READING: 2 Samuel 21-22, Luke 18:24-43
“. . . and from His temple He heard my voice.”
2 Samuel 22:7
Sometimes you just have to let the words of the Bible sink in. You have to meditate on them. Be amazed by them. Be filled with wonder. And then praise and worship the God who inspired them, and who gives us access to those words when billions of people around the world have no such access.
Today is one of those days for me.
David and his forces had been in battle against the Philistines and the giants in the land, and God had given them victory: “they [the giants] fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants” (2 Sam. 21:22). David’s response was to sing a song of praise and gratitude to the God who had delivered them – the One who was his rock, his fortress, his deliverer, his shield, and his stronghold. In the midst of that song are these words that have captured my attention today: “In my distress I called upon the Lord; Yes, I cried to my God; and from His temple He heard my voice, and my cry for help came into His ears” (2 Sam. 22:7).
Now, I know the words of 2 Samuel 22:7 do not seem that unusual. More than one verse in the Bible reminds us that God answers prayer. We talk about that truth, and we cling to it when we pray to God in times of desperation and need. Many of us have taught about prayer, and some of us have even written books about the topic. Prayer is simply central to our Christian experience. With all that in mind, though, the words of 2 Samuel 22:7 still give me much pause today. And, in my estimation, they should.
David cried out to his Lord when he was in distress, and his God heard him. David’s cry for help reached His ears. You see, this God is so much different than the false gods of the ancient world! The false gods could neither see nor speak, but not David’s God. The false gods certainly could not hear, but David’s God could. Non-believers in the ancient world created their own gods and often held their images in their hands, but such was not the case with David’s God; He alone was the Creator. He held His precious people in His hands – and He listened to them!
I think that’s what most amazes me today. It’s not that God can see and hear us. It’s not that He can help us defeat our enemies. It’s not even that He can answer our prayers. No, it’s not that God can do all these things; it’s that He does do them at all.
He chooses to know the voices and to hear the cries of sinful people like you and me. That’s amazing! And, if God is so willing to hear us when we pray, it’s only the fool who chooses to neglect this privilege.
ACTION STEPS:
- Turn from your sin, and then pray today. A lot. Trust that He hears your cry.
- Write out 2 Samuel 22:7, and memorize it.
PRAYER: “God, I’m amazed that I get to talk to You, and You listen to me! Thank You!”
TOMORROW’S READING: 2 Samuel 23-24, Luke 19:1-27
