QUPH. I cry out with my whole heart; hear me, O LORD! I will keep Your statutes. I cry out to You; save me, and I will keep Your testimonies. I rise before the dawning of the morning, and cry for help; I hope in Your word. My eyes are awake through the night watches, that I may meditate on Your word. Hear my voice according to Your lovingkindness; O LORD, revive me according to Your justice. They draw near who follow after wickedness; they are far from Your law. You are near, O LORD, and all Your commandments are truth. Concerning Your testimonies, I have known of old that You have founded them forever.

There is this conception in our modern world, as I am sure has been in times past also, that grown men don't cry. Granted, the Hebrew word qara might otherwise be translated "called", but the meaning does not change. The Psalmist summoned with much emotion the ear and help of God. Part of the reason for the hard-nosed, stern-faced, resolve is stubbornness. Some have the idea that they can make it on their own, and to have to lean on anything or anyone (our Creator included) is a sign of weakness. On the contrary, it is an indication that one knows where his strength is derived from. It is a display of meekness (submission of one's will to another), not weakness (failing, shortcoming).

Two things the writer cries out for; 1) "Hear me, O LORD!", and 2) "Save me." It is important for a child to know that his father is listening to him. The child lacking the appropriate parental involvement in his life will suffer. Some children cry out to their parents to be heard, only to be told to "be quiet", to "quit bothering", etc.. Parents, listen to your children. Allow them to communicate the things which are important to them to you, and answer their concerns. Such is the pattern of perfect parenthood as given through our heavenly Father. In Matthew 6, Jesus taught His disciples how to pray. He gave honour to the Father, and then made His requests known. Among the things He requested, "Give us this day our daily bread." (v 11). Not many verses later, regarding food, water and clothing, Jesus said, "...your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things." (v 32). Why ask then? Because our Father seeks to hear our concerns. Listen to the conviction of the apostle John in God's open ear to our prayers, "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him." (1 John 5:13-15).

Having sought the ear of God, the Psalmist now gives forth his plea, "Save me!" We, by ourselves are helpless to save ourselves. Now, don't misunderstand, that doesn't mean we do not have a part to play in our own salvation – we do. Recall, Peter said to the crowd at Pentecost, "Save yourselves from this untoward generation." (Acts 2:40). How? By responding to the message which was preached; the plan which God had revealed to save man. We are not pawns in God's hand, as it were, but fellow participants in our own salvation.

What is the writer needing to be saved from? Judging by the context, those "who follow after wickedness" (v 150). I am reminded of David, while he was on the run from King Saul, how often this must have been His petition to God, "Save me!" Saul was obsessed with pursuing and killing David, and yet the Lord answered the Psalmist's prayers. It will seldom be an easy, trouble-free way, but the Lord "...saves the upright in heart." (Psalm 7:10).

The Psalmist speaks of sleepless nights, as he would "rise before the dawning of the morning" and his "eyes are awake through the night watches." The context informs us that the writer is enduring difficult times, that the wicked are drawing near in pursuit of him, and that he now, more than ever, is aware of his need for the Lord. What do you do with your early mornings? What do you do with your late nights? Many of us live in areas where we do not fear for our lives, where persecutors do not come after us with intent to kill. We comfortably sit in our chair during the late evening hours, watching television. In the morning hours, perhaps we read the daily newspaper. Now, there's nothing wrong with watching television (subject to content) or reading the newspaper, but I want us to see the unmixed focus of the Psalmist. His early morning hours were a suitable time to communicate with the Lord his distress, his thanksgiving, his petitions. The night time, when others were fast asleep, again, he spent in communication with God, meditating upon the word of God. What wonderful devotion is displayed!

Consider the focus of our Lord. Luke's gospel records, "Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God." (6:12). Again, in Mark's gospel, "Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed." (1:35). Several more times, we read of Jesus departing from the crowds and spending time in prayer to God. We would do well to imitate the example He and the Psalmist have supplied us.

The writer comments on the coming of the wicked toward him. All the wicked are far from the law of God, and are thus enemies of God and His people, however, some in particular make it their aim to bring persecution upon the elect. David was so pursued by Saul; Jesus was sought by the scribes and Pharisees; many of the prophets were put to death by the people. There is reason for concern when the wicked approach the camp of the righteous with warring on their minds. And yet, Jesus gives great comfort. Consider, "...do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matthew 10:28). If we have made preparation for eternity, though the wicked many slay us, they cannot affect our soul. However, God is able to kill both body and soul, and His recompense will be upon the unrighteous at the judgment. Knowing the comfort of the Lord, and His perpetual presence, the Psalmist speaks words of assurance, "You are near, O LORD, and all Your commandments are truth." What a comfort to know that God is always with us, regardless what happens. This was the consolation of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego (Daniel 3:16-26).

As we close our study this week, the writer express to us the surety we can have in the word of God. He says, "I have known of old that You have founded them forever." He is not telling us that he has known the will of God for a lengthy time, and thus is assured of the incorruptibility of it; though certainly that may also have been true. However, in these words, the writer declares that God's word was established "of old". That is, God's word is from ancient time, from everlasting. But some things ancient deteriorate and perish. What about the Scriptures? The Psalmist continues, "...You have founded them forever." They are of ancient origin, and their truth with stretch over eternity. Is that not the word of Isaiah the prophet (Isaiah 40:8), which is again recounted by the apostle Peter, "‘All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the LORD endures forever.' Now this is the word which by the gospel we preached to you." (1 Peter 1:24-25).

We serve a great God, who is to us a loving Father, a merciful Saviour and a daily Comforter. Glory be to the LORD!

Click here for this week's Answering The Atheist
How many languages were there before the Tower of Babel was built? Some texts say one (Genesis 11:1, 6-9), others say many (Genesis 10:5, 20, 31). Is there a contradiction?