Crying Out To God

The nineteenth letter in the Hebrew alphabet is qoph. The main thought of 119:145 – 152 addresses situations when you simply cry out to God. There are times in life when your requests do not come in simple sentences, but rather in tears, in anguish, in loud cries. This section of Psalm 119 gives meaning to prayer in those situations.

The first line sets the stage, “With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O LORD! I will keep your statutes.” The word “cry” is the Hebrew word qara, with the meaning of a loud cry, proclamation, or announcement. At the heart of every cried prayer is a deep desire for an answer from God. This is the prayer of one who has experienced a season of silence from God. Everyone has or will have a season of silence. It is in those times that you cry out for God with your whole heart. Faith in the darkness cries out for God in the same way a child cries out in the dark for the parents to come.

The second line is a confession of faith, “I call to you; save me.” The confession of truth and faith is seen in the fact that you do not call to anyone else, only for God because only God can save. The word “save” is the Hebrew word yeshua, the Hebrew name of Jesus. His name means to save. In New Testament, in Acts 2:21 and in Romans 10:13, Joel 2:32 is quoted, “For everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” This is the promise of God to those who cry out for Him.

There is a particular purpose attached to the cry for salvation, “I call to you; save me, that I may observe your statutes.” The word “observe” is the Hebrew word shamar, which means to keep. It is first used in Genesis 2:15 when God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden and commanded him to tend the garden and to keep it. This word has the meaning of watching, of seeing the great value of something, of treasuring, of guarding. Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21. The purpose of being saved in so that you will keep, guard, treasure, God’s word. The flip side of this is until you are saved, you will not keep God’s word. Indeed, you cannot.

In keeping God’s word you will begin to see the supreme value of His word in your life. Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4. The line in this prayer that describes this condition is, “Hear my voice according to your steadfast love; O LORD, according to your justice give me life.” Declaring this and asking God for it is what Jesus did. How much more do we need to declare and ask for what God has promised, according to His steadfast love and justice.

There are two lines, 119:150 – 151, which describes another occasion for crying out for God, “They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose; they are far from your law. But you are near, O LORD, and all your commandments are true.” Those who persecute fall into one or more of these three categories; the world, the flesh, the devil. This trinity of evil is characterized by a denial of God’s word and a desire to destroy everything and everyone that is of God. They can be picked up and partnered with by anyone, including you.

When one or more are picked up, that person or group becomes an instrument for unbelief to do its damage and carry out its evil purpose. The evil purpose is to deceive you and to lead you away from God’s word. But God is near and all of His commandments are true. Cry out for God when evil draws near, because He is nearer! Hallelujah!!!

When the lights go out and you find yourself in a season of silence, cry out for God, even if you don’t have a nice sentence to pray, cry out for God! He has promised to hear and in His timing He will answer, according to the counsel of His will.  Crying out for Him is an expression of pure faith because only He can save. And He will. As you cry out for God, you draw near to Him and discover that He has been with you all the time. Even when He is silent, He is with you. He has promised. Crying out for God pleases the Father because His own Son did. Your cry reminds Him of His. This is what it means to worship the Father in spirit and truth.