57 The Lord is my portion;
I have [w]promised to keep Your words.
58 I sought Your favor with all my heart;
Be gracious to me according to Your [x]word.
59 I considered my ways
And turned my feet to Your testimonies.
60 I hastened and did not delay
To keep Your commandments.
61 The cords of the wicked have encircled me,
But I have not forgotten Your law.
62 At midnight I shall rise to give thanks to You
Because of Your righteous ordinances.
63 I am a companion of all those who [y]fear You,
And of those who keep Your precepts.
64 The earth is full of Your lovingkindness, O Lord;
Teach me Your statutes.
There are a couple important reminders in this passage today, which are somewhat related. In v. 58 we see “I sought Your favor with all my heart;” and in v. 60 “I hastened and did not delay…” Both of these speak to our zeal, but somewhat relatedly we have in v. 61 “The cords of the wicked have encircled me…”, yet in v. 63 “I am a companion of those who fear You… and keep Your precepts.”
The first point, highlighted in vv. 58, 60, deals with our intentionality. And as I said before, our zeal, which is more than just being intentional. However, for starters, we don’t progress in our faith by accident, we do need to be intentionally seeking God and digging into His word. This isn’t something we do with just a portion of our lives, as God desires our whole heart.
That’s why we see verses like “whatever you do, do it as unto the Lord.” There is no compartmentalization of our faith, it needs to permeate our whole life. There is also an urgency when it does permeate our whole being, we don’t just sit back and wait for things to happen. Instead, we need to ask God for opportunities to share His love, in whatever form that might take.
As we move into the latter portion, v. 63 cannot be overlooked. Who are the people we associate with every day? If we’re going to have those opportunities, we certainly don’t want to isolate ourselves in a monastery, but at the same time, we must have friends who will build us up in our faith. As in so many thing in life, we need a balance.
If we go too far one way, we miss opportunities to share our faith. Yet if we go the other, we will echo the predicament of v. 61, and will not just be surrounded by sinners, but will be ensnared by the same things that trap them. It isn’t the “wicked” people who ensnare us, but the same self-centered traps that hold them hostage.
Let us be part of a “rising tide” that lifts all ships. Seek God’s will with urgency, with all your heart. Talk to Him, and listen for His direction. Likewise, be in the Word and look for ways to live it out. And just as important, find friends who are more than just fun to be around, but who will push you to do better and be better, who will kindle a fire within your heart. Fan it into flame, and be contagious.