Desperate
I do not know any kings personally but I can imagine that there is a certain amount of pride, even ego, associated with a monarch’s position. But King David was not proud, he was humble, he had no problem seeking God for help, even begging Him.
Can you imagine Queen Elizabeth, Donald Trump, or Barack Obama begging anyone for anything? When was the last time you begged for something? When was the last time you were so desperate that you pleaded for that which you needed? David was not ashamed to be desperate, all throughout the Book of Psalms we hear his pleading cry of faith for one reason or another, “One thing have I desired of the LORD that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in His temple” (Ps. 27:4). In Psalm 119 we hear this same type of fervent expression, except David is not necessarily the author. The author of Psalm 119 is unknown but who else is as passionate as David in coming to the Lord expressing his love and admiration? Who else is as good at pouring out his heart before God? Who else is as desperate to be in God’s presence?
We may never know the identity of the author of Psalm 119 but it was obviously someone weak, as all men are, yet he knew where his help came from and wanted to keep the way of the Word of God. The Psalmist does not just want protection from God, provision, or help in a dire situation, he wants God's Word, His law, and His instruction. He wants help living by that law, and understanding that instruction. He is not just asking, he is begging! He is hungering and thirsting to live for God! Can you imagine our prayer being, “God give me more of you?” Can you imagine being at the point of faith where your initial prayer is not a list of material and physical demands from God but a petition to be closer to His Word? There is nothing wrong with asking God for what you need, that is what He wants you to do but what if what you needed was Him? What if you not only needed Him but you wanted Him? What if you wanted the LORD so badly that you were desperate, desperate enough to beg for His Word, beg for understanding, beg to be in His presence?
There are roughly fifty-two countries where the Bible is illegal or severely persecuted. There are people in Vietnam, Turkey, Syria, the Philippines, Nigeria, Pakistan, Kenya, Mali, Morrocco, Columbia, Egypt, Ethiopia, China, Cuba, Somalia, North Korea, Egypt, Afghanistan, Iran and the list goes on, who are desperate to read the Holy Bible. They are so desperate that they sneak around, they put their lives at risk to study because their government does not allow the Word of God to be consumed by citizens. Here in the United States of America, we do not have to beg for God's Word, it sits on our shelves collecting dust, in the back of our pews ignored, rarely hidden in our hearts. In the United States of America, we do not have to beg for understanding because there are literal and virtual, wall-to-wall commentaries we can refer to, there is guidance from the Holy Spirit we can receive if only we seek understanding. We do not have to beg or want for the presence of the Holy God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob because “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20).
The Psalmist spends 176 verses demonstrating his zeal for the Word of God, which is something to be admired. To have that sort of passion for the Word of God is a special thing when we live in a world where so much else gains our enthusiasm. Even the psalmist, wanting desperately to live God's Word, knew he did not have the ability to do so without God. But “blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Matt. 5:6). Everyone hungers and thirsts, everyone gets desperate, but it is usually for some worldly ambition, some self-serving, personal gain. The Psalmist was different, his passions were directed towards God and His Word. He hungered and thirsted for righteousness, desperately. We can learn from the Psalmist, whoever he was, not to take the Word of God for granted, whether we have easy access to it or not, it is priceless, so much so that we should hunger and thirst for it.
Desperation can be a good thing; I am desperate to see Jesus but until that day I am desperate to live for Him! I am desperate for God’s Word, desperate to know it, understand it, and absorb as much as I can. I am desperate to lead souls to Christ, to encourage others in the faith, to live righteously, to glorify God, and magnify His name. You are desperate too, the question is, what are you desperate for?
