Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes.
The prayer asks God to treat His servant in line with mercy and at the same time to instruct him in His statutes. The two requests belong together, joining an appeal for merciful dealing with a plea to be taught. It stands within a psalm that stresses the sacred character of God's law. That setting places the cry for mercy against the larger theme of God's law and His dealings with human wickedness.
God's law is given to direct the course of life. His Word furnishes principles of righteousness. By those principles right is distinguished from wrong and truth from error. Yet His patience toward those who violate His law is not without limit, and judgment will come.
The prayer asks God to treat His servant in line with mercy and at the same time to instruct him in His statutes. The two requests belong together, joining an appeal for merciful dealing with a plea to be taught. It stands within a psalm that stresses the sacred character of God's law. That setting places the cry for mercy against the larger theme of God's law and His dealings with human wickedness.
God's law is given to direct the course of life. His Word furnishes principles of righteousness. By those principles right is distinguished from wrong and truth from error. Yet His patience toward those who violate His law is not without limit, and judgment will come.