Your hands made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments.
Psalm 119:73
Many parents have brought children into this world only to have them completely disregard the parental authority in their lives. Even children who are very young may reject their parents’ input and do whatever they want. They do not associate the fact that the very food they eat is provided by their parents. The home they live in and the bed they sleep on has been provided by their parents.
Humanity often treats God in the same way. They live as though they brought themselves into the world. They believe they are in absolute control of their lives. They assume the next breath they take is a simple biological function that can be expected. They refuse to make any connection between the fact that they were created and they are responsible to a Creator.
The psalmist understands his origin. His existence is a result of God’s eternal plan. God was very intentional in creating him exactly as he is and for specific purposes. Since he recognizes God as his Creator, he acknowledges that God is the only One that can give true understanding concerning His commandments.
Sadly, not everyone who acknowledges God as Creator realizes how desperately they need God to give them understanding regarding His word. The result is that many professing Christians don’t pray this same prayer because they are not particularly interested in understanding the ways of God.
Spurgeon reminds us that “It is profitable to remember our creation, it is pleasant to see that the divine hand has had much to do with us, for it never moves apart from the divine thought. It excites reverence, gratitude, and affection towards God when we view him as our Maker, putting forth the careful skill and power of his hands in our forming and fashioning.”1
Be encouraged by the fact that God intentionally created you. You have been part of His eternal plan. He has bestowed on you the personality and gifts that He intended you to have so that you can accomplish the work that He prepared beforehand (Ephesians 2:10). Pray as the psalmist did, “Give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments.”
Know that the LORD Himself is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Psalm 100:3
1 Spurgeon, C. H. (n.d.). The Treasury of David: Psalms 111-119 (Vol. 5, p. 287). London; Edinburgh; New York: Marshall Brothers.
