Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I cry to You all day long. Rejoice the soul of Your servant, for to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. (Psalm 86:3-4)
Though obviously beloved of God, David did not consider himself to be deserving of God’s mercy, but having the relationship with God that he did, he knew he could appeal to Heaven for favor and assistance. He knew that because he had consistently placed his complete confidence in God, and the Almighty had never and would never abandon him. Think of it this way: what would it look like if God rewarded those, like David, with disinterest? What would the heathen say about a God who did not regard those who revered Him?
Furthermore, David was one who turned to God every day for everything. In other words his first reaction, when in trouble, was to turn to His Creator rather than to those people around him. I would argue that, to do as David did, is not the typical human response. By and large, when a crisis arises, it is our nature to trust in horses and chariots, or the government, or even ourselves; but David never turned to any other source of salvation but the Lord, thus he says, “I cry to You all day long.”
Finally, David said to the Lord, “to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.” To offer such a prayer is to say, I place my confidence in You; I look to You alone because You are the only One who can preserve my innermost being, my soul. Men might have the ability and opportunity to save our mortal bodies from death, but only the One who dwells in Heaven can deliver our soul and spirit from corruption. He alone can soothe the inner turmoil that afflicts those who are subjected to the wicked devices of evil men. So, may it be that, like David, we offer up to God our entire being — with all of our energies and abilities — as a living sacrifice knowing that He is the only One who has the power to gladden the souls of His servants. And may we always be as confident as David that He will do just that.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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