"The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer." — Psalm 6:9
Of all the privileges that fallen man may enjoy, surely the greatest is that of restored communion with the Eternal God. And we need to consider more solemnly than we do, the wonder of it all.
First, "The Lord hath heard… " It is directly to the Lord of glory that the believer's prayers are addressed. No earthly priest, no "queen of heaven" stands between. "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time [I Tim. 2:5-6]." As soon as the sinner trusts the Savior, a direct line of communication is opened up to him with the Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer of the universe. He has immediate access to the throne of God.
This truth generally fails to strike us with the impact that it should. It means that fellowship with God is our high privilege, and the resources of God are at our service. "Call unto Me, and I will show thee great and mighty things that thou knowest not," God exhorts through the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah (Jer. 33:3). In the New Testament we are counseled, "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need [Heb. 4:14-16]."
There is suggested here a second thing, however, that further heightens the wonder of this word. "The Lord hath heard… " The psalmist's confidence is not only that he has access to God, but that God is attentive to his cry. It matters little that one can stand in the presence of greatness, if it is only to be ignored. The believer's fellowship and communion with God is immediate and personal. God listens when we pray. He says in one place, "The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are open unto their cry [Psalm 34:15]." We do not have to compete for His attention; He is listening! "And it shall come to pass, that before before they call, I will answer, and while they are yet speaking, I will hear [Isa. 64:24]."
A third astonishing thing emerges from this brief text. "The Lord hath heard my supplication." Elsewhere the psalmist remarks, "When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him [Psalm 8:3-4]?" Apprehending the vast difference between God and man, he was awed, appropriately, that God would be mindful of man. Yet here, a mere man, he is confident that God is listening to him when he prays. That is cause for amazement!
Finally, there is this assurance in our text: "The Lord will receive my prayer." It is no great comfort to have access to authority with the right to appeal, only to have the plea rejected out of hand. David's confidence is that with God that does not prove to be the case. Before His throne is a platform of grace, and it is His delight to do us good. Like all children, of course, we sometimes make requests that are not in our own best interests— or in His. On such occasions the prayer may not be answered as requested, but it is received, nonetheless. Jesus assures, "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom [Luke 12:32]."
Having said all this, it seems appropriate to observe two cautions. First, the only request God is obliged to honor for the unconverted is a prayer for pardon for sin and the gift of eternal life through the Lord Jesus Christ. Second, believers must remember, "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me [Psalm 66:18]." Unconfessed sin closes the door to every prayer but those of confession and repentance.
Let me reiterate: Of all the privileges that fallen man may enjoy, surely the greatest is that of restored communion with the Eternal God. Are you availing yourself of this of this high honor?
For our greater good,
"Pastor" Frasier
Of all the privileges that fallen man may enjoy, surely the greatest is that of restored communion with the Eternal God. And we need to consider more solemnly than we do, the wonder of it all.
First, "The Lord hath heard… " It is directly to the Lord of glory that the believer's prayers are addressed. No earthly priest, no "queen of heaven" stands between. "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time [I Tim. 2:5-6]." As soon as the sinner trusts the Savior, a direct line of communication is opened up to him with the Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer of the universe. He has immediate access to the throne of God.
This truth generally fails to strike us with the impact that it should. It means that fellowship with God is our high privilege, and the resources of God are at our service. "Call unto Me, and I will show thee great and mighty things that thou knowest not," God exhorts through the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah (Jer. 33:3). In the New Testament we are counseled, "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need [Heb. 4:14-16]."
There is suggested here a second thing, however, that further heightens the wonder of this word. "The Lord hath heard… " The psalmist's confidence is not only that he has access to God, but that God is attentive to his cry. It matters little that one can stand in the presence of greatness, if it is only to be ignored. The believer's fellowship and communion with God is immediate and personal. God listens when we pray. He says in one place, "The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are open unto their cry [Psalm 34:15]." We do not have to compete for His attention; He is listening! "And it shall come to pass, that before before they call, I will answer, and while they are yet speaking, I will hear [Isa. 64:24]."
A third astonishing thing emerges from this brief text. "The Lord hath heard my supplication." Elsewhere the psalmist remarks, "When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him [Psalm 8:3-4]?" Apprehending the vast difference between God and man, he was awed, appropriately, that God would be mindful of man. Yet here, a mere man, he is confident that God is listening to him when he prays. That is cause for amazement!
Finally, there is this assurance in our text: "The Lord will receive my prayer." It is no great comfort to have access to authority with the right to appeal, only to have the plea rejected out of hand. David's confidence is that with God that does not prove to be the case. Before His throne is a platform of grace, and it is His delight to do us good. Like all children, of course, we sometimes make requests that are not in our own best interests— or in His. On such occasions the prayer may not be answered as requested, but it is received, nonetheless. Jesus assures, "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom [Luke 12:32]."
Having said all this, it seems appropriate to observe two cautions. First, the only request God is obliged to honor for the unconverted is a prayer for pardon for sin and the gift of eternal life through the Lord Jesus Christ. Second, believers must remember, "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me [Psalm 66:18]." Unconfessed sin closes the door to every prayer but those of confession and repentance.
Let me reiterate: Of all the privileges that fallen man may enjoy, surely the greatest is that of restored communion with the Eternal God. Are you availing yourself of this of this high honor?
For our greater good,
"Pastor" Frasier
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