I started to say we have here a “prayer promise” for those hard times.

That’s true insofar as it goes, that statement. But Psalm 50:15 is much MORE than just a promise. It is a command from God! A STARK COMMAND!

Let me show you.

“Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee.” Psalm 50:15, an exhibition of the Power of Almighty God! Short … and certainly sweet!

How simple, this little Verse!

And yet how helpful!

Plus … how very TRUE!

“Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee.”

The verb “call” is spelled “qara” in Hebrew. It’s the first word in the Hebrew sentence, the verse, by the way. Lending it great importance in the grammatical syntax there. It’s the “power” word of the whole sentence!

If we don’t “call,” God just might not “deliver!”

But as I’ve already indicated, “qara” is further framed as an “imperative” verb. It is expressing a demand, a requirement, a mandate! An “order” from our great God … “call upon me!”

The sentence has a short “cause-and-effect” sequence, too.

IF WE CALL (the cause) … GOD WILL DELIVER (the Effect)!

Wow!

And yes, this is clearly a promise, based on the character of the Lord Himself. (God absolutely cannot lie, Titus 1:2 tells us. And Hebrews 6:18 adds that it is “impossible” for God to lie!)

All that is left is for us humans (who are often in trouble) to practice, exercise the promise!

Oh yes, “trouble” is “tzsrah,” meaning the “distressful, tight, cramping, anguish-filled” places and times of life. (“Tzsrah” is actually from a root verb that hints “everything is squeezing in on you, from all sides, and all at once!) This leaves open the possibility that this “trouble” can be widely varied! Whatever heartache YOU are experiencing this moment!

Then comes the “verb” that is our God’s Responsibility … “will deliver.” It’s spelled “chalatzs” and is only used 44 times in the whole Old Testament! It means “to rescue,” as with an armed guard! At times it can even mean “to arm” the sufferer, so he or she can fight his or her way out of the situation! Plus, the verb is in the “Piel” stem, meaning God energetically handles this mode of delivery! Powerfully so!

Mercy!

Hallelujah!

Oh, one more thing this morning.

God does want to be thanked when He sends such deliverance!

He deserves to be glorified!

The full verse: “And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.” Psalm 50:15, surely the least we can do … GLORIFY our loving Heavenly Father! (Glorify, “kabad” in Hebrew … letting God know how verey “heavy,” how “weighty,” how “important” He is in your life!)

What a verse, Psalm 50:15!

By the way, it is parallel to another “Call upon Me” promise in Scripture. “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” Jeremiah 33:3, and yes … God is still the One talking!

I sincerely pray these Biblical thoughts will HELP someone reading here today!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell