I WILL DIRECT MY PRAYER UNTO THEE

“Prayer is the Christian’s vital breath” are words from a hymn often sung at prayer meetings. We all agree that they are true. Notwithstanding, this vital exercise is sadly neglected, both in our private and collective lives. During the Jewish day, three times were set aside for prayer: morning, noon and evening, i.e., nine, twelve and three o’clock. The first and third coincided with the daily morning and evening sacrifices; see Acts 3. 1; 10. 3, 9,30. Daniel followed this pattern, Dan. 6. 10; and David also, Psa. 55. 17. It would appear, however, that David was in the habit of rising early to pray, Psa. 57. 8; 63. 1; 108. 2. This, of course, was also true of our Lord, Mark 1. 35.

We must at all costs avoid being too busy or too lazy to get up and pray. Like David, we should resolve to start the day with God. We live in a hostile and evil world where dangers and temptations of every kind abound. David requested guidance, v. 8, and to have the joy of divine protection, vv. 11, 12. The reason for his prayer is seen in verse 9. Starting the day with prayer will not only be a safeguard, but will lift us above mundane and depressing things.

David directed (set in order) his prayer like the priests “set in order” the wood and the parts of the sacrifice on the altar fire, Lev. 1. 7, 8 etc. By using the same word, he viewed his morning prayer as a sacrifice rising acceptably to God. Having offered his prayer, he looked up for tokens of acceptance. Fire was sometimes a visible sign of this, Lev. 9. 24; Jud. 6. 21; 1 Kings 18. 38. We do not, any more than David did, expect fire to fall from heaven, but we should look expectantly for answers. Elijah prayed for rain and sent his servant to look no less than seven times before a “little cloud” appeared as proof that God had heard and that rain was on the way. The Lord give us more faith in prayer. “Lord, teach us to pray”, Luke 11. 1.

“Men ought always to pray”, Luke 18. 1, not just in the morning. The Lord, who said this Himself, always prayed. He spent whole nights in prayer, 6. 12.

“And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive”, Matt. 21. 22.