This psalm is a Davidic lament, but more for its acknowledgement of David’s need for God alone rather than his need for deliverance as so many of the previous laments have exhibited. David’s prayer in these verses is sincere and heartfelt, frequently turning to praise to God for who He is.
Verses 1-3
Pages could be filled with discussion on these first five words.
Lord, I turn to you.
It’s so easy to be distracted from the Lord. Life pulls us in multiple directions. Worry keeps our focus on the problem instead of the Savior. What would happen if I began everyday by turning to the Lord?
Body, soul, and spirit physically and forcibly turning to God. In doing so, I would be turning away from distractions and temptations. I would be turning to hope from worry. Turning to love and away from divisiveness. I would be turning to trust and away from obsessiveness.
David chose to turn away from his problems and place his trust in the Lord. He places his reputation in God’s hands and allows Him to work on any potential fallout. He trusts that the guidance He receives from the Lord is trustworthy and complete to meet his needs.
Verses 4-7
David humbles himself before the Lord. He recognizes he doesn’t have all the answers so he asks God to give him guidance. To show him truth. To help him discern the path he is to take. He calls upon the compassion and love of the Lord and asks these attributes to override his past sins. Of course, we have the reassurance of our sin being washed by Christ’s blood.
Verses 8-11
These four verses echo the last four with one exception. Instead of a prayer to God, they are a proclamation of who God is and what He has done.
- God is good and upright
- He shows sinners the way
- He acts in love and truth
- God forgives sin by His great name
Verses 12-15
These next four verses repeat the same theme, but once again turn the jewel slightly to examine a different facet. David focuses on the requirements for answered prayer. If a man wishes for a good life and wisdom, he must fear the Lord. God attends to those who keep their eyes on Him.
Verses 16-21
Here the lament theme is displayed strongly. David again addresses the Lord. He asks God to turn to him, flipping his pledge in verse 1 to a prayer in verse 16. He admits he is alone and afflicted. His enemies are numerous and he fears being shamed. He commits to God as his refuge and asks for God to come through for him.
Verse 22
This closing verse is unlike any previous closing to a psalm I can recall.
God, redeem Israel, from all its distresses.
This makes me wonder if the final request for this psalm is an afterthought or if it relates to the rest of the psalm? Does David have in mind the words of 2 Chronicles 7:14?
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
We cannot truly know what was in David’s mind at the time of this writing, but his example of praying on behalf of his country is one we can all emulate. Passages such as 2 Chronicles 7:14 were promises intended solely for the people of Israel, but God still honors prayer on behalf of others today. Intercessory prayer is encouraged throughout Scripture.
Like David, it is important to bring ones requests before the Lord. However, it is also important that we hold our country and neighbors before the Lord as well. We all need His guidance.
This post is Day 25 of the 31 Days of Journaling through the Psalms series. If you would like to read the first post, Psalm 1: The Wise and the Wicked, click here. The introduction to the series can be found here.
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