PSALM 65:2 "O THOU THAT HEAREST PRAYER!"
O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.
This is not merely a point/information but also a kind of title
It is rendered here in the vocative, although the Geneva Bible renders
it: Because thou answerest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come
I think the way that our AV translates gives it more impact
Praying is sometimes likened unto a battle
And if we address God using these words as a title, it seems as if we
have taken the battle to the very gates, by reminding God that He hears
(and by implication) answers prayer also
It is not that God will not bless us in answering our prayers
He delights to so bless us - He glories in it - and since He inspired
the Psalmist to employ these words as a title, He derives His fame and
character from it
A points of points re: this great thought
1) HOW CONSTANTLY GOD HAS HEARD PRAYER:
A/ Ever since man began to call upon the name/Lord - an act recorded as far back as Genesis 4:26
How many prayers have ascended heavenward since then?
People/God are a praying people (Acts 9:11)
God's people are a multitude that no man can number (Revelation 7:9)
How many prayers have they sent Heavenward?
Yet God has heard/answered them all
Not always said "yes" - This is being merciful: Psalm 106:15
But He has heard, weighed and answered every last cry
B/ There has never been a time when He has not done so
He has never fluctuated once: Malachi 3:6
C/ Is this not a reason to pray in faith in this prayer meeting?
Everything is in place, perfect as it ever was, and ever will be
Heaven awaits your praying and the same constant, consistent, perfect response will ever be there when you cry/God
D/ Just as the opening pages/Bible record the praying/God's people, so too does the last page: Revelation 22:20
From beginning-end, the Bible is a Book about prayer
2) HOW LARGELY GOD HAS HEARD PRAYER:
Consider what the Bible says about God's answers:
A/ Exceedingly abundant above all we can ask/think (Ephesians 3:20)
One thing that limits our answers to prayer is probably our asking - we
ask too little
Our little faith hinders us from going the whole way
But God always gives us much more than we deserve
B/ No good thing will He withhold from us (Psalm 84:11)
Nothing that is necessary to all growth in grace
Indeed (same verse) He will give is grace and glory
All things that pertain unto life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3)
Supposing such things or one such thing was withheld
Where would that leave us?
What would the armour/God be without any one of the particular parts?
If no shield/faith or no sword/Spirit?
But these things are all in place because…no good thing etc.,
C/ Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. (Jeremiah 33:3)
D/ Remember that we are not worthy even of the least of God's mercies
(Genesis 32:10)
If all we got was what we deserved, then we would get
nothing good and everything punitive
But our God is a God who delights/mercy - who is rich/mercy - and who displays it beyond any doubt when His people offer prayer
3) HOW READILY GOD ANSWERS PRAYER:
A/ Already quoted: Delights/mercy etc.,
No one needs to be asked twice to do something which he delights in
Mercy is always regulated by His other attributes of wisdom/strength etc., and He lacks neither wisdom or strength
B/ Think of examples like these:
And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. (Isaiah 65:24)
This was Daniel's experience in 9:20-23
Or Nehemiah' prayer (2:4ff)
Consider too the Apostle's praying in Acts 4:31 and the room shaking as God was preparing to answer their cries
Or when they sought Peter's release in Acts 12 and it was happening so quick, that they scarcely believed it to be true
C/ Not to say that if God doesn't answer our cries immediately, that He holds less than generous thoughts towards us
How long had those hitherto barren women/Bible cried to God before they go their prayers answered?
Elizabeth was an old woman (Luke 1:7) As was Sarah
If God did not answer these particular petitions immediately, be sure that He answered others
D/ One thing is sure …I would rather have God set the pace than me
What do I know about the matter, except what my limited eyesight and limited intelligence tells me?
What do I know about what a day may bring forth?
What do I know about the Devil's plans and schemes - outside the general picture which is formed in the word/God?
What do I know about principalities and powers etc.,?
What if I moved too soon and spoiled everything?
No…far better to say: My times are in thy hands (Psalm 31:15)
and let God order our steps according to His divine/perfect will
4) HOW CERTAINLY GOD ANSWER PRAYERS:
A/ Our past experience is a powerful argument, but better again...
B/ God has promised to answer our prayers (Jeremiah 33:3)
How stout are His promises - Great and exceeding precious
Yea and Amen in Jesus Christ
To deny His promises is for God to deny Himself (2 Timothy 2:13)
C/ This can only steel us up to pray
[i] More often
[ii] Longer - although prayer should be measured by time
[iii] More boldly - although strictly regulated by God's word (1 John 5:14-15)
[iv] With more faith (Mark 11:23)
NOTE IN CLOSING:
A/ Importance of prayer
God incorporates it into one of His titles
Should never be seen as a hang on accessory/Christian faith: Luke 18:3/1 Thessalonians 5:17
B/ Necessity of praying:
Not fatalists
God does not need our prayers - but He does look for them
They display:
[i] Worship
[ii] Obedience
[iii] Confession of Helplessness
[iv] Faith
C/ God just doesn't answer our prayers - but He enables us to pray:
Romans 8:26/Jude 20
Sometimes we can be so broken almost, that we find it hard to pray:
God reads the heart
Hannah's lips moved though no words were found
But her prayers were answered
The Lord gave us a model prayer to follow (Matthew 6:9ff)
Other prayers/Bible worth studying (Daniel 9 etc.,)
The Apostles asked Christ to teach them to pray (Luke 11:1)
They had just taken their first lesson
D/ Don't forget to thank God for answers to your prayers!
THE END