Applying David's Example of Seeking God's Guidance Daily
David's example of seeking God's guidance daily is rooted in his biblical portrayal as a man after God's own heart, who consistently sought divine direction in his life and reign. The Psalmist David is often seen seeking God's face and guidance through prayer and scripture [1].
According to Matthew Henry, David's seeking God's guidance was characterized by earnestness and perseverance. In Psalm 119, David repeatedly expresses his desire to understand and follow God's statutes, and he prays for divine instruction and guidance [4, 5]. For instance, in Psalm 119:10, David says, "I have sought thee with my whole heart," indicating his commitment to seeking God diligently [4].
David's practice of seeking God's guidance daily is also reflected in his habit of rising early to pray and seek God's face. The biblical account notes that David rose early to seek God's guidance, as seen in 1 Samuel 17:20 and 1 Chronicles 16:11, which exhorts, "Seeke the Lord and his strength: seeke his face continually" [2, 3].
The Nonconformist/Puritan tradition, as represented by Matthew Henry, emphasizes the importance of seeking God's guidance daily, just as David did. This involves not only prayer but also a commitment to understanding and following God's word. In Psalm 119:33, David prays, "Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end." Matthew Henry notes that David is seeking divine guidance to understand the application of God's statutes to his life [6].
Moreover, David's example highlights the need for humility and dependence on God in seeking guidance. In Psalm 27:7, David cries out to God, "Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me." Matthew Henry comments that David is seeking a gracious audience with God, demonstrating his recognition of his need for divine mercy and guidance [7].
In applying David's example to daily life, one must prioritize seeking God's guidance through prayer, scripture, and a commitment to following God's statutes. As Torrey's Topical Textbook notes, seeking God is commanded in scripture, with passages like Isaiah 55:6 and Matthew 7:7 exhorting believers to seek God [1]. By following David's example and seeking God's guidance daily, believers can cultivate a deeper relationship with God and navigate life's challenges with divine direction.
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Seeking God — Commanded -- Isa 55:6; Mt 7:7. Includes seeking His Name. -- Ps 83:16. His word. -- Isa 34:16. His face. -- Ps 27:8; 105:4. His strength. -- 1Ch 16:11; Ps 105:4. His commandments. -- 1Ch 28:8; Mal 2:7. His precepts. -- Ps 119:45,94. His kingdom. -- Mt 6:33; Lu 12:31. His righteousness. -- Mt 6:33. Christ. -- Mal 3:1; Lu 2:15,16. Honour which comes from him. -- Joh 5:44. Justification by Christ. -- Ga 2:16,17. The city which God has prepared. -- Heb 11:10,16; 13:14. By prayer -- Job 8:5; Da 9:3. In his house -- De 12:5; Ps 27:4. Should be Immediate. -- H”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Early Rising — Christ set an example of -- Mr 1:35; Lu 21:38; Joh 8:2. Requisite for Devotion. -- Ps 5:3; 59:16; 63:1; 88:13; Isa 26:9. Executing God's commands. -- Ge 22:3. Discharge of daily duties. -- Pr 31:15. Neglect of, leads to poverty -- Pr 6:9-11. Practised by the wicked, for Deceit. -- Pr 27:14. Executing plans of evil. -- Mic 2:1. Illustrates spiritual diligence -- Ro 13:11,12. Exemplified Abraham. -- Ge 19:27. Isaac, &c. -- Ge 26:31. Jacob. -- Ge 28:18. Joshua &c. -- Jos 3:1. Gideon. -- Jdj 6:38. Samuel. -- 1Sa 15:12. David. -- 1Sa 17:20. Mary, &c. -- Mr ”
- I Chronicles “I Chronicles 16:11 (Geneva1599) — Seeke the Lord and his strength: seeke his face continually.”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 119:10: Here is, 1. David's experience of a good work God had wrought in him, which he takes the comfort of and pleads with God: "I have sought thee, sought to thee as my oracle, sought after thee as my happiness, sought thee as my God; for should not a people seek unto their God? If I have not yet found thee, I have sought thee, and thou never saidst, Seek in vain, nor wilt say so to me, for I have sought thee with my heart, with my whole heart, sought thee only, sought thee diligently." 2. His prayer for the preservation of that work: "Thou that hast inclined me to se”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 119:124: Here is, 1. David's petition for divine instruction: "Teach me thy statutes; give me to know all my duty; when I am in doubt, and know not for certain what is my duty, direct me, and make it plain to me; now that I am afflicted, oppressed, and my eyes are ready to fail for thy salvation, let me know what my duty is in this condition." In difficult times we should desire more to be told what we must do than what we may expect, and should pray more to be led into the knowledge of scripture-precepts than of scripture-prophecies. If God, who gave us his statutes, d”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 119:33: Here, I. David prays earnestly that God himself would be his teacher; he had prophets, and wise men, and priests, about him, and was himself well instructed in the law of God, yet he begs to be taught of God, as knowing that none teaches like him, Job 36:22. Observe here, 1. What he desires to be taught, not the notions or language of God's statutes, but the way of them - "the way of applying them to myself and governing myself by them; teach me the way of my duty which thy statutes prescribe, and in every doubtful case let me know what thou wouldst have me to d”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 27:7: David in these verses expresses, I. His desire towards God, in many petitions. If he cannot now go up to the house of the Lord, yet, wherever he is, he can find a way to the throne of grace by prayer. 1. He humbly bespeaks, because he firmly believes he shall have, a gracious audience: "Hear, O Lord, when I cry, not only with my heart, but, as one in earnest, with my voice too." He bespeaks also an answer of peace, which he expects, not from his own merit, but God's goodness: Have mercy upon me, and answer me, Psa 27:7. If we pray and believe, God will graciously ”