“May my supplication come before You; deliver me according to Your promise.” 

This verse is a variation from the previous. The psalmist first cried out for wisdom to be his help. Here he humbly pleads with the Lord to deliver him as his help. The writer desires for his prayer to be accepted before the throne of Grace. Truly, any petition we bring before our Lord which agrees with His will is like sweet smelling incense to Him. It pleases God when we bring sacrifices of praise, thanksgiving, repentance and requests with a sincere heart of faith. God loves His children much more than the best earthly fathers love their own. Jesus emphasizes this point in The Gospel of Matthew saying, “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!” (7:9-11)

God will deliver the psalmist and all His children from eternal suffering. Our temporary homes may provide some relief, but perhaps not. This is why Christians can look with hopeful expectation to God’s future promises. We look to the unseen realities with an eternal perspective. The psalmist ends the verse with “according to Your promise”. Just like in verse 169 when he prays for God to act “according to Your Word”, there is confidence in remembering God’s faithfulness to His children. God cannot lie and He will not fail to bring about wisdom to the simple hearted, deliverance for the faint. 

The longer we walk with our Heavenly Abba, the more we will see His mercies new each day, His faithfulness to answered prayer according to His loving wisdom, and His goodness in the many blessings He bestows each day. Did you wake up this morning? Thank God. Did you drink clean water? Thank God. Did you eat food today? Thank God. By His grace, the Lord will sharpen our spiritual vision to see His provision and kindness around us. Grateful hearts are able to see God’s hand of love and thank Him in abundance and in affliction. The Lord delivers His own from the snares, cares and tares of this world by opening our eyes to the spiritual riches and even temporal blessings He has graciously given us. Whatever He ordains for His children, it comes from His loving heart, it is for His glory and for our good. With this assurance the Christian can proclaim, “Where He leads me, I will follow”. 

Grace upon grace,

April

Growing deeper: 2 Corinthians 4:6-18; Psalm 116