Psalm 119:145-152

GOOD MORNING! One thought runs solidly the whole of Psalm 119, and that is: The surpassing excellence of God's holy word. There are several synonyms used to describe the word of God: "Thy law; thy sayings; thy statutes; thy commandments; thy testimonies; thy judgments."

The Psalmist petitions and pledges and makes declarations of devotion; and all of them rest upon the precious, infallible, everlasting word of God.

Today let us read another portion of this great Psalm: "I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O LORD: I will keep thy statutes. I cried unto thee; save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies. I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word. Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word. Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness: O LORD, quicken me according to thy judgment. They draw nigh that follow after mischief: they are far from thy law. Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth. Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever."[1]

The Psalmist is showing us first how he prayed, "I cried with my whole heart." His prayer is a sincere, plaintive, painful, human appeal. Heart cries are the very essence of prayer. Pleading with God must be from the very seat of one’s affections and emotions.

Scripture instructs us: "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him." [2]

If God did not hear prayer, then all prayer would be in vain. But blessed be the LORD God, He is faithful to hear every prayer that is prayed in the name of the LORD JESUS CHRIST. "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us: and if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him." [3]

In the second place, the Psalmist's is showing us the subject of his prayer: "I cried unto thee; save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies." The prayer is very short. Nevertheless, it is full of meaning. The Psalmist needed saving! None but the LORD could save him! To the LORD God he cried, "Save me!" He is not using vain repetitions; he is not multiplying words. He is like Simon Peter, sinking beneath the turbulent waves: "LORD, save me."[4] That was enough. It is always enough.

Be sure when you pray that you call on the name of the LORD. "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." [5] The promise of God is very encouraging: "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved."[6]

The first time in the Bible the phrase: "to call upon the name of the LORD,"[7] is written, is in the early days of GENESIS chapter four. From that day to this, men and women have called upon the name of the LORD. "But as many as received him [the LORD JESUS CHRIST], to them gave he  power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." [8]

Let us see what happens when the Psalmist prays: "Thou art near, O LORD." "Before they call I will answer, and while they are yet speaking, I will hear."[9] Brother, sister, call on the name of the LORD! Ask, seek, knock at the door of God's freely given resources! "How much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?"[10]

"Concerning thy testimonies," the Psalmist writes, "I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever."  "Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly. … The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." [11]

The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I'll never, no, never, no, never forsake![12]

AMEN.

[1] Psalm 119:145-152
[2] Matthew 6:7-8
[3] 1 John 5:14-15
[4] Matthew 14:30
[5] Acts 4:12
[6] Romans 10:13
[7] Genesis 4:26
[8] John 1:12
[9] Isaiah 65:24
[10] Luke 11:13
[11] James 5:17, 16
[12] From "How Firm a Foundation" by George Keith