Developing A Relationship With God Through Prayer

Psalm 86

The psalm for today is another one that was written by King David.  As we read in the Scriptures, David went through so many trials and difficulties in his life.  There were dangers while he shepherded his family’s flocks, then years on the run from King Saul.  When he finally came to the throne of Israel, as God had promised, David still had struggles and problems that he faced.  Throughout his life of difficulties, there was one thing he consistently did, and that was to turn to the Lord God for help.  In this Psalm, David cries out in distress, and then overcomes that distress with praise and worship.

In verse 2 we read David’s cry to God to save his life.  For several years before he took the throne King Saul had him on the run for his very life.  He lived in caves and in forests, always on the run as a fugitive.  King Saul had thousands of trained soldiers at his disposal, but David only had a few men true to him.  This psalm may have been written during those days.  He knew that God was his only hope, if his life was to be preserved.  Sometimes our problems seem so huge that all we can do is cry to God to save our life.

As David poured out his petition for protection to God, he knew that God knew all of his needs.  God knows everything.  He is omniscient.  Since that is the case, some people may ask why we bother to pray.  One reason is to have a relationship with Him.  If we never came to Him in prayer there would be no more of a relationship with God than a fish in a tank, being fed by a worker.   Even though David knew that God had promised him the throne, and he believed that promise, still he came to God every day with requests and cries for His help.  It was through his daily, hourly prayers to God that David was able to develop a very deep and personal relationship with Him.

Prayer takes faith (vs. 7).  Don’t look to any source for answers other than from the Lord God.  Know and believe that He will answer and help you.

In David’s day there were those, including some fellow Israelites, who believed that Yahweh was just one of many other gods, even though He might be chief among other gods (vs. 8-10).  There are some today that believe the same thing, that Jesus is just one of many paths to heaven.  David knew that this was patently false.  He knew that Yahweh is the One and Only.  All other gods are man-made inventions.

Throughout his life, David wanted an undivided heart to God (vs. 11).  He wanted to be single-heartedly loyal to God.  Our hearts are often filled with a confusion of feelings and interests.  We are often torn in two or more directions.  God tells us to pray for a united heart, one that is at one with Him.

Because David’s heart was united in faith to God, knowing that He was his all in all, he could offer praise and glory to Him no matter the circumstances he was in (vs. 12).  David knew that God would watch over and protect him from any danger (vs. 13).   We know that God is good in our head.  Do we believe it in our hearts, including when bad things happen?  One way we trust God and His goodness, is to praise Him.  The more we praise God for His goodness, the more we will see it.

It seems that throughout most of his life, David had to contend with enemies .  The majority of his enemies were also those who had no place for God in their heart (vs. 14).  The proud are those who act independently from God.  They are arrogant and insolent.  They rebel against God and His people, and these were who were after David.

Though David trusted in God’s mercy and compassion, sometimes he also felt despair and was discouraged.  In verse 17 we read where he prayed to God to show him a sign for his good, that all would turn out, and that his enemies will see and be ashamed.  It is not necessarily wrong to pray for a sign of God’s goodness and care.  Gideon prayed for a sign (Judges 6:36-40), and here David did, as well.  Still, though, we need to look around and see what God has already done in our life.  He does know our situation, no matter how bad it has gotten.

David faced many life and death situations throughout his life.  Through them all he put his trust in God.  Trials can draw us in one of two directions.   Satan can use them to turn us away from God, or God can use them to draw us into a deeper relationship with Him.  The choice is ours.  David used them to get closer to God.   Which do you choose?