The Psalmist begs the Lord to “deal with me in love.” What is notable is that the way in which he asks for this love is not simply mercy for mercies sake. It is not merely a softness toward him or a want for nicety. It is for knowledge of God’s ways. Specifically, the Psalmist views it as merciful to be taught God’s decrees and his laws. He recognizes that this teaching is a hard teaching with a net positive result. Obtaining it requires that one do the most difficult thing. They must humble themselves. This is because God’s word cannot be taken. It can only be given. It must be accepted. Perhaps a better way of saying it, since it is always available in some form, is that it must not be rejected. The Psalmist recognizes that it would take an act of God to open our eyes to accepting it. He sees this sort of discipline as being dealt with in love. It is a sober way of addressing one’s problems that is often overlooked. When one is having issues from outside or within, our plea before God shouldn’t be for that problem to disappear, so much, as that we would have God’s wisdom in navigating it. We should pray that God’s decrees keep us strong in the midst of life’s onslaughts and our own failures. Too many of us have never done this.