Week 3 Psalm 17
David starts out by asking the Lord to: pay attention to my prayer, for it comes from an honest heart. David seems to be saying “I know you won’t pay attention to a dishonest heart but it’s okay to listen to mine”.
And he doesn’t just leave it there. He says: you have tested my thoughts and examined my heart…You have scrutinized me and found nothing amiss, for I am determined not to sin in what I say. I have followed your commands, which have kept me from going along with cruel and evil people. My steps have stayed on your path; I have not wavered from following you.
I’m really impressed. Maybe a bit jealous. David’s probing interior self-examination resulted in emphatic personal affirmation. (Probably the very best example of this kind of I-know-that-I’m-ok testimonial is Job. He was: blameless, a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil… And he knew it.)
Anyway the thing I notice is that David then right away asks the Lord for help because he’s under attack from murderous enemies. Even though he has a clean sheet.
This is a good bible-reader’s reminder that being a good guy doesn’t insulate me from trouble. Whatever-all are the results of following the Lord it looks like having a trouble-free life isn’t one of them.
Note: quotes from Psalm 17:1, 3-5, Job 1:1 (NLT)