There's a kind of prayer that doesn't come out in sentences. It comes out at 3 a.m., in the car in the parking lot, or in the shower where nobody can hear. Psalm 34 says God hears that too.
Psalm 34:15-22 — KJV
15 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. 16 The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. 17 The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. 18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. 19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. 20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken. 21 Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate. 22 The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.
Psalm 34:15-22 — WEB
15 Yahweh's eyes are toward the righteous. His ears listen to their cry. 16 Yahweh's face is against those who do evil, to cut off their memory from the earth. 17 The righteous cry, and Yahweh hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. 18 Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit. 19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but Yahweh delivers him out of them all. 20 He protects all of his bones. Not one of them is broken. 21 Evil shall kill the wicked. Those who hate the righteous shall be condemned. 22 Yahweh redeems the soul of his servants. None of those who take refuge in him shall be condemned.
Explanation
The heading of Psalm 34 tells us when David wrote it: after he pretended to be insane in front of a Philistine king. David was running for his life from Saul, and he fled into enemy territory, to Gath. When he was recognized there, he panicked and acted like a madman, scratching on the city gate and letting spit run down his beard, until the king threw him out. This was not David's finest hour. He was alone, afraid, and humiliated. And this is the psalm he wrote afterward.
Psalm 34 is an acrostic in Hebrew. Each verse begins with the next letter of the alphabet, like a song a child could learn by heart. David wanted people to remember this. The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous. His ears are open to their cry. When they cry out, He hears and delivers them. God is not distant from those whose hearts are broken. He comes close to them, and He saves those whose spirits are crushed.
Notice how honest verse 19 is: "Many are the afflictions of the righteous." David doesn't pretend faithful people get a pass on trouble. He'd been chased, betrayed, and embarrassed. The promise isn't that the righteous avoid affliction. It's that the LORD delivers them out of it. Verse 20, "not one of his bones is broken," is a line the Gospel of John later points to at the cross, where Jesus died and none of His bones were broken. The righteous sufferer finally shows up in person.
This is exactly what happens on Sunday. Israel is gathered at Mizpah, the Philistines are coming, and the people are terrified. They say to Samuel, "Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for us." Samuel offers a young lamb, cries out to the LORD for Israel, "and the LORD heard him." Not maybe. Not eventually. The LORD heard. Before the day was over, He thundered against the Philistines and threw them into confusion. One of the marks of a virtuous leader is that he prays for his people, and keeps on praying.
So today, cry out. You don't need polished words. David's best psalm came after his worst day. If your heart is broken, God is not waiting for you to pull yourself together before He comes near. He comes closest exactly then. And if you have people who are depending on you, children, a congregation, a team, don't stop crying out to God for them, either.
Thought for the Day
God is closest when your heart is broken.
Reflection Question
Who in your life needs you to keep crying out to God for them?
Prayer
Lord, You know the prayers we've cried when we had no words left. Thank You that Your eyes are on us and Your ears are open, even on our worst days. Come near to every broken heart reading this today. Make us people who keep praying for those who depend on us, and never stop crying out to You. In Jesus' name, amen.
This week we walk toward Sunday's lesson: Samuel: God's Prophet and Judge.