In Psalm 119, the longest chapter of the Bible, David repeatedly prays for God to enlarge his heart, to incline his heart, to unite his heart to 'keep God's commandments' ending with a cry, a plea for God to help his servant who strayed like a lost sheep
why would a man who was known for a great heart have to pray like that? or is it a lesson for us of something lest we end up like 'the Grinch' with 'a heart two sizes too small'
2007-03-19 01:34:42 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Logic and the bible are two mutually exclucive concepts. People often use the term "Almighty" when describing God. The term almighty means "having unlimited power", yet he needs our prayer? That is a gross contradiction. A God that kills first born children may be almighty, but it shows a serious emotional problem. Something that is not a good description of a god.
2007-03-19 01:38:04 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
An I never understood Psalms 119 to be a prayer. Of the 176 of verses that are in that chapter every one of them except two mentioned God's word. What his heart is inclined to is the testimonies of God and his heart is enlarged in the teachings of God.
2007-03-19 08:45:53 · answer #2 · answered by oldguy63 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You have the cause and effect reversed. The reason Davdid was a man after God's own heart was because he was constantly praying for God to make him that way. Prayer often as little to do with changing God, and much to do with changing us to be like him. Jesus said to pray for God's kingdom to come and His will to be done in us. David prayed continually (7 times a day he claimed in Psalms 119:164) and it was the prayer that made his heart like God's.
2007-03-19 08:41:13 · answer #3 · answered by dewcoons 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
My interpritation is:
David was a human, and therefore not perfect so he could fail God so he would pray for help in making the right decision
when trying to do Gods work.
We as people have a habit of thinking that men/women of god are not to sin, and be perfect But the heart is willing but the flesh is weak, we stumble, we fail, but God is just and forgiving and will forgive our transgressions if we pray for forgivness.
If you study the men of God were all weak in flesh and made many mistakes but God forgave them, those mens life should show us that God is forgiving and if we ask for forgivness and do the very best we can for him he will save our souls and reward us in the end
2007-03-19 10:37:31 · answer #4 · answered by kathy h 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When David asked for a heart God would be pleased with, he was asking for a heart like Gods.
A "great heart" can only be only be measured by the greatness of that, which it seeks to become,
In this case, a godly heart, of compassion, love, and righteousness.
2007-03-19 08:42:46 · answer #5 · answered by Dr. Phil 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
David understood that the spiritual heart is how God desires worship. Psalm 51 explains it best.
2007-03-19 08:48:00 · answer #6 · answered by sdr35hw 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The greatest of men is still a weak vessel. David was favored by God but David in his later years did many things that dishonored God. The story of David is that God loves us but we are fallen and a spoiled creation.
2007-03-19 08:43:14 · answer #7 · answered by Tommy G. 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Are you a good person? What a question, most of us believe that we are good people because we can look around and find someone that is far worse than we are. We can always point to the things that we think make us a good person.
But how good are we really? Dare we take this test and look at ourselves and see if we really are good? Hmmm.
If you are willing try this and see just how good a person you are.
The Good Person Test.
How will you do? Pass or fail?
Have you ever told a lie?
Doesn't matter how big or small, just a lie.
What does that make you? Before answering think about this, if I told you a lie what would you call me? A liar?
Have you ever stolen anything? Cost doesn't matter, a piece of gum, failed to give back an ink pen that you borrowed, anything.
What does that make you?
Jesus said, "You know the saying of old, you shall not commit adultery but I say that if look at someone to lust after them you have committed adultery in your heart.
Have you ever lusted?
Jesus said that hate is equal to murder.
Have you ever hated anyone?
See one day we all are going to stand before a Holy God on Judgment Day and he is going to judge us based on His Holy Law, the Ten Commandments. These are just 4 of them and how did you do? Guilty? I have broken all of these and more, what about you? How well will you do on Judgment Day?
If we break just one point of God's Law we are guilty of breaking all the law and Gods Wrath abides upon us all. Based on God's Law we are all guilty and all are deserving of punishment. But there is an out for us.
Jesus paid the price for each one of us, took on himself God's Wrath so we wouldn't have to face it on our own. Jesus was beaten, battered, bleed and died so we wouldn't have to face God's Wrath. He rose again so that we would life in his presence. Our crimes, His payment.
The real question is where will you stand on Judgment Day. Pay yourself or have it paid for you. Think about it.
2007-03-19 08:52:15 · answer #8 · answered by Dead Man Walking 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It was his very quest after God's heart that he prayed that prayer ... he knew that his own heart was too "small" to even vaguely understand God's magnificence.
I think he was trying to make sure he kept his focus. And yes, I think David has many lessons to teach us today :)
2007-03-19 08:41:55 · answer #9 · answered by arewethereyet 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If he had not prayed and meditated on God's word, presence and character like that, then he would not be known as the man after God's own heart.
2007-03-19 08:40:12 · answer #10 · answered by Javance 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋