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.