How many times have our prayers started with a pleading before the throne?
Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer. (v1)
A silence in response to our plea can be interpreted as God not hearing our prayers. Our inclination is to look to God and wonder why He ignores us. Shouldn’t we look within first? Is our relationship such that God is inclined to hear from us? Are we living in rebellion and in expectation that God hears us? Before we bank on his righteousness, that is, His promised response to those who love Him, we should be first concerned with the state of our relationship.
David speaks to his enemies in hopes that God hears the travails that he faces. They attack his reputation and disdain his God and still David tries to proclaim the truth to them.
Know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself; the Lord will hear when I call to him. (v3)
And he beseeches them to put their trust in the right place, to understand that their anger is misplaced in the king. If they search their hearts, David’s enemies can trust that God is willing to reach out to them.
In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent.
Offer right sacrifices and trust in the Lord. (vv4-5)
David closes with a cry to God to show His glory, to light the world. Seeing this glory would certainly change one’s perspective, how about yours?
Let the light of your face shine upon us, O Lord. You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound. (vv 6b-7)
David closes with a smile, knowing that he will rest peacefully. God may be momentarily silent, but He has things well in control.
LOVE | ACCEPT | FORGIVE 