Praying Like David 

by Al Diestelkamp

 

If like me you sometimes find yourself becoming dissatisfied with your personal prayers to God and want to do something about it, it would be good to go to some of the psalms of David. Many of the psalms are actually prayers that can be adapted to fit our own life situations. Such is the case with Psalm 143.

1 Hear my prayer, O Lord, Give ear to my supplications! In Your faithfulness answer me, And in Your righteousness.

There are at least twelve New Testament passages which assure us that God hears and answers prayer (i.e., 1 Jn. 5:14-15). Why then do we ask God for what He has already promised? It’s not because we don’t believe God will keep His promise. It’s like a child asking his parents to protect him even though they have assured him time and again that they are there for him. Or it’s like a wife asking her husband if he still loves her even though he vowed to do so  “till death do they part.”

2 Do not enter into judgment with Your servant. For in Your sight no one living is righteous.

This is a confession of fault from “a man after God’s own heart” (1 Sam. 13:14). Like David, we must acknowledge that none of us is able to prevail in front of a just judge. As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one” (Rom. 3:10). It is true that one day we will all have to stand before God in judgment (Heb. 9:27); but like David, I don’t seek justice; I seek mercy.

3 For the enemy has persecuted my soul; He has crushed my life to the ground; He has made me dwell in darkness, Like those who have long been dead.

4  Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me. My heart within me is distressed.

This was likely a time when David was in exile, hiding from King Saul. He felt as if he had been crushed. He was forced to dwell in “darkness” of  caves that are more suited as graves. He felt overwhelmed!

How blessed we are by the lack of physical persecution. Not all Christians in the world can say this. But keep in mind that we, too, have no assurance that such persecution will not come to us in future days. Are we prepared?

5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your works; I muse on the work of Your hands. 6 I spread out my hands to You; My soul longs for You like a thirsty land.

Maybe David longed for the “good old days” when he was lauded as a hero in Israel. You know, when he stood before a giant and said, “I come to you in the name of the Lord...” (see 1 Sam 17:45-47); or when women danced in the streets, singing, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands” (1 Sam. 18:7). Like David, we need to thirst for God’s help and “spread out our hands” in prayer.

7 Answer me speedily, O Lord; My spirit fails! Do not hide Your face from me, Lest I be like those who go down into the pit. 8 Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, For in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You.

When David felt his own spirit failing, he called on God not to hide His face from him. He feared an untimely death and called on God’s lovingkindness to take him through the night. He expressed trust in the Lord and asked to know which way to walk. No matter the circumstances, we need to trust the Lord and ask for guidance in the way we walk.

9 Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies; In You I take shelter. 10 Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness.

David depended on God as his shelter and asked to be “led” in the right way. King Saul was not David’s only enemy. Like us, he had a much more formidable enemy in the person of Satan. Even if one is able to escape his human enemies by his own wit and might, he would be foolish to think he can defeat Satan by himself.

It is imperative to recognize who our real enemy is. Our only hope in defeating him is to seek God’s help. We must take “shelter” in God and rely on Him to lead us in uprightness.

11 Revive me, O Lord, for Your name’s sake! For Your righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble. 12 In Your mercy cut off my enemies, And destroy all those who afflict my soul; For I am Your servant.

David had confidence that God in His mercy would save him from his enemies because he served God. For us, God has put an end to the force of our enemy through the death, burial, and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ.

Consider David’s words in other psalms:

Psalm 25

4 Show me Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. 5   Lead me in your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation.

Psalm 86

11 Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in your truth.

God will judge the world in justice, but He offers mercy to all who serve Him. Let us serve God by being “doers of the word, and not hearers only” (Jas. 1:22).

 

     

  Other Articles by Al Diestelkamp
In Defense of Topical Preaching
Goats Among Sheep
American Immortality
Problems With Local Autonomy
Don't Ask Fellowship