Journal for Christ: Hear Me! Help Me! Hurry!

October 12, 2020

Worship in WORD

Ps 31

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

31 In you, O Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. 2 Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me

NIV

Ps 31

For the choir director: A psalm of David.

31 1 O Lord, I have come to you for protection; don’t let me be disgraced. Save me, for you do what is right. 2 Turn your ear to listen to me; rescue me quickly. Be my rock of protection, a fortress where I will be safe.

Ps 31

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.

31 In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.

2 Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.

KJV

Ps 31

Into Your Hand I Commit My Spirit

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

31 In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me! 2 Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily! Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me!

ESV

I. Hope – vv. 1-8

A. Verse 1: Action

B. Verse 2: Appeal

C. Verses 3 & 4: Acknowledge

D. Verse 5: Abandon

II. Help! – vv. 9-20

III. Hail – vv. 21-22

IV. Heart – vv. 23-24

I. Hope – vv. 1-8

A. Verse 2: Appeal

We see action not only in David fleeing to the LORD but also in David’s desire for God to take action. The gods of the surrounding nations were self-absorbed deities and capricious in their dealings with mere mortals. They were anything but righteous in their being and actions. On the other hand, they were often seen as useful tools for gaining whatever the worshiper desired. In the end, the Bible declares that they are not gods at all. They are nothing, and they are demonic.

19 Do I mean then that a sacrifice offered to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons.

1 Cor 10:19-21 NIV

Contrast that with David’s view and attitude towards Yahweh, the Creator of, and Adonai over all the universe. He recognized that God is righteous, who will act consistently with His nature. It is His nature to do what is right. He is able to protect and deliver His people. He will not do this for the wicked. They may look like they are at ease or triumphing over God’s people, but in the end, the wicked will perish, and the righteous will be delivered (v. 23).

Based on the righteousness of God, David makes his appeal for Him to take action.

Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me.

This is not a new way to address God in prayer. This is the natural and normal words of those who pray in times of distress. David prayed similar words in Psalm 28:2.

Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help... (NIV ’84)

We find David praying in the same vein in Psalm 5:1 and 17:1,6. The phrase is found in Psalm 71:2 and 86:1. Both considered Davidic psalms. The unknown author of Psalm 102 says:

Ps 102:2

Do not hide your face from me

when I am in distress.

Turn your ear to me;

when I call, answer me quickly.

NIV

We find them on the lips of Hezekiah (2 Kings 19:16); Isaiah (Isaiah 37:17; 55:3), and Daniel (Dan. 9:18).

This is the desire of the desperate. They look like words of impertinence, but the underlying attitude and aim completely rule this out.

The grace to be importunate in prayer is very precious, and should be diligently cultivated. Faith deals familiarly, and supplicates that God would take the attitude of an earnest listener, and drink in every cry, and speedily arise to help. Faith rightfully expects that God would be true to the character which He has revealed. It argues, God’s glorious perfections will be tarnished if the believer strays unguided.

(from Commentary on the Psalms, by Henry Law, Biblesoft formatted electronic database Copyright © 2014 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Therefore, they come boldly before the Lord to ask for help in times of desperation. This confidence is based not on their merit, but entirely on the mercy of the God of grace.

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Heb 4:16 NIV

With loving condensation, God turns His “ear” to listen to the despairing cries of His people. The KJV says, “Bow down thine ear to me.” Understood correctly, this paints a beautiful and breathtaking picture in our minds. David is asking that God most high, the transcendent One, to bow low – to condescend – to hear his desperate plea for help.

This is the audacity born of affliction. This is the confidence that comes amidst the conflict. There is no gall or groveling involved. No, there is an assurance based on who we know Yahweh, the covenant-keeping God, to be.

Therefore we pray,

Hear me

Help me!

And one more thing...

HURRY!!!

Listen to my prayer

and hurry to save me.

Ps 31:2 CEV

Worship in Witness:

My thoughts are arrested by the words “hurry” (CEV) or “come quickly to my rescue.” Whatever David was experiencing, it elicited this desperate plea for a quick remedy to his predicament. As I think back over the last five years, I must admit I am troubled. The answers to my pleas have been anything but quick in my estimation of timing and expectations. But that is the source of my problem: “my estimation.” The problem resides in me.

David’s situation called for an immediate solution, and trusted that God would deliver him. However, my problem may not fall into that category. It may call for patient endurance. Joseph’s deliverance took years to come to fruition. What his brothers meant for “evil,” God meant for “good” (Gen. 50:20).

Another issue we face in what seems to be “unanswered prayer” is false expectations. We fail to see the answer because we are looking for it in all the wrong places. Abraham had the promise of an heir, but he sought to fulfill the promise in his own way on several occasions. Our prayers then become dictations and not a desire to see that the Father’s will would be “done on earth as it in heaven” (Matt. 6:10). Not only do we lack patience, but we also become presumptuous as well.

As I have been contemplating these things, the Lord has been drawing me to scripture examples. Examples where what is desired in prayer are answered in ways other than what was expressed. I thought of Paul and his thorn in the flesh in 2 Corinthians 12:7-9. There, Paul prayed three times that this thorn would be removed. When the Lord finally answered, it was not to remove the thorn but to remind Paul of what he already possessed: His “grace.” Christ had not delivered Paul from his circumstances. The Lord, instead, delivered him in it!

I was also reminded that the Lord prayed three times in the garden but set the example for us to follow.

39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again.

Matt 26:39-45 ESV

These two examples speak volumes to me. As we empty ourselves in weakness, the Lord will fill us with His strength. As we yield to His will, His perfecting power performs its work in and through us. When we surrender to His ways, He draws near and becomes our shelter. When we humble ourselves, He lifts us up.

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

James 4:10 NIV

Augustine well observes somewhere, ”As a tree must strike deep roots downwards, that it may grow upwards, so everyone who has not his soul fixed deep in humility, exalts himself to his own ruin.”

Worship in Promise, Poetry, and Praise:

(Continuing the thoughts from above)

This is the way of the cross. This is the crucified life. Those who die to self and rise in Christ. They can say with Paul:

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/27/c2/b2/27c2b2e9decf1d981283f11589e8cb33.jpg

Hurry Lord/My Grace is Sufficient

Hurry Lord, come to my rescue

Your answer seems long overdue

I search the horizons

Waiting for it to come into view

I cry and cry each day

Waiting for You to come through

The Amen, who is faithful and true

Says, “My grace is sufficient for you.”

My blessings overflow

My goodness and mercy daily pursue

My compassions are great

And every day, they are made new

My promises are not like the dew

That fades when noon makes its debut

Neither earthly power

Nor time and circumstance can undo

For I Am the LORD

And nothing is out of My purview

While I’m Waiting by Lincoln Brewster

Verse 1

Deep within my heart, I know You’ve won

I know You’ve overcome

And even in the dark, when I’m undone

I still believe it

Pre-Chorus

I live by faith, and not by sight

Sometimes miracles take time

Chorus 1

While I wait, I will worship

Lord, I’ll worship Your name

While I wait, I will trust You

Lord, I’ll trust You all the same

Verse 2

When I fall apart, You are my strength

Help me not forget

Seeing every scar, You make me whole

You’re my healer

Pre-Chorus

I live by faith, and not by sight

Sometimes miracles take time

I live by faith, and not by sight

Sometimes miracles take time

Chorus 1

While I wait, I will worship

Lord, I’ll worship Your name

While I wait, I will trust You

Lord, I’ll trust You all the same

Bridge

You’re faithful every day

Your promises remain

You’re faithful every day

Your promises remain

You’re faithful every day

Your promises remain

You’re faithful every day

Your promises remain

Verse 3

Though I don’t understand it

I will worship with my pain

You are God, You are worthy

You are with me all the way

Chorus 2

So while I wait, I will worship

Lord, I’ll worship Your name

Though I don’t have all the answers

Still, I trust You all the same

Written By: Lincoln Brewster & Mitch Wong

Lyrics: https://www.christian-songlyrics.net/2019/03/while-i-wait-lyrics-lincoln-brewster.html

Video: https://youtu.be/wkE-gEzTYJE

Some Further Notes & Quotes:

Assurances that God will hear prayer

Assurances that God will hear prayer: -- The most of these supplications may be found in other parts of Scripture as promises from God. Only so far as an articulate Divine word carries my faith has my faith right to go. In the crooked alleys of Venice, there is a thin thread of red stone, inlaid in the pavement or wall, which guides through all the devious turnings to the Piazza in the centre where the great church stands. As long as we have the red line of promise on the path, faith may follow it, and it will come to the Temple. Where the line stops it is presumption and not faith that takes up the running. God’s promises are sunbeams flung down upon us. True prayer catches them on its mirror, and signals them back to God. We are emboldened to say, “Bow down Thine ear,” because He hath said, “I will hear.” We are encouraged to cry, “Be merciful,” because we have our foot upon the promise that He will be.

(A. Maclaren, D. D.)

Explanatory Notes and Quaint Sayings

Ver. 1. Deliver me in thy righteousness. For supporting thy faith, mark well whereon it may safely rest; even upon God’s righteousness, as well as upon his mercy. On this ground did the apostle in faith expect the crown of righteousness 2 Tim 4:7-8, because the Lord from whom he expected it is a righteous judge; and the psalmist is bold to appeal to the righteousness of God. Ps 35:24. For we may be well assured that what God’s goodness, grace, and mercy moved him to promise, his truth, his faithfulness, and righteousness will move him to perform. — William Gouge.

Journal for Christ

Monday, October 12, 2020

Hear Me! Help Me! Hurry!

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