Verse 11. “Teach me thy way, O Lord …” There is no point on which the world is more dark than that of its own ignorance. We might truly say, “It is ignorant of its ignorance.” It comforts itself that it is not atheistical because it believes that there is a God. But as to knowing this God in His way, and in His laws, and in His mind with these things it has nothing to do. Further, the people of the world do not care for enlightenment on the subject; they feel no pressing need for it. And, indeed, in all probability, they have an instinctive feeling that if enlightened they would know a little more than they wish to know, and that their newly acquired knowledge would interfere with their old habits and ways. This is one reason why all spiritual teaching which goes beneath the mere surface is distasteful to the majority of people. They cannot bear to be brought into contact with God in more than a general way; for the particulars of His character may not agree over well with the particulars of their lives!
Verse 11. “Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth.” Conform to Scripture. Let us lead Scripture lives. Oh, that the Bible might be seen to be imprinted in our lives! Do what the Word commands. Obedience is an excellent way of commenting upon the Bible. Let the Word be the sundial by which you set your life. What are we the better for having the scriptures, if we do not direct all our speeches and actions according to it? What is a carpenter better for his rule about him, if he sticks it at his back, and never makes use of it for measuring and squaring? So, what are we the better for the rule of the Word, if we do not make use of it, and regulate our lives by it?
Verse 12. “I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.” We glorify God by praising Him. Though nothing can add to God’s essential glory, yet praise exalts Him in the eyes of others. When we praise God, we spread His fame and renown; we display the trophies of His excellency. In this manner the angels glorify Him. They are the choristers of heaven and do trumpet forth His praise. Praising God is one of the highest and purest acts of religion. In prayer, it may be said, we act like men; in praise we act like angels. Believers are called “Temples of God,” – 1 Corinthians 3 verse 16. When our tongues praise, then the organs of God’s spiritual temple are sounding. How sad it is that God has not more glory from us in this way! Many are full of murmuring and discontent, but seldom bring glory to God by giving him the praise due to His name. We read of the saints having harps in their hands – the emblems of praise. Many have tears in their eyes and complaints in their mouths, but few seem to have harps in their hands, blessing and glorifying god. Let us honour God in this way. Praise is the quit-rent we pay to God: while God renews our lease, we must renew our rent.
Verse 13. “For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.” Personal experience is ever the master singer. Whatever Thou art, O God, to others, to me thy mercy is most notable. The psalmist claims to sing among the loudest, because his debt to divine mercy is among the greatest. From the direst death and the deepest dishonour David had been kept by God – for his enemies would have done more than send him to hell had they been able. His sense of sin also made him feel as if the most overwhelming destruction would have been his portion had not grace prevented. Therefore, does he speak of deliverance from the nethermost abode of lost spirits.
There are some alive who can now use this language unfeignedly, and he who pens these lines most humbly confesses that he is one. Left to myself to indulge my passions, to rush onward with my natural vehemence, and defy the Lord with recklessness, what a candidate for the lowest abyss should I have made myself by this time. For me there was but one alternative, great mercy, or the lowest hell. With my whole heart do I sing, “Great is thy mercy towards me, and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.”
Verse 16. “O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid.”
1. My Pedigree: The son of thy handmaid.
2. My Occupation: Thy servant.
3. My character: In need of mercy.
4. My request: Turn unto me.