Psalm 18: 24-27 "24 The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight. 25 To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, 26 to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd. 27 You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty. 28 You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light." NIV
This portion of Psalm 18 is a celebration of the Lord’s character and consistency. Again David is reflecting on the reward of God and its connection to his own cleanness. David gives us an insight into the ways of God with this psalm of praise. God responds to each one in the same manner to which they respond to him and to others. The principle of reaping and sowing is evident in this reflection of God’s character. The good news is that even in this context there is mercy! David identifies God’s affection for the humble. An enlarged view of this principle can be seen in Jesus’ dealings with the Pharisees and the woman caught in adultery. In the legalistic view of God this woman deserved punishment but her humble heart brought the mercy of God. Yet to the Pharisees Jesus was regularly pronouncing woes on their unmerciful and critical spirits.
God saves the Humble, not the perfect! David’s entire life is a revelation of this principle. He experiences a multitude of victories and a long list of failures that include such things as murder, adultery, lying, not trusting God for seasons of his life and yet his humble submission without justifying his sins caused him to be called a man after God’s own heart. King Saul demonstrated an opposite heart response to God.
In his moments of failure he didn't respond with brokenness and humility but rather excuses, blame and when he did cry out to God it was for a reversal of judgment not a change of heart.
An additional insight from this portion of this psalm is David praising God for keeping his lamp burning. David knows the source of his passion in life. He is thankful to God that it is God’s very help that enables him to live with a burning heart. In the big picture of his life David lived as a man on fire with love for God and this passage reveals that he knew the source of the fire that burned inside of him. There is a well known statement that says, “It takes God, to love God!” Jesus said that no one can know that things of the Spirit unless the Holy Spirit reveals them to him. David is reflecting this concept when he rejoices that God has turned his darkness into light. Each one of us can share in this hope of living with a burning heart. May the God of all glory and grace take the dark places of our doubts, fears, unbelief and pain and turn them into the light of his abundant presence and peace.
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