Journal PS 115-116 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)
Scripture: “I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy.
Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.” Ps 116:1-2
Observation: The other day I wrote about a “conditions-based” approach to Worship. Here is a verse which seems to align with that—except that it doesn’t.
Analysis: “If/then” relationships and approaches to life are always with us. Most of the time with me it is “if you will do [this], then I will do [that].” It is kind of saying if you will surrender first, then I will surrender second—but the first time you retreat, so will I.
I can have two positions about God: 1) He is a stern taskmaster, demanding obedience, not really caring about supplying what I want at all, or 2) He is a loving God, attentive to my prayer.
Not getting into the theology behind the Gospel in these two “positions”, David is verbally focusing on one: I love the LORD because He loved me first.
Even if I am not responding to God’s poking at me to respond to Him, the FACT is that He loved me first. That is why I can call on His Mercy and know that He is listening, actively listening and that all the days of my life.
Even dead in my sin; even when the noise of this reality is flooding my ears with static, God hears. My complaining? God hears. My shouting so that I cannot hear? God hears.
God didn’t supply my wants (sometimes mistaken for, and positioned as needs)? He heard…He just knows what is best to bring us to the path of righteousness and conform us to the image of the Son. (Ro 8:29)
Prayer: Father, thank you for hearing my prayer and training me to pray unceasingly. Let my mind be full of the wonder that is You and meditate on your Word with increasing regularity.
AMEN
Rick Sutton