Psalm 119:17-24

                       My soul is crushed with longing for your ordinances at all times.

I believe this is one of the things that God saw in David’s heart that pleased Him – this desperation of heart for His word. David’s confession of hunger seemed to accompany him at all times. David was hungering as he tended sheep, as he was slaying giants, as he was reigning over Israel or repenting of his sins. How did this hunger come about in David? Could we or should we experience hunger for God’s Word as a part of the normal Christian life?

2 Timothy 3:16 informs us that the scriptures are God-breathed.  It seems Adam was birthed in similar fashion. Our new natures in Christ, are compatible with the spirit of the scriptures. As a new creation my heart has been formatted for His Word. So, when I read about David’s experience with God, I don’t just acknowledge David as a great and mighty anomoly who had special access to God. Instead I look at David and believe God is telling his story because it was intended to have become ours.  David is not an exception. He is a benchmark. Having the right reference points is an established pathway to longing. If David is a special case, we can excuse his experience. If He is our mentor we must follow in his footsteps. Once we see David in this light we have taken a big step toward this essential heart-component of those created for another realm who are just passing through.

Deal bountifully with Your servant, that I may live and keep Your word. Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Your law. I am a stranger in the earth; do not hide Your commandments from me. My soul is crushed with longing after Your ordinances at all times. You rebuke the arrogant, the cursed, who wander from Your commandments. Take away reproach and contempt from me, for I observe Your testimonies. Even though princes sit and talk against me, Your servant meditates on Your statutes. Your testimonies also are my delight; they are my counselors.

Father, thank you for Your Word and Your Spirit. May they work in concert to accomplish Your will in our hearts on earth as it is heaven. May hunger accompany and escort us into Your presence now and forever more. May this be.

 

I don’t just acknowledge David as a great and mighty anomoly who had special access to God. Instead I look at David and believe God is telling his story because it was intended to have become ours.  David is not an exception. He is a benchmark. Having the right reference points is an established pathway to longing. If David is a special case, we can excuse his experience. If He is our mentor we must follow in his footsteps. Once we see David in this light we have taken a big step toward this essential heart-component of those created for another realm who are just passing through.

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