D. Scott Meadows

Honestly, we are prone to doubt that prayer does any good, and then to slacken our praying, if we do not stop altogether. One reason is that we do not receive instant answers; our trials are often prolonged. Then doubt creeps in, hope fades, and God seems far away.

Believers have always been vulnerable to these temptations. Scripture meets them where they are with words of consolation and encouragement. Faith lays hold of them and perseveres through the night until the dawn of answered prayer.

17 (צ) The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth,
And delivereth them out of all their troubles.

18 (ק) The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart;
And saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

We should not that assurance in prayer is assurance 1) for the righteous 2) from the LORD 3) of deliverance.

Assurance for the Righteous

“The righteous,” and not all people generally, are in view here. Many others pray, at least in a manner of speaking, and have no basis for assurance that their prayers are acceptable to God and will be answered with blessing from Him. Psalm 34 has already stressed this truth. Only the man who trusts in the LORD is truly blessed (v. 8). Only one who fears Him suffers no lack (vv. 9, 10). Only a person who keeps their tongue from evil, who departs from evil and does good, and who seeks peace and pursues it, has the LORD’s eyes of watchful care upon them, and His ears open to their cry (vv. 13–16). This psalm testifies, very disturbingly for the majority, that “the face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth” (v. 16). He will remove both them and their memory from the eternal society and fellowship of His people.

Notice how “the righteous” are described in verses 17, 18. They are a people who suffer “troubles,” translating a Hebrew word which means “need, distress, anxiety,” “extreme distress of body or mind” (lexicons). They are characterized here as “the brokenhearted” and the “crushed in spirit,” as the original language might be rendered.

And it is out of this crucible of suffering in this life that their faith in the LORD is apparent, because they “cry for help” to Him; the verb means “to cry out with an appeal for something or some action; often done in desperation or difficulty” (LBSL).

Such is the lot of God’s favorites in this world! This goes against the popular “vending machine theology,” where it is believed that there is a correspondence between faith and visible blessing in this life—the “prosperity gospel.” Just put in your token of faith and out pops the blessing. That heresy is demolished by even a moment’s consideration of Jesus! Who had more faith? Who was more righteous? Who suffered more abuse and anguish? Who was more faithful to cry out in need and distress to His Father in heaven? His true disciples follow in His steps!

Assurance from the LORD

Though Psalm 34 is David’s truly personal testimony, he writes as a prophet and the product of his pen is God’s own Word and words. David conveys the idea that since he had experienced answers to prayer in his troubles, we should take heart and look for answers in our lives, too. That is perfectly valid, but our greatest assurance rests upon God’s Word through David that He hears us and will come to our rescue in His mercy. Verses 17 and 18 are not just human testimony but divine promise. There is nothing more certain as a basis for confidence than God’s own Word. It is true in the present as it stands written and it shall be fulfilled in the experience of all who truly trust Him. Both the objective revelation of His truth and the subjective faith to believe it and feel assured as a consequence are His gifts to His elect, those He has chosen as vessels for His overflowing mercy.

Remember, it is not just “God” who speaks here, but “the LORD,” the faithful Keeper of His covenant, whose Word is His bond and His omnipotent power of accomplishment!

Assurance of Deliverance

In an absolutely unequivocal way, these verses assure the righteous that the LORD “delivers” and “saves” them. The words mean “to free from harm or evil, and in some cases from imprisonment,” and, “to save from ruin, destruction, or harm” (lexicons). But we are not assured that this will be done as soon as we pray, or even fully in this life. Those who teach otherwise are guilty of an over-realized eschatology, of unwarrantably taking from the fullness of blessing reserved for the age to come and teaching its presence in the here and now.

What we can justifiably know is true right now, while praying in our distresses, is that the LORD “hears” us favorably as those in Christ, and for the sake of Christ, and that He is “nigh unto [us]” by His Holy Spirit. Perhaps the circumstances suggest otherwise, or our feelings disagree, but these things are true nonetheless, and we know them by faith resting upon God’s Word.

We also know that the LORD can, and sometimes does, grant escapes from death and other calamities in this life in answer to our prayers. Psalm 34 is David’s thankful praise for such a deliverance from a perilous situation. See the psalm title.

Finally, we know that when the Lord Jesus Christ returns, whatever remains of our full redemption will be abundantly supplied, including our total vindication as God’s people, the resurrection of our bodies, and the glorification together of our whole persons for all eternity with Christ. Such will be the incomprehensible and wonderful answer to all our prayers! Ω