The tone of Ps. 119:33-40 is one of need, desperation and passion. Every verse but the last begins with a request: teach…give me understanding…lead me…incline my heart…turn my eyes…confirm…turn away. It is a most helpful section of Scripture in assisting us in praying for conformity to God’s Word and for greater growth in godliness. The whole gambit of one’s Christian life is touched upon. Prayer is made for desires and motives: incline my heart (119:36). God is sought for wisdom and understanding (119:33-34). God is petitioned to lead and guide as his people navigate through life (119:35). And God is called upon to deliver from evil and its temptations: turn my eyes away from looking at worthless things (Ps. 119:37).
One of the specific requests made here is for inclination toward God, his will and his word rather than toward “selfish gain” (119:36). The Hebrew word translated here “selfish gain” is most often translated “unjust gain” and used in the context of bribery. For example, its three uses in Proverbs are these:The whole gambit of one’s Christian life is touched upon.
Prov. 1:19 Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the life of its possessors.
Prov. 15:27 Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household, but he who hates bribes will live.
Prov. 28:16 A ruler who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor, but he who hates unjust gainwill prolong his days.
The desire for unjust gain is a temptation for so many. Imagine the promise of getting something for nothing! Of course, at the heart of this is greed (cf. Prov. 1:19; 15:27) and discontentment. And, as the translation of the text before us makes clear, at the heart of this is selfishness. This should not be surprising because at the heart of every sin is selfishness. The gospel calls us to look outward: to God, his gospel and to others. Sin, on the other hand, curbs our attention and desire inward.
Of course, this is what was so glorious about our Savior who eschewed all forms of selfishness and rather emptied himself, making himself nothing. Rather than demanding to be served he took up the towel and basin to serve.
At the heart of sin is selfishness. At the heart of all our sin is self promotion and self gratification. God’s law calls us to turn from that to him. In turning to him we are wise in not attempting this on our own. In inkling ourselves to him we do well to incline ourselves to his word and humbly call upon him for help as the Psalmist here encourages us to do.