Title Psalm 17 (2010.6.12)
Contents
Title: Man of Prayer
Text: (Psalm 17:1~15)
Hymns: 302. My Lord God, the broad and great grace
Date: June 12, 2010 (Sat) 5 am
Venue: Jeonju Yebut Church Small Worship Room
Today's text, Psalm 17, tells us that David, who had to go on an unusually rough and difficult life's voyage, successfully survived a really rough and difficult life's voyage, and finally arrived safely at the port of hope he had intended with God's guidance and help. This is a word that shows us the power of the navigational technique of prayer, which stands out especially in the process.
The only secret that allowed David to survive the arduous and difficult voyage of life and eventually to live as the protagonist of a blessed life enjoying the amazing grace and blessings that God has given him was in his faith and prayer, not anything else. When we think of the name of David, we can quickly think of David praying together. In a word, David was a man of prayer, a fact that can be confirmed throughout the Bible.
According to today's text, David not only suffered slander and persecution by King Saul and his followers, but also had his faith to rely on God and live truthfully in the absurd and dangerous situation King Saul's army seeks to kill him. And the appeal for salvation is expressed with earnest heart.
After all, today's text teaches us how and in what attitude to pray, the most important safety device, for people of faith who want to move toward the harbor of hope with faith in the rough and rough voyage of life. It can be said that David, the man of prayer, is teaching us the know-how of prayer that he has. Now let's learn together the prayer know-how that David wanted us to teach. How should we pray when we pray?
First, we must pray with honest deeds and lips that are not deceitful (v. 1).
Regarding the relationship between the honesty of a person who prays and the answer to prayer (Isaiah 1:15), we are taught this way.
“Even if you pray with your arms outstretched, I won’t even look at you. No matter how much you pray, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood.”
Jesus taught us the importance of this fact, how important it is to repent and pray with a pure heart (Luke 18:9-14), through the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector's prayer. Among the prayers of the Pharisee who prayed while revealing his righteousness and the publican who prayed with a repentant heart for their sins, the publican's prayer was finally answered.
Second, we must establish our faith in God and pray (verse 7).
Looking at the text, David believed and prayed, believing that God would answer him (verse 6), believing that God had the power to answer him and praying (verse 7), and also the fact that God was willing to answer, that is, the love of God. believed and prayed (verse 8). This fact can be seen well in the Lord's Prayer, where Jesus taught his disciples how to pray when they asked how to pray. In the end, I believe that these verses are reminding us that prayer is important, but it is much more important to have a correct confession of faith and pray correctly.
Third, we must hate evil and pray with a heart that opposes evil (verses 9 and 13).
It is a fact that God will eventually answer the prayers of those who hate evil and keep away from evil as much as he loves God, leading to the harbor of hope.
“Then they cried out to the LORD in their anguish, and he brings them out of their affliction; he calms the storm and calms the waves. While they rejoice in their serenity, the LORD leads them to a harbor of desire.” (Psalm 107:28-30)
Are you tired and tired of not knowing what to do due to the rough and difficult voyage of life in which large and small waves constantly rush in, and are you afraid in the midst of a shipwreck crisis? I hope you will listen to God's voice through today's text. In the name of the Lord, I earnestly bless all of us who, like David, become a person of prayer, sail with God, arrive safely at the port of hope, reveal the glory of God, and enjoy the wonderful grace and blessings that God has given us.