This is a song about answered prayer. David's purpose in writing it and introducing it to the daily worship was to remind the people to pray to a Lord Who really hears them - as long as certain conditions are met.
He begins with a declaration of his purpose. He sings, "I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth!" Next is the praise itself. He says, "I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears . . . this poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them!"
Following the praise, the leader then exhorts, "Oh taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Oh fear the Lord, you His saints! There is NO want to those who fear Him!"
We need to know the meaning of this all-important "fear." David has them sing about what it is. He says, "Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Who is the man who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it." Real "fear of the Lord" is just living a life of righteousness as the result of being aware of His majestic and holy presence.
And why should they live that way? He sings, "the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry! . . . the righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles." The fear of the Lord, which shows itself in righteous living - is the condition for answered prayer.
The song closes with a promise to all who fear God in that way. They sing, "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all . . . and none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned."
So, brother or sister in Christ our King - will you sing this song of answered prayer? Do you experience answered prayer in your life? There's a condition you have to meet to experience answered prayer: you must fear the Lord. That is, realizing that He is the God Who sees, you must purpose to continually live in a way that pleases Him, and, when you stumble, you must confess it to Him. In other words, you have to have a real and living relationship with Him each day, all day. It's from such a life that prayer and answers to prayer flow.
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This is a song about answered prayer. David's purpose in writing it and introducing it to the daily worship was to remind the people to pray to a Lord Who really hears them - as long as certain conditions are met.
