Psalms 119:145 With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O LORD! I will keep your statutes. I call to you; save me, that I may observe your testimonies. I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in your words. My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise. Hear my voice according to your steadfast love; O LORD, according to your justice give me life. They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose; they are far from your law. But you are near, O LORD, and all your commandments are true. Long have I known from your testimonies that you have founded them forever.
The Psalmist passionately depended on God and His word, but that did not eliminate the participation of the Psalmist in any way. He still woke early to seek God, in prayer (cry for help) that was helped by God’s word (I hope in Your word).
i. “So long as the duty only of prayer is known, we shall be content with our set seasons. But when the privilege is felt, we shall be early at work, following it closely morning and night.” (Bridges)
“The word furnished his hope, and his hope his prayer.” (Trapp)
We use prayer in our study of the word of God; this is essential. Yet we also use the Word of God in our prayers. In prayer, the Word of God shows us:
· The nature and heart of the God we pray to
· What we have received from God, and should thank Him for
· His greatness, informing and expanding our praise
· His moral will, directing us to pray that we can do it
· His promises to His people, which we claim by faith
· Substance for our prayers, as we pray-read the Scriptures
Being diligent in prayer will never leave us destitute of hope. It is refreshing to know that prayer soon refreshes our heart, mind, and soul with hope, new hope, dependent hope, expectant hope, lasting hope, satisfying hope, delivering hope. This hope is grounded, established, and grown by faith in God. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
What is it that we hope for? What is it that occupies our thoughts? What are those longings we seek in the depth of our heart? Is it to know God, serve God, be used by God, to follow God, to honor God, to glorify God, to obey God???
We do well to give no more than a glance at the the distractions of the world around us and intently focus on the treasures of hope in His word.
