David begins Psalm 54 with four imperatives: save me; vindicate me; hear me; and give ear to me. With the first two he lays out his petition, with the second two he expresses his desire to be heard. All within the vocative case: “O God”. David is not merely unloading a burden in a general sense, he speaks directly to his personal God, the one who is the “helper” and “upholder” of his life (v4). ‘Give ear’ expresses the desire to ‘be heard’, to hold court with Yahweh and have his full attention. The psalmist needs to know that his prayer is heard and received by God: knowing this, he can continue to pray, believe, and trust. Is it not a faithful, trustworthy ear to whom we feel we may speak freely, and at length? David ties the later imperatives to his current circumstances: ‘Hear my prayer, and give ear to my words, for godless strangers have risen against me and seek my life.” The basis for his confidence lies in the former imperatives: the Lord who saves and vindicates by his name and might!
‘Hear my prayer, O God’ has always been the great cry and defence of the saints. As long as God has an open ear, we ought to have an open mouth. In troubled times, when all other avenues are closed, and our meagre means exhausted, prayer remains. ‘Give ear to the words of my mouth’. Vocal prayers serve us in such profound ways. They help to align heart and head, as David himself expresses in Psalm 19:14, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord my rock and redeemer.”
Something to See:
Thankfully, though prayer is undeniably personal, it is never solitary. The bible repeatedly affirms that the Lord hears the prayers of his people. We always ‘have his ear’!
O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.
Psalm 139:1-4 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippeans 4:6)”