Let's Pick Up Our Toys

"I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.” (Ps 40:8 AV)

David is not professing perfect sanctification here.  It is a statement of his general attitude towards the law of God.  David, by no means, was perfect.  He had adultery and involuntary manslaughter in his record.  David was by no means blameless before God.  Yet, the Bible tells us David was a man after God’s own heart.  This is true because of his character as stated above.  David is not misrepresenting himself here.  He sincerely enjoyed walking in obedience to the best of his ability.  He strove to learn and hide the word of God in his heart.  These things he did.  He was not always successful.  But I can tell you this.  Had he not written the law on his heart and delighted to walk in obedience to it, the failures of life would have been far more frequent.

What a joy it is to work with very young children who have not learned the art of disobedience.  Having raised three of my own, and having countless nephews and nieces, I can tell you there is an age where they love to prove themselves by being obedient.  We had a toy box in our living room.  Over the years, it was replaced by a gang box that I painted and decorated for my grandkids.  Every day, without exception, that box would be emptied all over the floor.  There would be building blocks, dolls, trucks, and puzzles all over the place.  There wouldn’t be a square foot without some toy, or part of a toy, occupying that space.  Well, they do have to be picked up.  I have seen parents yell and spank their children towards this goal when there is no need.  I have seen them threaten their children with starvation.  At least from dessert.  I have seen them get the paddle in anticipation of having to use it.  However, there is a better way.  Having countless hours of experience in this event, I have discovered that affirmation works far better than the paddle.  By making a big deal of their initiative in picking up after themselves, and humbly thanking them for their labor, young children will cheerfully pick up the mess they have caused.  By affirming they have accomplished a difficult task and show great maturity in doing so, they will run around looking for something to put back in the toy box.  They delight to do Dad’s will.  It pleases them to please Dad.

This is the child-like spirit David had.  This is the spirit we should have as well.  But something has happened along the way.  Like our little toddlers, we have grown up.  We have gotten more sophisticated.  We have learned that selfish pleasure can be more fun than pleasing our authority.  We have desired to please the flesh rather than to please someone else.  David was a man after God’s own heart because he wanted to please that heart.  He never grew up wherein the law was concerned.  He desired to please the one who gave him life and purpose.  With a heart of gratitude, he served the LORD the best he could and obeyed the LORD with equal dedication.  David was after the heart of God because the heart of God could be attained.  His statement is not one of sinless perfection.  Rather, it is his confession of his purpose in life.  Fall time and again he may.  But he gets right back up again and strives more earnestly towards obedience.  This heart of David should be our heart. We should delight to do the will of God because His law is written on our hearts.