“Be pleased, O LORD, to save me; O LORD, come quickly to help me.
“May all who seek to take my life be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace.
“May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!” be appalled at their own shame.” (Psalm 40:13-15)
Do David’s requests here sound manipulative and arrogant to you? He spends half the chapter talking about God’s great goodness. Then he admits that he, David, is a huge sinner facing painful consequences. Then he asks God to shame, confuse, disgrace, and appall his enemies.
First, David was in a unique position. His enemies—the enemies of Israel—were also God’s enemies. So David was praying that God would trip up the enemies of God. It’s not completely self-serving.
Still, David is just being honest in his request, just as we are when we ask God for anything. What does the good God owe to us? Nothing. How much have we sinned? Plenty. What do we deserve? Exactly what we’ve got coming. We all ask for God’s mercy, for his grace, for things we don’t deserve when we ask him for anything. It’s what God invites us to do as his children.
Think: Do you ever hesitate to ask God for help because you feel you don’t deserve it? Does it make sense to think we ever deserve any good gift from God? Why not ask him for help and trust him to answer according to his great love and mercy?
Pray: Thank God that he hears our requests, even though we don’t deserve to be heard, because he loves and forgives us. Thank him for giving you so many good gifts you could not have earned.
Do: Make two quick lists, one of five good things you’ve earned from God and one of five good things he’s given to you just because he loves you in Christ.