Connect Psalm 66:19 with another scripture emphasizing God's attentiveness to prayer. Psalm 66:19—God Listens! “But God has surely heard; He has attended to the sound of my prayer.” • The psalmist celebrates a simple, stunning reality: the Holy God listens—personally and attentively—to the prayers of His people. • “Has surely heard” underscores absolute confidence, not wishful thinking. • “Attended to” pictures God bending down, giving full focus, never distracted or disinterested. A Companion Verse: 1 Peter 3:12 “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayer…” • Peter links God’s “eyes” and “ears” to emphasize complete attentiveness—He both sees and hears. • The verse reaches back to Psalm 34:15, showing a consistent biblical thread: God’s covenant care includes ready reception of prayer. • The contrast (“…but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil”) reinforces that faithful living and answered prayer go hand in hand. How the Two Passages Interlock • Same Divine Posture: – Psalm 66:19 highlights God “attending.” – 1 Peter 3:12 stresses “ears open.” Both paint the Lord leaning in toward those who call on Him. • Certainty, Not Probability: – “Surely heard” (Psalm 66) = settled fact. – “Are on… are open” (1 Peter 3) = ongoing reality. • Covenant Context: – Psalm 66 is a communal song of deliverance; Israel rejoices that obedience resulted in answered prayer. – 1 Peter 3 addresses scattered believers; holy conduct safeguards communion with God and guarantees His listening ear. Key Takeaways • God’s attentiveness is woven through the whole canon—Old and New Testaments agree. • Righteous living keeps the prayer line clear; unrepentant sin blocks it (see also Proverbs 15:29; Isaiah 59:1-2). • Confidence in prayer is not presumption but trust in God’s stated character. Living It Out • Approach prayer expecting to be heard—because Scripture says you will be. • Guard a clean conscience; obedience amplifies prayer’s power. • When answers come, echo the psalmist: bless the One who “surely heard” and “attended.” |
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