Meditation on Psalm 86:11

"Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name."
--Psalm 86:11, ESV

Six things this verse teaches me:

What David lacked
Teaching and instruction. Our own lack should be obvious to ourselves, but in our pride we want to believe otherwise.

What David sought
The way of the Lord. The world claims to have teaching and instruction, but the way of the Lord is the way of truth.

Whom David sought it from
David asked the Lord to teach him His way. He did not go off and try to discover it himself. None can learn God's way apart from seeking God Himself.

Why David sought it
Not for intellectual superiority, not for the comforts of a path made smooth by right choices, not because he loved mere knowledge, not so that others would be envious of his wisdom--but so that he might walk in God's truth.

What else David recognized
The deceitfulness and depravity of his own heart. Even as David cried out to the Lord for instruction in His way, David recognized that his heart chased after worldly things.

What David then plead for
He asked the Lord to do what only He can do: give Him a heart wholly devoted to the fear of His name. David did not try to unite his heart first and then come to the Lord. He went to the only one who has the power over sin, and said, "Unite my heart to fear your name."



It's amazing how packed with significance a single short Bible verse can be--and this just scratches the surface.