On  Prayer
  Psalm 86

My subject this month is prayer. Prayer is a large subject, and calls for at least one lifetime of study just to get a good handle on the basics. The year before last, we studied prayer at the eight monthly Bible studies at my home. We spent the entire winter in Psalm 86, and of course only touched the surface. I can do even less in this article, and will refer only to the first few verses to stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance. Prayer is nothing less than our Communication with God. We already know a lot about prayer so it is only for us to get busy and do more of it! He wants to hear from us. 

The first few verses of Psalm 86 are of more than casual interest. In them, David not only prays for God to answer him, but he gives reasons why he expects an answer. Let us look at these verses.

The superscription describes the Psalm as "A Prayer of David". David begins by calling upon God to listen to him. Prayer is of no value if it merely bounces off the ceiling of your prayer closet. Once again, Prayer is not efficacious until we "get through".

I am reminded of a segment on the old Art Linkletter show “Kids Say The Funniest Things”. This little boy was being interviewed about a dog he found running loose. He described with tears as only a child can how he wanted to keep the dog but when he took it home his mother very quickly rebuked the him telling him in no uncertain terms that he could not keep the animal. I am sure that everyone tuned in to that broadcast also had a tear in their eye in sympathy for this child. In a commentary after the fact, Linkletter explained that the entire story the boy related took place in his mind, and not in fact. It was what he thought was going to happen when he took the dog home, not what actually took place.  In fact, when the boy did go home with the dog, his mother readily accepted it and none of the negative things happened at all. Prayer, like our everyday communication with each other must result in a successful connection before it can be efficacious

But look at how bold is our King David in requesting that the Lord "bow down". This mental picture is so dramatic that we can hardly imagine the Almighty, Omnipotent, Despotic, God of Creation bending over (in anthropomorphic terminology) with His "hand" cupped behind His "ear" to listen intently to this rascal King whom we have come to love. David, like Peter of the New Testament era, gives us all a sense of relief as they make us realize that if they pleased God in spite of their faults and defects, we too can please God. David was always doing something that must have caused our Father God to remark to the angels, "here we go again", and our friend Peter was continually putting his best foot forward ... right in his mouth. But both of them realized that their only hope was in the Almighty.  Praise His holy Name!

So David calls upon God to bend down closer and listen. On what basis does he make such a request? Why should David expect God to listen? Oh, beloved, learn this lesson if you learn nothing else this day, it was on the basis of David’s sense of helplessness!

Bow down thine ear, O LORD hear me:  for I am poor and needy.

David was a king! Poor and Needy? Yes, because many years later as St. Matthew would pen by inspiration of the Holy Spirit; Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Mt. 5:3. David was of the proper spirit before God, and he knew that all of the power of his kingdom was useless unless the Lord was with him. He could honestly declare himself "poor and needy". When one is not able to say they are poor and needy before God, then they have begun to stand in their own strength. They will fall! 

The next verse would be totally outrageous if our shepherd boy did not know his place in the presence of the Lord.

Preserve my soul; for I am holy:

The request is plain enough. It is for the preservation of David's very life in the face of all the threats by his enemies who desired to bring his life to an unhappy and sudden end.  But the basis for the expected answer is what surprises us  ... "Because I am holy". Hear the response of David's enemies if they should find out how he prays; "Why, who do you think you are? Someone special? A goody goody? Better than everyone else?" not understanding that anyone who wants to "stand" before God must do it by Grace. David was saying no more than you and I say when we speak of being "saints". We are saints, we are holy, not by any works of righteousness that we have done, but because we are "separated, set apart for God" regardless of our relative "goodness" when compared with the rest of God's creation. Do not be afraid to make requests of God on the basis of your position as a saint. Only be sure that your heart is intent on that "separation" which is requisite of and the very definition of all saints.

He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail. I Sam. 2:9

Confession of true character is okay, even though it may sound like boasting to some.

Verse two continues with another petition followed by a foundation upon which the request is made;

O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee.

Once again, there is no need for me to go into a lengthy "bunny trail" about faith. Only know that faith has two sides to it, the first side is possessed by almost everyone, and the second possessed by very few.  Side one is that "He that cometh to God must believe that he is." Heb.11:6a  And only the fool does not have this much faith. See Psalm 14:1  James 2:19 tells us that even the devils believe, but it only causes them to tremble. The second side of faith completes the Heb. 11:6b passage: "And that he is the rewarder of them that diligently seek him." It is never enough to believe that God is, one must also believe that He will do what He said He will do. This is the nature of "saving faith". David believed that if God took up his cause, then the issue was settled.

==qq e r Trust and obey, for there is no other way to be happy (blessed) in Jesus but to trust and obey. eerq q ==

Verse three;

Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily

The word "daily" may also be translated "all day long". Consistency is essential if one would pray with confidence. Also, we must not underestimate the idea of "crying". The word in the Bible goes beyond mere tears, and describes an intensity of emotion that is often hard for the average person to express until the sorrow for sin and the love of God breaks them. When the Bible says Jesus "Cried with a loud voice", you can believe it. Mat 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Mark 15:34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Mark 15:37 And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. John 12:44 Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.

It is not wrong to show your feelings towards God. It is only wrong if you do not have any! I said above that sorrow for sin and the love of God will force you to cry.  Lest you think that Jesus did not know the sorrow of sin, please realize that the sin of the world was upon Him when he cried out in all but the last instance above.

Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.

Here we can picture David with his hands turned palm up, offering as it were his "soul" to God.  He is offering himself completely and without reservation.  He knows that it is only in the Lord that he finds his delight. No wonder that the Lord called him "a man after my own heart!"

For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous
in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. Give ear, O LORD,
unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications.

David knows the very nature of God. God is Good! God is Merciful! God listens to His children! And yet He desires that we seek Him, petition Him, ask Him, fellowship with Him. Why do we allow the blessings to pass us by merely because we do not take the time to ask, or because we ask amiss? Help us Lord! We know that You are able.

Lord help us to be able to come before you with a pure
Heart declaring that we are poor and needy, sanctified and
holy, steadfast and consistent.  In Jesus Name.

                                                                                                Hayden

JEHOVAH is Strong’s #H3068
äåˆäÊ銠 yehoòvaòh

Brown Driver and Briggs’ (BBD) Definition:

Jehovah = “the existing One”

1) the proper name of the one true God

1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of  ADONAI below.

Noun - deity

Total KJV Occurrences: 6528

ELOHIM is Strong’s #H430
íéäGàÁ  �eõloòhŒòym
BDB Definition:
1) (plural)
      1a) rulers, judges
      1b) divine ones
      1c) angels
      1d) gods
2) (plural intensive—singular meaning)
      2a) god, goddess
      2b) godlike one
      2c) works or special possessions of God
      2d) the (true) God
      2e) God

Noun masculine plural

Total KJV Occurrences: 2605

 ADONAI  is Strong’s #H136

éðˆãÊà  �aõdoònaòy  BDB Definition:

1) my lord, lord

1a) of men

1b) of God

2) Lord—title, spoken in place of Yahweh in Jewish display of reverence