Today’s reading shows us some of the breadth of David’s emotions, wearing his heart on his sleeve where everyone can see it. So when he prays for God’s healing in the midst of some serious illness (Psalm 6:2-6), we can see his anxiety that he might have somehow brought God’s wrath on himself (6:1), his dislike of those who would afflict him in his illness (6:8), and his calm assurance that God has heard his prayer (6:9).

Similarly, we see his awe at the vastness of God’s creation “O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” (8:1), and his response: “what are human beings that you are mindful of them?” (8:3). He prays for confidence when facing a battle (21:7-12), and sings of the power of God’s word to direct our lives (19:7-13).

We see David as well wrestling with the problem of unbelief, just as present in ancient times as today. “Fools say in their hearts, ‘There is no God’” (Psalm 14:1). “In the pride of their countenance the wicked say, ‘God will not seek it out.’ All their thoughts are, ‘There is no God’” (10:4). That atheism leaves the wicked free to take advantage of the poor (10:8-10). But in the end, “O Lord, you will hear the desire of the meek; you will strengthen their heart, you will incline your ear to do justice for the orphan and the oppressed” (10:17-18).

David did not have all the advantages of education that we experience today; it is easy to suppose that we are somehow more advanced than he was, and don’t need to learn any lessons from him. Some would make it a point to lament that David was as liable to fall into sin as anyone else; can someone just as sinful as we are have something to teach us? But the answer is Yes, because of this preeminent characteristic of his life: he does his theology in prayer. We would do well to emulate his example there. No subject is off limits for him. David shares his exultation, his misery, his rage, his hopes, his tears: in the confidence that God is not afraid of even the strongest human emotions. “I keep the Lord always before me” (16:8).

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Hear our prayers, O Lord, as we set our hearts to live in your presence day by day, to share every thought and action with you. Let the words of our mouths, and the meditations of our hearts, be acceptable to you, O Lord, our rock and our redeemer!

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