What a change in David’s attitude this psalm is from Psalm 39. David went from being in despair to rejoicing in the Lord. “He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.” Verse 2 (NLT). Yes, the Christian life can be a series of ups and downs until we learn what David learned. David’s problem seems to have been his sense of nearness to God and God’s approval on his life.
In verses 6-8, David wrote, “You take no delight in sacrifices and offerings. Now that You have made me listen, I finally understand – You don’t require burnt offerings and sin offerings. Then I said, ‘Look, I have come. As it is written of me in the Scriptures: I take joy in doing Your will, my God, for Your instructions are written on my heart’.” (NLT). David was aware of his sins and thought bringing burnt and sin offerings to the priests for sacrifice would solve his sense of guilt and bring him closer to God; but it didn’t work. Christians today can have the same feelings that God seems distant, and we try to energize the sense of nearness by giving money and taking on tasks, but we become disillusioned and sometimes just give up.
What David recognized that God wants most from His children is PRAISE!!! God wants us to praise Him with prayer, with song, with reading His word, all with our minds and voices. A much more detailed explanation is found in Psalm 50. Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, told us to pray, “Our Father in heaven, may Your name be kept holy”. Matt 6:9 (NLT). We can sing hymns like “Holy, Holy, Holy”, “How Great Thou Art”, “Fairest Lord Jesus” and many more. Nothing can give us a greater sense of closeness to God than praising Him.