My soul, yes, my whole life, needs to be continually lifted (v.1). Otherwise, I’d be down in the dumps when I consider well …, for the psalmist it was “do not let my enemies exult over me” (v.2). For me, I’m quite sure I have more friends that I do enemies, but it is still true that, even at my age, I still need to pray earnestly, “Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths”! (v.4).
You’d think that having, by God’s grace, arrived at the season when we say we’re on” borrowed time” I should be able to readily detect the truth, if not 24/7 at least 18/24, and spot counterfeit from miles away. That doesn’t always happen. I do get conned by pretenders in church and out, even though I’m getting better at spotting the pretenders. Maybe my passion to help lift others is a sort of ‘problem in a solution’! Well, let the truth be told, that happens only likely when I’m poised to confess “for you I wait all day long” (v.5). Sometimes I feel a jolt within me that stops me in my tracks when I’m about to believe a liar! Being a counsellor forces me to help people listen to themselves; and when they playback, I too, listen again and the second version exposes the disequilibrium in the earlier claim. Even an old Christian may be taken for a ride that isn’t driving on heaven’s train.
God’s mercy, if we are mindful of it (v.6) delivers from straightforward lies and the deceit of chicanery. That might just be why there isn’t that ongoing crippling fear of enemies exulting over me (v.2).
God’s love, if we can appreciate its vast and timeless coverage (v.6) explains what we’ll never fully understand- the mystery that “the sins of my youth” and my innumerable transgressions (v.7) are stripped of power to replay their scenes in my older life. Yes, I may have a lot to learn, but some lessons die hard,
all because of the goodness of God.