January 25, 2011 – Psalms 109-110

The footnotes say that the prayer to God from 6-19 are from the servant against his persecutors.  But that isn’t what it appears because it starts after “My enemies say of me”.  I take it that the enemies are saying the prayer from 6-19.  In that light, it is kind of two groups both praying to God.  One, the poor and persecuted, and the other the accusers.  I thought this was really strange, but then I thought about all the times people on two sides of anything both pray to God for their side.  We see it a lot in sporting events, but even greater scenarios such as wars and battles.  Reflecting on that idea makes you realize that not only must you believe in the God you are praying to, but you must be acting in such a way that He will be on your side and you must be asking for what God desires of you. 

If you are asking God to help you in selfish or evil activities, God isn’t going to be there for you.  We see here that these accusers are asking God to help them punish someone who is doing God’s will.  God isn’t going to help them in this.  It makes you think about how far believing and praying to God will get you if that is all you think you need.  It appears that there must be a closer connection between you and God.  God cannot, will not grant everyone’s prayer (see Bruce Almighty for what happens when God says yes to everyone.)  Our prayers have to be directed by our connection to God’s will for us and our actions that show we are desiring to do God’s will.  Our belief and faith in God is essential, but that only gets us to a certain point, much like the accusers.  Those prayers are not heard over those of the one who believes in God and living the life of a servant of God.