A Read and a Prayer

By Pastor Lee Seese

Correspondent

Sometimes people who do not read the Bible or don’t read it very often claim that it is because it is too difficult to understand.

It can certainly have its challenges for the average reader, especially if they are not using a translation that is easy to understand. But then there are times and places where it could not be more basic or simple.

There are also people who don’t pray much because they say they don’t know how to pray. Perhaps those who are in one of these two groups have never read Psalm 86.

Let’s dive into this simple but profound, practical Psalm that can give instruction for us on how to pray and to trust God. I will look at the first half in today’s article and conclude it in two weeks.

Psalm 86 is attributed to David. While we cannot be certain at what point in his life he wrote it, likely it was while he was king of Israel.

This makes verse one and its content even more impressive. Hear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy (Psalm 86:1).

At first, we might be troubled that it seems David is demanding something from God. We know that we can talk honestly to the Lord at any time and his approach here is one coming from desperation.

He is asking that God would incline his ear to him and answer his prayer. One version uses the word afflicted instead of poor.

The king is not speaking of financial issues but the fact that he is poor in spirit and is experiencing real challenges.

Jesus stated that the poor in spirit belong in the Kingdom of God. We could say that David is coming in bold humility and wanting God’s attention.

His being pursued by enemies helps understand his request in the next verse. Guard my life, for I am devoted to you. You are my God; save your servant who trusts in you (2).

While we may not have enemies in our lives, we certainly have asked God to protect us and watch over us and others. David, the servant, acknowledges his devotion to God and his dependence on him for security.

As king, David would have had a host of servants. He understood the importance of loyalty.

He states that he trusts in the Lord. As we know, that is something that can easily be said. But to truly trust God when facing difficulties is not easy to do.

Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I call to you all day long (3). David uses a different name for God here as he asks for mercy.

God is all knowing so when David tells him that he calls or cries to him all day long it speaks of the pattern of his life.

Those who struggle to pray can learn something here. We don’t have to use big words or even have a certain pattern or rhythm of prayer.

We just keep crying to God and communicating with him day and night. Since a caring God already knows what we need, we just keep casting our cares upon him like a fisherman cast his line (1 Peter 5:7).

Some people look for love and happiness in all the wrong places. David knew there was something richer available through the God he served.

Bring joy to your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul (4). He again calls himself a servant who asks his Father to bring him joy. That’s the deep-down provision of God that is not based on our circumstances.

The word for indicates that David saw the connection between choosing to lift up his soul or being to God and the Lord’s supplying of joy. One important aspect of prayer is the humility that keeps going to someone far greater than ourselves.

One attribute of God that speaks of his incredible greatness is his love. You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you (5). Children of old learned to pray, “God is great; God is good”.

Not only is he a great and powerful God but his goodness is reflected in his being willing to forgive us. Like me, David understood forgiveness and needed it often.

Forgiveness and love go hand in hand. God’s love is perfect, and David understood that it abounds to all who call to him. God does not give love in small doses. His loyal love is abundant. The writer will repeat the theme of love again in this Psalm.

The men’s Bible study that I am a part of has been looking at the book of Job. We acknowledge that none of us have ever experienced anything like that man did.

However, we all have experienced despair and must know how to deal with it. Hear my prayer O LORD; listen to my cry for mercy. In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me (6-7).

If you sometimes feel like you repeat yourself in prayer that’s a natural thing. David again finds himself asking the Lord to hear him even though he is confident that he does. He also repeats the word mercy. He is crying out for it.

God knows when we are in despair and facing trouble and heartache. We again see the idea that prayer is calling to him and trusting that he will answer.

We must be careful when we pray to not demand or claim that we know what’s best for ourselves. We don’t tell God what to do but ask for his will to be done.

We also know that we are not to worry. That’s one of the reasons persistent prayer is powerful. It keeps things in perspective and keeps us humble.

We know that a merciful God hears us and supplies our needs according to his timing and plan. So, keep on reading the Bible and praying. If the king of Israel needed to cry to the Lord how much more do we need to do the same?