Psalm 5
Sunday, 09 July 2023
In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. -Psalm 5:3
This is a Psalm of David through the lens of an early morning prayer to sustain him through the trials during his run from King Saul. David appeals to God to give ear to his struggles by communicating in different ways.
· by his words (voiced out prayer done early in the morning),
· by the meditation of his heart (thoughts throughout the whole day)
· and the voice of his cry (emotional prayer)
He ends by reminding God that he is waiting expectantly for an answer. David knew that an hour in the morning is worth double the time in the evening. His morning prayer was the key of the day. He was careful to keep the flow of godly meditation continuously running throughout the day; for this is what drove his prayer mill. His cry communicated the distress in his petitions. Christ is our example in this: "During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission" (Heb. 5:7). Whenever the Israelites cried out God answered. Exodus 3:9:" Look! The cry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them." David was a man of prayer who waited patiently on the Lord. Psalm 40:1: “I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry.” He was no stranger to a long wait. He knew from experience what it meant to wait on the Lord. Being anointed king at 16, he did not become king until the age of 30. David’s confidence of an answered prayer rested in the multitude of the mercy of God. This same mercy and righteousness is what enabled him to walk right before Him. His afflictions were coming from the untruthful lips of the wicked. He knew his deliverance was assured because he worshipped a God before whose presence the wicked could not stand. He destroys those who tell lies. Psalm 4:3: "but know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for Himself; the LORD will hear when I call unto Him."
Why sometimes we don’t get an answer to prayer?
For lack of expecting, many an answer to prayers is not received.
Why do you pray if you do not wait expectantly for an answer?
Why do you not expect if you believe He answers?
By praying, your confidence is in God and by not expecting you are renouncing your confidence in Him.
Mordecai must have sent up many prayers for Esther, that is why he waited expectantly at the king’s gate looking up to see what God would in his providence provide. Dear brethren, stand in His presence with a holy expectation that God will fulfill His promises in answer to your petitions. God has given to His children this unique mode of effectual communication with Him. Let your expectancy (faith) become your sight. Do not allow your prayers to rise only to fall to the ground through your lack of expectation.
Promise: Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes. (Psalm 37:7)