58. I intreated thy favor with my whole heart. A fully assured possession of God does not set aside prayer, but rather urges us to it. Seeking God’s presence is the idea conveyed by the marginal reading, “thy face,” and this is true to the Hebrew. The presence of God is the highest form of his favor, and therefore it is the most urgent desire of gracious souls: the light of his countenance gives us a preview of heaven. Oh that we always enjoyed it! The good man intreated God’s smile as one who begged for his life, and the entire strength of his desire went with the intreaty. Such eager pleadings are sure of success; that which comes form our heart will certainly go to God’s heart.
Be merciful unto me according to thy word. He has intreated favor, and the form in which he most needs it is that of mercy, for he is more a sinner than anything else. He asks nothing beyond the promise; he only begs for such mercy as the word reveals. And what more could he want or wish for? God has revealed such an infinity of mercy in his Word that it would be impossible to conceive of more. See how the psalmist dwells upon his favor and mercy; he feels his own unworthiness. He remains a suppliant, though he knows that he has all things in his God. The confidence of faith makes us bold in prayer, but it never teaches us to live without prayer, or justifies us in being other than humble beggars at mercy’s gate.
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