God hears OUR calls!

Virginia Evans

Central Truth

David is crying out to the Lord for mercy. He is asking God to hear his cry and not turn a deaf ear to him because he does not want to be with those who have gone down in the pit.

Hear my plea for mercy when I cry out to you for help, when I lift my hands toward your holy temple! (Psalm 28:2)

The LORD Is My Strength and My Shield

Of David.

1 To you, O LORD, I call;
    my rock, be not deaf to me,
lest, if you be silent to me,
    I become like those who go down to the pit.
2 Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy,
    when I cry to you for help,
when I lift up my hands
    toward your most holy sanctuary.^{1

28:2
Hebrew your innermost sanctuary}

3 Do not drag me off with the wicked,
    with the workers of evil,
who speak peace with their neighbors
    while evil is in their hearts.
4 Give to them according to their work
    and according to the evil of their deeds;
give to them according to the work of their hands;
    render them their due reward.
5 Because they do not regard the works of the LORD
    or the work of his hands,
he will tear them down and build them up no more.

6 Blessed be the LORD!
    For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.
7 The LORD is my strength and my shield;
    in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults,
    and with my song I give thanks to him.

8 The LORD is the strength of his people;^{2

28:8
Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts is their strength}
he is the saving refuge of his anointed.
9 Oh, save your people and bless your heritage!
Be their shepherd and carry them forever.

Footnotes

[1] 28:2 Hebrew your innermost sanctuary
[2] 28:8 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts is their strength

David is clearly calling on God for help. He knows that help is available if he asks for it. David has come in contact with those who speak one way to him, but truly have malice in their hearts. He does not want to become one of them. He asks God to give him mercy so that he, too, is not entangled with this group of evildoers.

I can relate to David as he calls out to God. Sometimes, I get caught up with the wrong crowd—not necessarily bad people, but people who are in a "me" state of mind. I don't always recognize that I, too, am a part of that group until it's too late. There are so many ways that I get caught up in that—not spending time in prayer, listening to a little gossip, hearing that voice that I should have been the one to receive this or that and not the other person. Ultimately, when I take myself out of that situation, I find that surrounding myself with like-minded people who are pursuing Christ is what is best for me. When I break free from the wrong crowd, I always look back and think, "Wow, what a waste of my time!"

People will let you down. You've just got to forgive them and move on. Cry out to God, and He will hear you. God will dole out what others deserve. He doesn't need our help. God doesn't want us stuck on what other people say or do to us. He only wants us to turn to Him. He is our rock, our strength, and our shield! Our hearts can trust in Him and leap with joy as David's did when God heard his prayers. All we have to do is ask.

1. Do you have a friend that you need to be praying for?

2. Are you getting entangled with a group of evildoers?

3. Is God stirring your heart to call on Him, but you haven't yet? (Now is the time! Don't wait any longer.)