Psalms 86:11 - Homiletics

A comprehensive prayer.

"Unite my heart to fear thy Name," etc. This rich and elevated psalm is well called in the title "a prayer," rather than "a psalm." It is more devout than poetical. Its distinctive character is the remarkable union of intense personal feeling with large views of God's character and relation to mankind ( Psalms 86:9 ). This has led critics to speak of it as "liturgical," overlooking the deep strain of personal feeling, leading the psalmist even ( Psalms 86:16 ) to plead that he is the child of a godly mother, as well as ( Psalms 86:2 ) that he is "holy"— q.d . either consecrated to God, or one on whom God bestows grace. £ This petition, "Unite my heart," etc; is one of great compass, grandeur, simplicity, bespeaking a heart already fixed on God. It seeks—

I. A SUPREME AFFECTION . A. master passion, to which all other desires and affections shall be subordinate. The worldly mind, just because it is worldly, is torn by conflicting desires—the prey of passions or feelings, each of which seeks mastery. For the world (as St. John describes it, 1 John 2:16 ) has no unity; a mass of contradictions, rivalries, inconsistent objects of desire. Only the heart which has learned to say, "Thou art my Portion" ( Psalms 119:57 ), has found the principle of unity, the keynote which can put all the heart's pure and true affections in tune.

II. A SINGLE AIM . A master purpose, to which all other objects must yield, and which gives back colour to the whole life. Successful men are characterized by singleness and earnestness of aim. A limited and narrow man will carry his point, if it be the one thing he lives for; while men of splendid genius waste their powers, and become splendid failures for lack of concentration and motive power (see Philippians 3:13 , Philippians 3:14 ). The hottest diffused sunshine kindles no flame; but concentrate but a few rays with a glass on one point, and flame bursts forth. Supreme love to Christ, and a single eye to his service and approval, give a unity to life which is a great element of success, even in what we call worldly affairs ( Colossians 3:3 ).

III. UNDOUBTING CONVICTION . Strong, unwavering faith. Doubt distracts, agitates, unsettles, weakens ( James 1:8 ). A doubting temper, fond of dwelling on difficulties and objections, is fatal to unity of mind, heart, and will. Doubts, if they assail you, are neither to be timidly shrunk from nor idly played with, but honestly faced and fought. But the grand secret of conviction is to dwell first and constantly on the positive evidence of truth. If that is adequate, unanswerable, then a thousand questions we cannot at present answer need not trouble us. They can wait; but facts will not wait. Here is a great secret, not only of strength, but of rest. And in rest is a reservoir of energy ( Isaiah 26:3 ; John 14:1 ).

What grand possibilities there are in the Christian life! If an Old Testament saint could put up such a prayer, and have it answered, how much more may it be fulfilled in our experience!