16 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. 17 The troubles of my heart have multiplied; free me from my anguish. 18 Look upon my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins. 19 See how my enemies have increased and how fiercely they hate me! 20 Guard my life and rescue me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. 21 May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you. 22 Redeem Israel, O God, from all their troubles!

It is said of King David that he reigned over all Israel doing what was just and right for all his people. Here he pleads that his integrity and uprightness would protect him from harm. He gives his reason for being like this, that his hope and his refuge are in God. Surely a man in his position had many enemies and often felt lonely and afflicted. In our minds we tend to think that someone who holds a high position never has these feelings but actually they are magnified by the responsibility.

David recognized his own weakness. David often asked God to forgive his sins. When we think of David we think of only one or two isolated incidences where he sinned against God. However, as a person, David was far from perfect. What made David so pleasing to God was not that his life always conformed to the will of God but that his heart was set on doing only that which pleased God. David sinned but when he recognized that he had done so, he quickly asked God to forgive him. He did not try to excuse it, deny it or argue about it. He admitted he had sinned – not just made a mistake in judgment but sinned against God. Even after the horrible sin against Bathsheba and Uriah he said that he had sinned against God. He was not denying his sin against these two or the nation but he recognized that what made it sin was it violated the will of God.

David did what was right because it was right. He did not do it to get honor from his fellows. He did not do it so others would talk about how righteous he was. He did not do right so he could avoid punishment for doing wrong. David did right because it was right. When we allow the Holy Spirit to live in us and control us, we will want to do what is right (in every circumstance) because it is the right thing to do. Jesus said we are to let our lights shine so men will see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven.

O God, give me wisdom to know what is right and faith to allow your Spirit to empower me to live it. Help me to not be selfish or worried about the outcome but to simply do right toward others and toward you. Increase my love for you and in turn my love for others. Use me to be an encouragement to those around me. Forgive me when I fail to be like you. In Jesus’ name.

May God bless each of us as we live to be like him.