A Servant's Prayer

The sixteenth letter in the Hebrew alphabet is the letter ayin. All of the first words in Psalm 119:121 – 128 begin with this letter. The theme of this section of prayer focuses upon being a servant of God. The first two lines set the theme; “I have done what is just and right; do not leave me to my oppressors. Give your servant a pledge of good; let not the insolent oppress me.” The servant confesses having done what is just and right. Both of these words are used to describe the nature of God, mispat, and sedeq. The first word is sometimes translated as one of the words of God, “just decrees.” It has the meaning of a just ordinance. The second word has the meaning of being straight, righteous, aliened with God. Both of these together are attributes of God. The servant’s activities are reflections of the Lord. This is the confession of a servant.

The phrase “…do not leave me to my oppressors,” refers to the environment the servant has been serving in. It is among the enemies of God. The word “leave” is the Hebrew word nuah and has the understanding of being left to dwell in a place, to rest. The servant is asking God not to keep him among the opposition. The second line echoes this request asking for a down payment of good. God is good. The Hebrew word tob is used to describe an attribute of God. He is good; all the time.

This is similar to the line in the model prayer, “…and lead us not into temptation…” Matthew 6:13. A servant does not want to be away from the Master. If the situation requires it, the servant asks for something of the Master’s to remind him of the Master, and will guarantee His ownership of him. The Hebrew word “servant” is ehbed, and describes ownership. It also is used to describe a slave that had been set free from his owner and chose to stay in servitude because of his love for the master. He was then called a bond slave (Exodus 21:2). The Apostle Paul referred to himself as a bond slave of Jesus Christ. This is the confession and prayer of a servant.

The fourth line in the servant’s prayer is a double request, “Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love, and teach me your statutes.” The first request asks for something that has already been established. The relationship of the servant with the Master is based upon covenant love, steadfast love. The Hebrew word is hesed. Some might say that to ask for something that has already been given is an expression of unbelief. But this prayer teaches differently. The second request is an echo that gives meaning to the first. It’s not that the servant does not believe there is a covenant relationship with the Master, but rather that he wants to learn more and more of it. It is a confession that he has not yet fully realized the depth of hesed, of the steadfast love of the Master, but he wants to. This is the prayer of a servant.

The closing lines of the servant’s prayer ask for a deeper understanding of God in His word, “I am your servant; give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies,” as well as a confession of the great value and wealth of God’s word, “Therefore I love your commandments more than gold, above fine gold. Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right; I hate every false way.” This is the request and confessions of a servant.

Today, pray as the servant that you are. Confess your desire to be near your Master and not left in a hostile environment. Ask for what God has already given as a confession that you do not yet fully understand the great, great love of the Father in the Son, but that you want to! Confess the growing value and worth that God’s word has to you as you see more and more of the Father in His word. This is what it means to worship the Father in spirit and truth.