Reconciling Guilt and Favor

Scripture:
You, God, know my folly;
       my guilt is not hidden from you.
Psalm 69:5

Observation: In this psalm, David seeks the Lord's support. It seems clear that people are divided for and against David; In v4 David declares there are uncountable numbers opposed to him, and in v6 he hopes that those on his side are not put to shame because of him. (This may therefore have been written during the time of 2 Samuel 2-3 and the resolution of the kingship after Saul's death.)

Verse 5 is a revealing pivot-point. David is seeking protection from enemies, relief from hostilities against him, protection for allies, and resolution of his entire current situation. However, right in the middle, even standing alone as an independent stanza, is this statement ... David knows he is a sinful man, and he knows that God knows it.

David is not asking the Lord for favor or protection or success based on his merits. Sure, he is a man who worships the Lord daily, honors the Lord, strives to obey the commandments, and prays continually. However, he understands that none of that makes him 'good', and therefore he is not seeking success based on his goodness. He will even declare - in the middle of all his 'asks' - that he isn't good, and the Lord knows and sees his every folly and guilt.

Application: There are times I read the psalms and think "well, yes, the Lord helps David because look at how great his faith is, and how well he honors the Lord with prayer and worship, and sure he makes a mistake here and there but ... I'm nowhere near that good, so the Lord has no reason to help me."

Well here is another way that David is so very good ... he knows that the Lord's blessings have nothing to do with his goodness. In fact, he can simultaneously ask for the Lord's mercy and blessing, and confess his own folly and guilt, because he knows one is not dependent on the other. No one is so good as to deserve the Lord's blessings and intervention and assistance, and yet the Lord provides those things because HE is good and loves us.

In my heart, I know this. In my mind, I find it difficult to reconcile because I use human logic when considering worldly ideals like reasons to bestow favor, assistance, and kindness on others.

The Lord knows my folly. My guilt is not hidden from him. The same is true for my wife, my son and daughter, my friends, pastors, and neighbors. However, his blessings remain available when I and these others have faith in his love, and ask with a righteous heart.

Prayer: Lord, I say this prayer again today, please have favor on my son and his job search. You know his heart and his weaknesses, just as you know mine as I say this prayer. Please, Abba, give my son your favor this day. Amen.