The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 3 — Section 303

Ver. 1.-The plea of former prayer. Associating this psalm with David, Spurgeon thinks we have hert1 "David under suspicion, half afraid to speak lest he should speak nnadviscdly wliile trying to clear himself; David slandered and beset by enemies; David censured even by saints, and taking it kindly; David deploring the condition of the godly party, of whom he was the acknowledged bend; David waiting upon God with confident expectation." 'l'he point before us now is brought out by the Revised Version, which renders thus: "Lord I have called upon thee; make baste unto me: give ear unto my voice, when I call unto thee." The psalmist uses as a plea the fact that he had called upon God. But his precise thought seems to be, that the prayer ho had offered still remained unanswered, and he must therefore offer it again, a11d even more earnestly. So there are two topics which may be unfolded nnd illustrated. I. ANSWERED FOilMER PRAYERS ARE AN EFFECTIVE PLEA. And a store of these every good man holds in loving memory. "This poor man cried, o.nd the Lord heard, and saved him out of all his troubles;" "Verily God bath beard me." Every true life, when looked back upon, is seen to bo full of Jehovah-jireh pillars erected o.s memorials of answered prayer. These become a plea in fresh prayer, because they aro (1) God's pledges of his personal interest in us; (2) God's illustrations of what he can a11d will do for us; nnd (3) the best influence toward nourishing in us that spirit of trustfulness, nod bumble but confident hope, which is the acceptable spirit of all prayer. \Ve trust Goll to heed us because be has heeded us; and his ways with us have revealed to us what be is, the "prayer-answering God." II. UNANSWKRED FORMER PRAYERS ARE AN EFFECTIVE PLEA. 'l'he psalmist ho.s prayed about some particular need. Tho prayer is still u11a.nswered. On some this might act depressingly, and they might pray no more. This psalmist watches tmto prayer. Delay does its intended w0rk, and excites importunity. Because the answer has not come, be must pray again, and even plead that he is anxiously awaiting tho answer. Illustrated by the Syro-ph~nician womnn.-R. T.