Praying, More Than We Might Think
Psalm 107
Growing up in an assembly of believers in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and of that assembly my family was a part of that family, butfrom lessons taught and sermons preached there are many truths learned of doctrines and also through traditions. One was to bow our heads and close our eyes when we pray. And as an example of prayer we were taught what is commonly known as "the Lord's prayer" (Matthew 6:9-13). But then later we were taught that sometimes we don't know what to pray and when we can do nothing but groan the the Holy Spirit then does our praying for us (Romans 8). And for Samuel Hannah was praying moving her lips, but no sound coming out, and Eli thinking she's drunk. Then growing and learning for myself seeing Solomon's pray of dedication of the temple, Nehemiah's prayer, Daniel's prayer, the prayers Paul writes in his letters, then coming on my question "could Jesus have prayed this Psalm as a prayer?” Then glimpses of the prayers Jesus did helps make me realize that Jesus could have prayed more of the Psalms than we know. But then as I read through Psalm 107 I began to wonder, Do I really know what praying is?
Who is wise that he may observe these things? for they shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord.
Psalms 107:43 GNV
Ending a psalm with these words makes me want to read it over and over and meditate on it even more. I read asking the Lord what He wants me to see here. There are four specific groups identified, those who know they are redeemed by the Lord, those who know they have run from, rebelled against the Lord, those who are fools about the things of the Lord, and then those who have maybe the most dangerous everyday profession of that day outside of being a soldier trained for battle. But each of these reach a breaking point and for each of these four they have a common heart's cry, a prayer:
Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress,
Psalms 107:6, 13, 19, 28 GNV
The great thing and the confusing thing is we are not told of what is said that they cried, just that they cried or they cry unto the Lord. And it doesn't matter which group you might see yourself apart the Lord responds the same to everyone who cries to Him, those the redeemed, those who rebelled against the Lord, fools in their transgression and iniquity, and those who go down to the sea in their ships. Then for them all to recognize that it is the Lord that has done this, that He has heard their cry, that He has delivered them out of their distress that they also pray, give a response, again a same response given as a form of prayer to God:
Let them therefore confess before the Lord his loving kindness, and his wonderful works before the sons of men.
Psalms 107:8, 13, 21, 31 GNV
And God also resonds to each in their particular need in encouragement more than words even though the response from the different ones is to be the same. Then this psalmist speaks of different things that the Lord is doing, some seeming contary to others, but each in its own way for His purpose. Yes, they are mighty and far reaching each in their own way, and for that again to be reminded of those words:
Who is wise that he may observe these things? for they shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord.
Psalms 107:43 GNV
Be wise. Understand the loving kindness of the Lord. And help us know that no matter where we might be when we cry out, i.e. pray to the Lord He will hear and deliver us from our distress.