THE SECRET OF THE LORD IS WITH THEM THAT FEAR HIM

Intimacy with God and knowledge of His ways are the portion of those who fear Him. He does not reveal His mind and ways to those who live at a distance from Him. Joseph, Daniel and Paul are outstanding examples of this fact, Gen. 40. 8; Dan. 9. 22, 23; 2 Cor. 12. 1-4.

Prayer must be spiritual and sincere if it is to be heard. James writes of the selfish, materialistic prayers which go unanswered, “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss”, James 4. 3. The spiritual character of the psalmist’s prayer is seen in the holy desires that it expresses, and in the suppliant attitude of heart with which it is made, “Unto thee … do I lift up my soul”, v. 1. David’s sincerity is marked by the requests that he makes, “Show me thy ways”; “teach me thy paths”; “Lead me in thy truth”, vv. 4, 5. The language used resembles that spoken by Moses, “show me now thy way, that I may know thee”, Exod. 33. 13. We are informed in Psalm 103. 7 that God did, in fact, make known His ways to Moses in contrast to the Israelites who only saw His acts.

David had a teachable spirit, and was also willing to be led in the truth that he had been taught. It is an important principle, which has always been applicable, that God does not communicate His ways of truth, unless there is a resolve on our part to be responsive thereto.

When there are desires after holiness, there will inevitably be a consciousness of sin. This fact is evident in verses 7, 11, 18. Recalling God’s past graciousness, v. 6, David is reminded of his own past, “the sins of my youth”, v. 7. With respect to the keeping of the covenant, he is aware of great failure and appeals for pardon, vv. 10, 11. Even Paul had to cry, “O wretched man that I am”, Rom. 7. 24; the prophet, “Woe is me”, Isa. 6. 5; and Job, “I abhor myself’, Job 42. 6. The lines of a well- known hymn sum this up:

“And they who fain would serve Thee best
Are conscious most of wrong within.”

The submission, confession and contrition exhibited in this psalm are features that mark the prayers of the godly, and are prerequisites if we are to learn the secrets of God.

“’Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you”, James 4. 8.