135)  Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes.	I love this imagery. If God’s face is shining on us, it means he’s showing his favor. David prayed that for himself, and so can we, because God has promised to be merciful and gracious and longsuffering with us (Ex. 34:6-7, my favorite verses). Again, David’s desire for God’s favor isn’t just so he can be happy all the time. He also wants God to teach him his statutes or prescribed tasks, because he wants to do them. What a great child of God David was. How many children will ask their fathers, “tell me what you’d like me to do, because I’d love to do whatever you tell me.”?
(136)  Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.	What a tender heart. David had an unusual longing to obey God. That is so unselfish, I can hardly relate. When you look at his life, other than the Bathsheba time, he was always wanting to do things God’s way. He prayed before battles. He refused to take matters into his own hands (Saul), but left them up to God to handle. He was compassionate to people, just like God is with us and like God would like us to be with others. His is a life worth studying.

Turn on the Light

It’s Monday and it’s time to start the week out with God. At church, we have been encouraged to fast something for 3 weeks in order to beseech God. Some are fasting food of some sort. I’m fasting sleep. I’m getting up earlier, walking and praying outside, and coming in and spending some great time in the Bible before the activities of the day.

As I read Ps. 119, I’m ever mindful that David wrote the Psalm. And I know his life. This Psalm gives such insight into it. What made him such an admirable person (most of the time)? It was his hunger and passion for God and His word. He needed God every day. So do I. Here we go…

Psa 119:129 Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them.	God’s testimonies are the Bible stories I love that tell me how God works in people’s lives. Those stories and what I learn from them are indeed wonderful. David thought so too, because he made it a point to learn from them and keep the lessons he learned. Maybe the biggest lesson for me is that God is merciful. He doesn’t wipe us off the planet when we mess up. (Ex. 34:6-7) And so, can I, in turn, be merciful to other people?
(130)  The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.	Here is a plug for daily Bible reading. Who doesn’t need light and understanding every single day? The word entrance means opening. I can get light just from sitting down and opening the Bible and reading. It gives me discernment. Is there any situation that I couldn’t use some God-given discernment? Even this verse gives me discernment that God gives discernment if I open his word and read.
(131)  I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments.	In Ps. 119:131, David gasped for God’s word, and not just God’s promises, but God’s commandments. “Lord, what do you want me to do? Show me. I want to do your will.” That’s what David was like. That’s a wonderful testimony that I want to keep (see vs. 129 above).  And when he had removed him [ Saul ], he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. (Acts 13:22)  David really did follow after God’s commandments in order to do them.
(132)  Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name.	Here’s a piece of insight into David’s heart and mind. Like me, God’s mercy stood out to him when he looked at God’s testimonies as seen in the stories of how God dealt with people in the Old Testament. He applied that characteristic of God to his prayers for himself. “Lord, you were merciful to the Israelites as they wandered around in the wilderness. Please be merciful to me!”

People Perspective

We will have to live in heaven before we can avoid people who stun us with their unsavory behavior and words. We can just hope they don’t aim their venom at us. But sometimes it happens, as it did with David.

What I like about David is that he didn’t behave emotionally when he faced people problems. He always took it to God. He made it a spiritual matter. He used the oppression as an opportunity to reflect on God. That is an inkling I’d like to exercise, how about you?

Let’s look at how David looked at God and people.

 

Ps. 119:125 I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies.	Why should we expect God to help us to understand and know His testimonies (stories of how He works in people’s lives)? In this verse, it’s because we are God’s servant. I will serve God better if I understand how He works with people. For example, Prov. 21:1, he turns the hearts of kings. Knowing that reveals how to pray for people. Along the same line, Jer 10:23 O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.  Pro 20:24  Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way? Lord, give me understanding in how to apply that in my prayers for people.
(126)  It is time for thee, LORD, to work: for they have made void thy law.	There’s urgency in this prayer of David’s, just like there is in my prayers when something needs to be done now. David is telling God it’s time to work! I love it. It’s a prayer of desperation, motivated by the realization that those around him were going against God. “Lord, you’ve got to do something!”
(127)  Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold.	The realization of those who go against God should cause me to use the occasion to affirm my love for God’s commandments, and desire His ways more than anything else. Acknowledge the bad example of others by affirming a love for God’s desires.
(128)  Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.	Also in the realization of those who go against God, I should affirm to God I love and agree with his codes of wisdom and principles to live by and that I hate deception and fraud. Use others’ bad examples as a chance to draw closer to God and His ways and His truth.

How to Have a Crisis

What do you do when you’re desperate and people problems press heavily against you? You are being wronged while trying to live right. Do you call your friends and complain? Do you worry yourself sick? Do you mope around all day causing those around you to walk on eggshells?

Take a few moments alone and get hold of God. There’s a way to do that, and David provides the perfect example in the verses below from Ps. 119, which we are working through. David is the ultimate example of someone with people problems, considering his relationship with Saul. Notice what he did, and apply it to your circumstance. I read the verses below and wrote out a personal and private prayer to God. Perhaps you can do the same. 

Psa 119:121 I have done judgment and justice: leave me not to mine oppressors.	Who like David could say they have decided a case and determined to do what’s right? David did that with Saul when he considered and decided not to kill Saul when it was in his power to do it. And therefore, David asked God for a simple thing: “Don’t leave me to my oppressors.” And God answered. Saul was soon out of the way, and David became king as God had promised he would.
(122)  Be surety for thy servant for good: let not the proud oppress me.	David wasn’t done talking to God about his oppressors. To be “surety” means to “undertake for.” David thought of himself as God’s servant and asked God to work on his behalf for good and not allow the proud to oppress him. It’s a great prayer of dependence and supplication. Rather than worry about his oppressors, David appealed to God for deliverance from them. It’s an example of Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you. 1 Pet. 5:7
(123)  Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the word of thy righteousness.	David was desperate, likely a result of the aforementioned oppressors. What he needed was to be saved from them. But just as equally, he needed a word of righteousness from God. We also need less issues and people problems and more of God’s great word.
(124)  Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes.	“God, here’s how I need you to deal with me…” Is it OK to pray that? It is if the suggested way is according to who God is, and his “mercy” is definitely the way he is (Ex. 34:6-7).  “Lord, in this situation, deal with me according to your mercy. And while you’re at it, teach me your prescribed tasks.”