Day #18: “Prayers of Supplication*” – Psalm 86: 14-17 (Joseph Bianco)
O God, insolent men have risen up against me;
a band of ruthless men seeks my life,
and they do not set you before them.
But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
Turn to me and be gracious to me;
give your strength to your servant,
and save the son of your maidservant.
Show me a sign of your favor,
that those who hate me may see and be put to shame
because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.
Christianity can at times be an intellectual pursuit. There is a lot to think about and ponder throughout the Bible and the doctrines of the Christian Faith. As Presbyterians we tend to value the intellectual aspects of the Bible. We love to hear God’s truths and to cling to them. We enjoy how knowing who God is and how he created us has vast implication for our lives now. We delight in understanding, both who God is and how he made us. These are good things, but if our faith is only an intellectual pursuit we would be missing something important.
If all Christianity is to you is an intellectual pursuit, then you have missed a central point of the Bible. God is not simply an idea or a philosophy, but is a real and present help even at this very moment. God is not able to be controlled or manipulated and even C.S. Lewis called him “dangerous.” God won’t always do what you want him to do or act in the ways you think he should act. God is who he is and will do what he will do, but even though he is powerfully awe-inspiringly dangerous, he is also a Father who loves to help his children.
In Psalm 86, David had a real tangible trouble. A group of insolent men – bandits – were seeking David’s life. David needed God’s help to be saved from these men and so he cried out to God for deliverance. God loves to answer the prayers of his children. He is an ever-present help in times of trouble.
Climbing at the gym the other day, I was talking with an unbeliever. He had some need and I made mention of praying for that need. He said he didn’t ask God for things, as if things were below God’s help. I told him that we can come to God with even the smallest things. It’s not like he has limited time or power!
We can believe this lie, that God won’t give us what we ask for so we don’t ask. Our first instinct is to run to fix the problem ourselves, rather than getting on our knees to pray. David knew he could go to God because he knew God’s character, that God is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. This a phrase often repeated about God in the Old Testament. It’s repeated because we can be tempted to believe that God is not merciful and gracious… but he is.
Do you believe that God wants to help you in your affliction? Do you believe that he is present to help you now? Do you believe that God will provide in real tangible and meaningful ways as to help you escape the “insolent men”? Take some time and go to God now with your needs. Accept with thankfulness whatever he offers you.
One last nugget is found in verse 17, “you Lord have helped me and comforted me.” God goes beyond our physical problems and comforts our anxious souls.
Here is my prayer for you:
Gracious Father, I pray that those reading this blog entry would experience your loving comfort now. Whatever hardship they are experiencing, may they feel your comfort in the midst of the conflict. I pray that they may feel your arms of assurance around their shoulders, and sense your loving embrace. I pray that they would be able to rest in you, and entrust themselves to you as their good Father. I pray you would provide for all their needs. Amen.
*”Supplication” means a prayer that asks for something, in contrast to some of the other psalms we look at this week, which featured praise or confession. In the Lord’s Prayer, the fourth petition, “Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread” is a clear example of a supplication.