Length of Days: Sought and Savored

“O Lord, in your strength the king rejoices,
    and in your salvation how greatly he exults!
You have given him his heart’s desire
    and have not withheld the request of his lips. 
For you meet him with rich blessings;
    you set a crown of fine gold upon his head.
He asked life of you; you gave it to him,
    length of days forever and ever.
His glory is great through your salvation;
    splendor and majesty you bestow on him.
For you make him most blessed forever;
    you make him glad with the joy of your presence.
For the king trusts in the Lord,
    and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved.” Psalm 21:1-7

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.” Psalm 23:6

There is much David could have reasonably asked from the Lord. Anointed as a boy, then hatefully pursued for years by the one he would replace, David might have understandably requested vengeance, special favors, or fame. But those years of waiting to become Israel’s king brought about deeper and higher desires that transcended most human thinking. David learned that satisfaction, joy, and strength for whatever was required lay in his relationship with his Sovereign.

David’s heart desire was to know the Lord, and to live fully in salvation’s riches all his days. He asked for life, and was given splendor and majesty and a quality of life beyond this world. He sought godliness, knowing it held value and hope for this life and the next. He was secure in his position because he had the joy of God’s companionship, and was richly blessed with His steadfast love, goodness, and mercy spanning into the future He held. (1 Timothy 4:7-10)

As we begin our days, what is our heart’s desire? Are we quickly drawn to the here and now? Do we pause a moment to run through a duty list, practical needs for ourselves and those we love, to ask for enough of us to get through? Are we limiting our requests because of earth-bound vision and 24-hour plans? What would happen if we asked the Lord to expand our vision to a longer view? What would change in the understanding of our purpose, the quality of our hours, the vibrancy of our hope, if we developed an eternal perspective? How might we work and minister differently if we savored longer, broader, richer life in every day entrusted to us?

“My son, do not forget my teaching,
    but let your heart keep my commandments,
for length of days and years of life
    and peace they will add to you…

Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,
    and the one who gets understanding,
for the gain from her is better than gain from silver
    and her profit better than gold.
She is more precious than jewels,
    and nothing you desire can compare with her.
Long life is in her right hand;
    in her left hand are riches and honor.
Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
    and all her paths are peace.
She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her;
    those who hold her fast are called blessed.” Proverbs 3:1-2,13-18

Lord, help me seek You and Your face all my days, counting You my highest joy and strength forever. And may I spend those days for Jesus’s sake and glory. (Psalm 24:5-6; 73:25-26)