Give ear to my words, O LORD,
Consider my groaning.
Heed the sound of my cry for help, my King and my God,
For to You I pray.
Psalm 5:1-2 (NASB)
I often return to the subject of prayer in these devotions; it is the breath of our faith in the Almighty, without which we would suffocate under the weight of worldly cares. David has much to say about prayer in the psalms, and our scripture today is an excellent example of his constant focus upon talking with God.
In the opening, David is pleading with God to hear his desperate words. Yet in the two quoted verses, you will see that David has a deeper understanding of the ways of communication between him and God. In the first instance, he calls out, “give ear to my words, O LORD” – the voice of prayer calling on God. Secondly, we have “consider my groaning” – the nonvocal emotions of the heart in deep pain. Sometimes, the child of God may not be able to vocalize their pain, but God still hears and responds lovingly to the groaning of the broken heart. Thirdly, we have “heed the sound of my cry for help…” the vocalised cry or the sobbing of a breaking/hurt heart. These are equally effective ways of prayer, which God always hears. It is also worth noting the address of the Almighty by David, as “LORD,” “my King and my God.” These are distinct recognitions and surrender to God as Almighty (LORD of all), his Sovereign, and one and only God. These titles of the Almighty are the foundation upon which the prayers of David are secured and responded to.
Dear Reader, we can be encouraged in the words of David today, as David was. Our God hears our prayers in whatever form they come to His throne, responding to our humility. What a loving Father God we serve!
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Devotional Treasures
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