Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net
-----Original Message-----
From: Apostle Tom <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Sent: Sun, 3 Feb 2008 15:16:55 -0600
To: <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Subject: Morning Manna (Feb. 4); BP: Ps. 4; RBTTY: Mt. 22:23-46; Ex. 34-35
February 4 “Evening Prayer”
“Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness. You have enlarged me when I was in distress. Have mercy upon me and hear my prayer.”
Psalm 4:1
If this is the last thing we do each night before going to sleep, we’ll find it’s better than a warm glass of milk or any medication.
Prayer.
There are a lot of definitions floating around and most of them focus on its being “conversation with God.” And, in reality it is, for it’s our way of communicating with Him and letting Him know our intercessions, confessions, supplications, etc.
However, prayer is also “communion with God.” It’s an intimate encounter and exchange between us and the God of the universe. And, what a wonderful way to end a day as we “commune with Him in our hearts upon our bed and are quiet” (v.4b). Hallelujah!!
David evidently was in dire straits when he penned today’s Manna. By this time he had many enemies who desperately wanted to turn him over to King Saul. By nature, our tendency is to fret and/or fume during times of crisis; however, David had learned to “be still and know who God is” (Ps. 46:10) and to remember His faithfulness and promises.
Thus, we can picture him on the run. . .possibly hiding in a cave. . .trying to escape the enemy’s grasp as the evening sun sets behind the hills. It’s doubtful he had his harp or lyre with him, for a man-on-the-run needs to travel without excess baggage.
Even so, he still had a song in his heart and prayer on his lips. If we listen carefully, it’s possible we can even hear him praying right now: “Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness. You have enlarged (Heb. ‘rachab’—‘to broaden, make room for, to open wide, etc.’) me when I was in distress. Have mercy upon me and hear my prayer.”
It’s clear David knew to Whom he was praying: “The God of his righteousness”—i.e., the One Who makes him right. He also knew what the Lord had done for him in the past: “You have kept me from developing spiritual ‘tunnel vision’ where I only look at my problems and forget your Presence. You renew my hope when I’m tempted to despair.” And he knew for what to ask: “Have mercy upon me and hear my prayer.”
Oh, dear Pilgrim, shouldn’t that always be a part of our every prayer? Assuredly it should—for it’s “only by His mercies we’re not consumed” (Lam. 3:21-23). Remembering this will keep us from pompous pride and a sinful reliance upon our own wisdom and strength.
Yes, David knew evening prayers were vitally important to a good night’s rest (v.8). He knew they would ease the burdened heart and troubled mind. May the Holy Spirit help us to follow suit tonight as we lie down to sleep—resting securely and serenely upon His never-failing promises and our heads nestled in His loving arms.
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