Well, it’s been a crazy week, so I’m cutting myself some slack. Today begins a new attempt at 5 psalms per week. Here goes:
But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy;
In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple.
Lead me, O LORD, in Your righteousness because of my enemies;
Make Your way straight before my face.
But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You;
Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them;
Let those also who love Your name
Be joyful in You.
For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous;
With favor You will surround him as with a shield.
So David is here praying for guidance, and contra the pseudo-Reformed tendency to make all prayer a resigned “thy will be done”, he backs up his request with a faith-resume: he calls on the mercy of God, he announces his fear of God, he banks on the blessing and faithfulness of God towards him because he is righteous.
I am also in the midst of prayer for guidance and direction in my life. Mine is the prayer of David: Lead me, O Lord, make your way straight before my face. I am asking for the life-path which lays ahead to become clear to me; I am asking for confusion and questioning and double-mindedness to be removed; I am asking for God to make my calling clear that I might know the next step to take and take it with reckless abandon.
But such confidence cannot come if I am not first connected, personally and powerfully, to the Lord through a committed and holy life. All will be confusion and best-guesses unless I am walking in the fear of the Lord. So, I hunger for holiness that I might be confident in the way ahead - that I might know that the Lord will bless his righteous servant and surround me with favor as with a shield.
