Prayer, Biblically speaking, just may be more about God than it is about us! Let me explain.

Psalm 143:1 pleads with our Lord … “In thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.”

Wow!

That whole first verse actually pleads: “Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.”

Hear! (In Hebrew this verb is basically spelled “shama,” and while meaning “to hear” most of the time, 785 to be exact … the word is also legitimately translated “to obey” 81 times, still a lot!)

Give ear! (In Hebrew “azan,” meaning “to understand” but in this sense … “to weigh, to test, to evaluate” something asked!)

Answer! (In Hebrew “anah,” meaning “to respond, to testify” and even rendered as “to sing” 4 times in the Old Testament!)

A threefold plea! Asking God to act!

But now let’s look at the attributes of God invoked here, used as supplements to the request at hand, a request which is not even given in this initial verse!

“In Thy FAITHFULNESS answer me, and in Thy RIGHTEOUSNESS.”

See! Much more important than David the Psalmist’s need or needs … is the uplifting (extolling, magnifying) of God’s Character, His Essence! What He is, Who He is!

God answers prayer because He is FAITHFUL!

Faithful to keep His Word, His Promises included!

And God answers prayer (and far as I know, only prayer) which is consistent with His RIGHTEOUSNESS!

Argue, emphasize … God’s Faithfulness and Righteousness and all His other Traits that come to mind … when you pray!

(Argue in prayer? That’s Bible vocabulary. Job certainly did, and with God’s approval. “Oh, that I knew where I might find Him! that I might come even to His seat! I would order my cause before Him and fill my mouth with arguments. I would know the words which He would answer me and understand what He would say unto me.” Job 23:3-5)

Someone wisely said that prayer is not always getting what I want, forcing God to agree with my wishes! But prayer is bending my will to God’s plan, knowing He is all wise and forever good!

In this Psalm, which really is a Prayer, David did not get to his request until the very last verse, verse 12. Amazing!

But he sure did brag on God a long time … only eventually getting to that request!

Even like this … “Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.” God’s Character displayed again in verse 10.

(This verse nearly re-states … “He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness … for His Name’s Sake!” Sound somewhat familiar, directly quoting Psalm 23:3?)

Our Lesson today is pure theology!

All about God!

Isn’t that where the emphasis must be placed?

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

.