IT'S HATED, SO PRAY IT!

„Look at this: look
Who got picked by God!
He listens the split second I call to him”

(Psalm 3:4 / The Message Bible)

The prayers found in the Book of Psalms served a very special purpose for believers throughout the centuries. These are samples of expressions, life situations and human conditions that we can easily relate to. Prayers offered from long gone situation, yet to be prayed by moderns, like us. Songs without melody; waiting to join the rhythms of our lives. The questions found here seem all too familiar, and the answers offered should be seriously considered by all of us. They tell us ancient stories we know existentially as individuals and members of a community, and prophesize the future waiting for us.

The Fourth psalm is a model prayer for a believer whose reputation is being attacked. You know what I am talking about! Like, when someone wants to advance himself by getting you out of the way. What will he most likely to do? He will slander you with baseless accusations. It is a very humiliating experience. First, you just simply don’t want to believe it. Then, being in pain, you act frustrated. Soon anger takes over. Stop! Its time to pray…

We learn from this psalm that, the best way to handle a situation like this is to answer the accuser, but to answer him or her in prayer. This is exactly what David does in verse 3. He reminds his enemies of the most precious truth - that he, David “got picked by God” (“the Lord has set apart the godly for himself”). Say it, please, only in prayer! This is something the enemies of the righteous do not want to hear. The doctrine of election is widely hated by the unbelievers – inside and outside of our churches. Yet, it is true. You may even experience this truth working in your life right now. Try it! Put aside your anger and talk to the Lord about your hurts. If you can do that it means that the Spirit of God is in you, he kept your access to the Throne of Grace open, where graces for healing, protection and blessings are prepared for you to receive.

The point is that, hurts denied or unexpressed on their own will not go away. The danger is their mutation into even more dangerous forms. Prayer is the healthy way to express them. Given over to Him, these most humbling experiences in our life become times of learning about the love of God.

Let us find out how long is a “split second”!

Lord Jesus, forgive me for not realizing that you are with me when I am under attack. You see me, and know that I am hurting. I confess that, you will bring me to victory. I am weak, but you are strong. Even in this painful situation I want to praise you. Amen.