"BOW DOWN THINE EAR"


A. "BOW DOWN THINE EAR, O LORD, HEAR ME; FOR I AM POOR AND NEEDY" PSALMS 86:1-5
  1. In these words of heart-touching prayer:
    1. The supplication of the Psalmist reaches out to the highest for the closet communion a man is capable of
    2. Prayer assumes the proper attitude of a needy son reaching out to a compassionate Father
  2. This, it seems to me:
    1. Is an expression of true humility pleading for compassion from the God of compassion
    2. It is worthy of our prayerful consideration this evening
B. NOTICE
  1. The invocations - five times in these verses related to our text, does the Psalmist invoke God, and that by three names - "Jehovah", "my God", "Lord"
    1. "Jehovah" - the word implies eternal, timeless being, underived, self existence - Ps. 93:2; Hab. 1:12
    2. "My God" - the word indicates intimate, close relationship with the most High; "Abba Father" - Rom 8:15; Gal. 4:5
    3. "Lord" - that word indicates recognition of controlling authority - "Have thine own way Lord, have thine own way, Thou art the Potter, I am the clay"
  2. Let us consider the nature of the petition:
    1. The Psalmist is direct, pleading his needs, "I am poor and needy, born down by persistent trials and adversities
    2. He pleads his full dedication to his God, "I am holy" that means "my whole being is learning toward thee, body, soul and spirit" - Rom. 12:1-3
    3. His appeal attaches itself to "my God" as the source of his encouragement for his supplication to one very close to him - Is. 66:1-2
  3. Look, if you please at the "for" used by David:
    1. "For I am poor and needy" - this indicates that when we come to God, we must come as we truly are - poor and needy - never ought we to come to God as the Pharisees did - Matt. 6:5; Luke 18:11-12
    2. "Preserve my soul, for I am holy" - amazing grace - first he pleads his bankruptcy then he pleads the relationship of a saint
    3. "Be merciful unto me, for I cry unto Thee daily" - here we are discovering the consistency of his prayer life - "daily", "morning, noon and evening" - Ps. 55:17; 49:15; 69:15. Admonishes Paul, "Pray without ceasing" - I Thes. 5:17
    4. "Rejoice the soul of the servant, for unto thee do I lift up my soul" - here he desires that the joy of the Lord shall become his joy; that his soul shall be filled with the joy of the Lord
    5. "For thou, Lord, art good and ready to forgive, and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon Thee" - here we have the climax of a true and worthy supplication. It finds its incentive to prayer in the mercies of God. Here is a real reason for everyone of us to approach the throne of mercy daily, hourly, moment by moment, God's mercy
C. WHAT A LESSON IN THE SCHOOL OF PRAYER
  1. It begins with true humility:
    1. "Bow down thine ear, O Lord" b "Hear me; for I am poor and needy"
  2. It makes its appeal:
    1. To Jehovah - the self-existent, self-sustaining, and the eternal - the source of all being - could one go higher
    2. To "my God" - the God that I have chosen to whom I am very close, one dear to me; one to whom I feel free to say "Abba Father"
    3. To "Lord" - my Lord and my God - John 21:28; you who controls my life and my destiny
  3. It appeals to God's nature as the ground work for its supplication:
    1. "Be merciful unto me, O Lord" - it does not seek a favor from the most High because of any special merits in humanity, no, no; it pleads its needs and appeals to God's plenteous mercy
    2. "For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive" - this is the true science of prayer that attaches itself to the goodness of the Lord, with the knowledge that the Lord is ready to forgive
  4. And finally:
    1. Its deepest desire is that the soul might be filled with the joy of God


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