“Lament & Petition” is the title of Psalm 86, a song of David. David laments that his enemies are pursuing him, and then petitions his LORD for protection and security. I have been studying it in both the New King James and in the Holman Christian Standard versions.
First David talked about God bringing joy to him. Then he recalled those wonderful attributes of God, noting that God is good, kind, beautiful, pleasant, agreeable, merciful, and faithful to all those who call on Him. [vs 4, 5]
The verse that I am focused on today is verse 11. In the NKJV it reads, “Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name.”
The Holman reads, “Teach me your way, YAHWEH, and I will live by Your truth. Give me an undivided mind to fear Your name.”
The word for “unite” and “undivided” is yachad. And it simply means to be united. David asks God to unite his heart/mind. (It seems that often in the OT heart and mind are interchangeable). David also requests that God teach him the ways of God so that he can live in God’s truth.
James reminds us in his letter that a double-minded or indecisive person is unstable in all his/her ways. The one with a mind/heart that tries to live in both the world and in God’s kingdom will be both miserable and hopeless. [1:8]
James also gives the solution for having a divided heart and mind. “Therefore, submit to God. Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners and purify your hearts, double-minded people!” [4:7-8]
Help us to draw near to you, LORD. Teach us Your ways so that we may live in Your truth. Amen.
