Here the Psalmist speaks of precepts and prayer. He tells us of his responsibility and his request– the latter springing out of his recognition of the former. He knew what he ought to do and what it would take to do it.
I. THE RESPONSIBILITY— “Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently”– vs. 4
Diligence to duty is important in every area of life, but never more so than when it relates to keeping the precepts of God. Absolutely nothing in life is more important than this. To fail here is to fail altogether. The commands of God are to be our rule of conduct, the guide for our life. We are never at liberty to do otherwise, nor free to do less than our best. We are to obey without question, hesitation, or reservation– and to do so cheerfully. We should be ever mindful that for these we must give an account.
II. THE REQUEST—“O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!“–vs. 5
Obviously diligence in duty was the desire of his heart. He could honestly say, as did David in Ps. 40:8,“I delight to do Thy will, O my God..” But this is also an acknowledgment of his need for divine aid. As great as his desire was he could not succeed on his own, nor can we. The world, the flesh, and the Devil hinders us and would stop us without God’s help–His help is our only hope!
This is an admission of weakness. The keeping of God’s precepts requires God’s power. However ready and determined we are to obey His commands, it is not enough without enduement from on High. The arm of flesh is never enough without the Spirit. Awareness of these facts should draw us to the Word of God in search of divine directives, drive us to our knees before the throne of grace for help,dominate our minds continually, direct our steps, and delight our heart.
III. THE REWARD—“Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.“-vs. 6
For those who love the Lord His command is all the motivation they need to keep His precepts, but they also know there is a reward in doing so–“Then shall I not be ashamed..”. Because of their respect for God’s commands they are rewarded with a clear conscience—and that is no small thing. Joanna Baillie, 1762-1851, wrote:
I can bear scorpion’s stings, tread fields of fire,
In frozen gulfs of cold eternal lie;
Be tossed aloft through tracts of endless void,
But cannot live in shame.
