One of the greatest longing of the human heart is to be known and understood. It runs deeply to the core of our being. We look for it in relationships with our best friends, marriage and others. When someone even knows us in part there is a sense of fulfillment.
This psalm is famous as a psalm and could be titled, “He who knows us.”
He knows us down to our purposes and formation in the womb. He knows us no matter if we travel to the highest of height and lowest of lows, to the far east and far west. He is with us. And knows us. It’s the knowing that is the root of intimacy. It’s a beautiful psalm.
As beautiful as this psalm is, it turns on a dime.
19 If only you, God, would slay the wicked!
Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!
20 They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries misuse your name.
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord,
and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?
22 I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.
Wait. What? How does this fit into this picture?
If you look closely, David is enamored with the intimate knowledge and love the LORD has for people, and the enemies he speaks of are ones who are God-haters.
“They speak of you with evil intent” (v. 20)
“Your adversaries misuse your name” (v. 20)
They hate God. (v. 21)
They rebel against Him. (v. 21)
David isn’t just randomly saying slay my enemies, he is proudly associating with the LORD and telling him to do away with those who hate Him.
It reminds me of a YouTube video I saw the other day. A niece keeps coming to her uncle about the bullies. The uncle then gets angry secondarily at his niece’s bullies but then takes his niece out and gives her good gifts. It’s a funny video but it is the same concept here. When you love someone, you want to stand up to their enemies even when you don’t know them.
And then the psalm ends with this dangerous prayer (v. 23-24):
Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
When was the last time you prayed that? That’s a scary, scary prayer. I can pray that last line, but the others? Hopefully I’ll get there.