The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble — the name of the God of Jacob defend thee; (2) send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion; (3) remember all thy offerings and accept thy burnt sacrifice — Selah. (4) Grant thee according to thine own heart — and fulfill all thy counsel.” Ps.20:1-4
When this wonderful Psalm of David says: “The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble” it pertains — first of all, to our Lord Jesus Christ — and then unto all of us whom God has placed in Him before the foundation of the world. The word so translated as “hear” — literally means: “answer”. So, the phrase actually says: “The Lord answer thee — in the day of trouble”. This denotes petitionary prayer being made — “in the day of trouble”. Our sovereign Savior substitute was often vanishing from the crowds to get away to a place of private prayer with His heavenly Father. Even so, we who have been eternally loved and chosen by God — and place in His dear Son — will do the same thing.
The “day” of trouble for Christ was every day that He spent in His special time of divine incarnation in this world — our fallen world — on our behalf. So, if ever there is a time for us to be on our knees in prayer for wisdom; for guidance; for provision; for protection and preservation — it is now.
Our Lord prayed — just to simply spend time in the presence of His Father. Even so do all of God’s true children whom He has set apart from this evil world to be eternally saved. Our Savior’s prayers were not for His own deliverance, but for ours! He was sent by the Father to act as our Surety and Substitute. To seek and to save all of God’s lost children…every one. His petitions were always concerning us!
And, what does the Word of God command of us? What does the Law of the Lord command all of His true children? Why, it commands of us that we should love one another — bear one another’s burdens — and pray without ceasing for one another. This is the holy practice which makes up the bulk of our days in this world of trouble, trial and affliction. And, as the Father sent help from Zion unto His Son to strengthen Him in the accomplishment of the eternal holy atonement that He was sent to perform — even so, has He sent and supplied us with Christ — who is our help and strength! He is even our all and in all.
It is certain that the Father hears and grants the petitions of His Son — who is the eternal Son of God! And again, the same assurance is given unto us: “And this is the confidence that we have in Him — that if we ask any thing according to His will — He heareth us: (15) and if we know that He hear us — whatsoever we ask — we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.” 1Jn.5:14-15 We have been given this eternal assurance by virtue of Christ’s eternally accomplished atonement on our behalf as being “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world”– Praise His Name!
For Christ’s Glory Only!
John Carpenter
