Kathemerinosatos

Anskar, Archbishop of Hamburg, Missionary in Denmark and Sweden 865.

Text

Psalm 17:1

Hear me, Lord, my plea is just; listen to my cry. Hear my prayer—

it does not rise from deceitful lips.

Reflection

This psalm is a prayer of David to God and it seems this prayer was done in the time of crisis. This is normal among people we think of communicating with God when things are not well and when things are well for us, we forget Him. I would like to draw your attention to three things in this introductory statement of David’s prayer. First, David knows where to forward his cry or petition-God. When we pray we direct our prayers to the triune God not anyone else. Let it be our habit to learn to cry to God rather than to other powers. Second, David confesses that his prayer is a just plea. When we pray to God, are we crying for things that are Godly or are for just cause? This point is key in the answering of our prayers. We don’t pray for evil things to happen to others or for all best things to happen to us alone. When we pray we should also think of the plight of others. Third, David confesses that his prayer is not coming from deceitful lips. What we profess with our mouth should also reflect what is stored in our hearts. We sometimes run into the problem of lip sing prayers. What we say with our lips is far from our hearts. The key to the answering of our prayers is when we pray from the position of righteousness. Amen.

Collect

Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit one God now and forever. Amen.