Psalm 119:170

Psalm 119:170 “May my supplication come before You; deliver me according to Your promise.”
 

In the Old Testament, it was more difficult for supplications to come before the Lord because the standard of the law was an arduous thing to maintain. In Isaiah’s day, God was tired of all they were trying to do to find favor with Him: “When you come to appear before Me, who has asked this of you… Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons, Sabbaths, and convocations – I cannot bear… They have become a burden to me… When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you; even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood” Isaiah 1:12-15. God was tired of their prayers, religious holidays, and sacred assemblies that contained no repentance of sin. It’s not so much that these things were that displeasing to God, it’s that these things without repentance, mean nothing to God. 

In the New Testament, it is, relatively, easier for our supplications to come before God because of Jesus. Jesus is the standard by which the law is fulfilled. Therefore, if we have Jesus in us, we qualify for our prayers to go straight to God himself. The only way for Jesus to be in us is through repentance. 

When a person repents of their sin and receives Jesus, then their prayers gain new life. “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” Hebrews 4:16. Our confidence is that we are “in Christ.” Christ is our confidence that our supplication comes before God. At His throne we find mercy and grace. This is our deliverance. Our deliverance is according to God’s promise to have mercy on us.
 

Let me encourage you to take some time to meditate on this verse. As you do, thank God for His mercy and grace and that He hears your supplication.

Continued