We have here, 1. The great intimacy and freedom that had been between
David and his God. David had opened his case, opened his very heart to
God: "I have declared my ways, and acknowledged thee in them all, have
taken thee along with me in all my designs and enterprises." Thus
Jephthah uttered all his words, and Hezekiah spread his letters, before
the Lord. "I have declared my ways, my wants, and burdens, and
troubles, that I meet with in my way, or my sins, my by-ways (I have
made an ingenuous confession of them), and thou heardest me, heardest
patiently all I had to say, and tookedst cognizance of my case." It is
an unspeakable comfort to a gracious soul to think with what tenderness
all its complaints are received by a gracious God, 1 John v. 14, 15. 2.
David's earnest desire of the continuance of that intimacy, not by
visions and voices from heaven, but by the word and Spirit in an
ordinary way: Teach me thy statutes, that is, Make me to understand the
way of thy precepts. When he knew God had heard his declaration of his
ways he did not say, "Now, Lord, tell me my lot, and let me know what
the event will be;" but, "Now, Lord, tell me my duty; let me know what
thou wouldst have me to do as the case stands." Note, Those who in all
their ways acknowledge God may pray in faith that he will direct their
steps in the right way. And the surest way of keeping up our communion
with God is by learning his statutes and walking intelligently in the
way of his precepts. See 1 John i. 6, 7. 3. The good use he would make
of this for the honour of God and the edification of others: "Let me
have a good understanding of the way of thy precepts; give me a clear,
distinct, and methodical knowledge of divine things; so shall I talk
with the more assurance, and the more to the purpose, of thy wondrous
works." We can talk with a better grace of God's wondrous works, the
wonders of providence, and especially the wonders of redeeming love,
when we understand the way of God's precepts and walk in that way.