“May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble!” (Psalm 20:1 NASB).
“May the King answer us in the day we call” (Psalm 20:9).
The two verses of Scripture cited above from Psalm 20 are the first and last verses of that psalm respectively. In between these two verses, king David asks that all your petitions be filled, that you be securely set upon high, and that God Himself help you from Zion and the sanctuary. He further states the fact that the Lord saves His anointed and that God—presumably in relation to that fact—will answer you from “His holy heaven, with the saving strength of His right hand.” Citing how others boast in the might of their war machinery, David, in stark contrast, cites how “we will boast in the name of the Lord, our God.” As a result, “they have bowed down and fallen”—and again in contrast—David and his people, “have risen and stood upright.”
David is decidedly not presumptuous here; he humbly implores or asks “May the Lord/King answer.” When He does boast, he boasts in God’s name alone. We are taught to boldly approach His throne for mercy and help in the time of need; bold, yes, but not with presumption and pride. A humble boldness, based not on our strength, but on His. We are forever in need of His life force to empower ours, but when He does empower us, it is with purpose. To become like Him is that purpose. But alas, we fail often. We need His help and we need it fast; what do we do?
Because God is gracious and pities His people He often delivers us from troubles even we create. Thank God He does! He knows our frames; He knows we are but dust. Nonetheless, as we mature in Christ, He requires more and more from us. He requires that we become more and more like Jesus Christ, which primarily means to become more and more self-sacrificing. This is perhaps best illustrated in the prerequisite groundwork prescribed by God Himself to bend His ear; those who would be genuinely enlightened and effectual in manifesting the Kingdom of God on earth are those who are in immediate and constant communication with God.
This “best illustration” is laid out in no uncertain terms in Isaiah. “‘Is this not the fast which I choose, to loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free and break every yoke? “Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into the house; when you see the naked, to cover him; and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?’” (Isaiah 58:6-7).
Then...
“Your light will break out like the dawn, and your recovery will speedily spring forth; and your righteousness will go before you; the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard” (Isaiah 58:8).
Then...
“YOU WILL CALL, AND THE LORD WILL ANSWER; YOU WILL CRY, AND HE WILL SAY, ‘HERE I AM.’” (Isaiah 58:9).
If...
“You remove the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness, and if you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted” (Isaiah 58:9-10).
Then...
“Your light will rise in darkness and your gloom will become like midday. “And the Lord will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in scorched places, and give strength to your bones; and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail” (Isaiah 58:10-11).
So, how do we get immediate help from God? Simple! Share your wealth with the downtrodden. In practical terms, feed the hungry, clothe the poor, and house the homeless. Do! Love in deed, not in word. And stop blaming others and speaking gossip and nonsense. Forgive others as Christ forgave you!
“May the King answer us in the day we call” (Psalm 20:9).
The two verses of Scripture cited above from Psalm 20 are the first and last verses of that psalm respectively. In between these two verses, king David asks that all your petitions be filled, that you be securely set upon high, and that God Himself help you from Zion and the sanctuary. He further states the fact that the Lord saves His anointed and that God—presumably in relation to that fact—will answer you from “His holy heaven, with the saving strength of His right hand.” Citing how others boast in the might of their war machinery, David, in stark contrast, cites how “we will boast in the name of the Lord, our God.” As a result, “they have bowed down and fallen”—and again in contrast—David and his people, “have risen and stood upright.”
David is decidedly not presumptuous here; he humbly implores or asks “May the Lord/King answer.” When He does boast, he boasts in God’s name alone. We are taught to boldly approach His throne for mercy and help in the time of need; bold, yes, but not with presumption and pride. A humble boldness, based not on our strength, but on His. We are forever in need of His life force to empower ours, but when He does empower us, it is with purpose. To become like Him is that purpose. But alas, we fail often. We need His help and we need it fast; what do we do?
Because God is gracious and pities His people He often delivers us from troubles even we create. Thank God He does! He knows our frames; He knows we are but dust. Nonetheless, as we mature in Christ, He requires more and more from us. He requires that we become more and more like Jesus Christ, which primarily means to become more and more self-sacrificing. This is perhaps best illustrated in the prerequisite groundwork prescribed by God Himself to bend His ear; those who would be genuinely enlightened and effectual in manifesting the Kingdom of God on earth are those who are in immediate and constant communication with God.
This “best illustration” is laid out in no uncertain terms in Isaiah. “‘Is this not the fast which I choose, to loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free and break every yoke? “Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into the house; when you see the naked, to cover him; and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?’” (Isaiah 58:6-7).
Then...
“Your light will break out like the dawn, and your recovery will speedily spring forth; and your righteousness will go before you; the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard” (Isaiah 58:8).
Then...
“YOU WILL CALL, AND THE LORD WILL ANSWER; YOU WILL CRY, AND HE WILL SAY, ‘HERE I AM.’” (Isaiah 58:9).
If...
“You remove the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness, and if you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted” (Isaiah 58:9-10).
Then...
“Your light will rise in darkness and your gloom will become like midday. “And the Lord will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in scorched places, and give strength to your bones; and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail” (Isaiah 58:10-11).
So, how do we get immediate help from God? Simple! Share your wealth with the downtrodden. In practical terms, feed the hungry, clothe the poor, and house the homeless. Do! Love in deed, not in word. And stop blaming others and speaking gossip and nonsense. Forgive others as Christ forgave you!
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