and to perform every duty with an eye to that.
1. To make the will of His precepts the rule of our practice, and to perform every duty with an eye to that.
We must wait on God to receive His commands, resolving to obey them, no matter how much they may contradict our corrupt inclinations or worldly interests. We must wait on Him as the holy angels do, who always behold the face of their Father and stand ready to act at His slightest command, even at the wink of His eye, wherever He may send them. In this way, we must do the will of God, as the angels in heaven do it—those ministers of His who carry out His pleasure, ever at His throne, never out of step with His commands.
David prays here that God would show him His way, lead him, teach him, keep him, and guide him in the path of duty. The text then follows as a plea to enforce that petition: for on thee do I wait all the day, ready to receive the law from God's mouth and to obey His orders in everything. It implies that only those who are willing to do what they are taught can expect to be taught by God. If any man will do his will—if he is steadfastly resolved, through God's grace, to obey —then he shall know what his will is. David prays, Lord, give me understanding, and then confidently asserts, I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it, like a servant waiting on their master.
Those who go up to the house of the Lord expecting to be taught His ways must go with a humble resolution to walk in his paths (Isaiah 2:3). They must pray, Lord, let the pillar of cloud and fire go before me, with a heart determined to follow wherever God leads. This is how we are to wait on God all the day.
2. To make the will of His providence the rule of our patience, and to endure every affliction with submission to