The Culture of Hope Founded on Faith
God’s Inclined Ear
On Wednesday I watched as dolphins slid in and out of the water just off the California coast. The occasional otter popped its head above water and numerous birds floated on the surface, dipping intermittently into the large school of fish roiling not far below. A woman from Israel stood next to me. In our conversation, the only thing about God in which she took an interest was creation. She rejoiced with me over the wonder of the dolphins, otters, and water fowl, even pointing out the beauty of the carefully tended flowers around us. Any time I mentioned Jesus or God’s relationship to Israel, however, she changed the subject.
God’s creation is readily visible in our world, even in the harshest of environments. But it is not the only aspect of God’s character that affects us. Our Creator is much more to us than simply an anonymous He-who-made-us-from-nothing and set us on this earth. In Psalm 71, David leans heavily on metaphors of strength as he describes six very personal aspects of God’s interaction with us. The chapter is introduced with, “In You, O LORD, do I put my trust. Let me never be ashamed. In Your righteousness deliver me and rescue me. Incline Your ear unto me and save me” (vss. 1-2). The Psalmist then continues with ways that God rescues and protects His own:
- Be my strong habitation whereunto I may continually resort (vs. 3).
- You have given commandment to save me for You are my rock and my fortress (vs. 3).
- Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man (vs. 4).
- … O my God, make haste for my help (vs. 12b).
- You are my confidence from my youth. By You have I been held up from the womb …(vss. 5-6)
- …You are my strong refuge (vs. 7).
- For You are my hope, O Lord GOD (vs. 12a).
The rest of the chapter continues the duple format that started with verse one and two in which there are four lines; three connected sequential concepts follow from the first. The meter does not translate into English but the verbal arrangement is recognizable. Like a conversation with a dear friend of many years, David’s prayer in verses 1-13 is very specific. He asks God to do something, tells Him why, and then proceeds to tell Him precisely how to deal with the requests. For example, verse nine begins with the plea to “ Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength fails.” The reason for his request (vs. 10-11) is “mine enemies speak against me and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together, saying, ‘God has forsaken him. Persecute and take him, for there is none to deliver him’.” In verses 12-13 David is very specific about how God should answer his prayer: “O God, be not far from me. Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul. Let them be covered with reproach and dishonor that seek my hurt.”
But he doesn’t leave his time with God without first expressing hope and praising Him in verses 14-24. With the experience of years to support his faith that God will indeed answer his prayers, he joyously and clearly praises everything about God’s response on his behalf:
- But I will hope continually, and will yet praise You more and more. My mouth shall shew forth Your righteousness and Your salvation all the day, for I know not the numbers thereof. I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD. I will make mention of Your righteousness, even of yours only.
- O God, you have taught me from my youth and hitherto have I declared Your wondrous works. Now also when I am old and gray-headed, O God, forsake me not until I have showed Your strength unto this generation, and Your power to everyone that is to come.
- Your righteousness also is very high, O God who has done great things. O God, who is like unto You! You, who have showed me great and sore troubles, shall quicken me again and shall bring me up again from the depths of the earth. You shall increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.
- I will also praise You with the psaltery, even Your truth, O my God. Unto You will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel. My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto You, and my soul, which You have redeemed. My tongue also shall talk of Your righteousness all the day long, for they are confounded, for they are brought unto shame that seek my hurt.
What sweet communion David had with God. His heart was perfect with God (1 Kings 15:3) and fixed on praising God (Ps. 108:1). No wonder he spoke to God as friend to friend. He had experienced God’s protection, His strong habitation, his rock and fortress, his God, his hope, his confidence, his strong refuge. Just as God communed with David, so he communes with believers today. He has promised that, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16b). Psalm 71 is a good example of prayer, speaking to God as friend to friend, sharing all that is in our hearts. Yes, He knows what our needs are before we ask. Because of His deep love for us, He desires our fellowship in prayer. He is not just a disinterested Creator; He became a human in order to redeem us to Himself on the cross.
Update/Prayer Request: Thank you for praying for us. The combination of skipping an infusion and taking Prednizone seems to be helping Dan with all the side effects of six months of immunotherapy. He continues to be profoundly tired when he does too much. Having a week off work has also helped, giving him a boost for his final two work weeks until retirement. His next infusion is scheduled for April 19. Please continue to pray for strength for both of us.
