Which other Psalms emphasize calling upon God in times of trouble? Psalm 140:6 — The Model Cry “I say to the LORD, ‘You are my God.’ Hear, O LORD, my cry for mercy.” David sets the tone: when trouble presses in, the first instinct is to speak directly to God, declare trust, and ask for His attentive ear. Other Psalms That Voice the Same Plea • Psalm 18:6 — “In my distress I called upon the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry for His help reached His ears.” • Distress turns to prayer; prayer is met with a listening God. • Psalm 34:17 — “The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears; He delivers them from all their troubles.” • God’s hearing is paired with decisive rescue. • Psalm 50:15 — “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me.” • A divine invitation: our call, His deliverance, our worship. • Psalm 61:2 — “From the ends of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint. Lead me to a rock that is higher than I.” • Even when strength fails, God remains the unshakeable refuge. • Psalm 86:7 — “In the day of my distress I call on You, because You will answer me.” • Confidence grows from past answers. • Psalm 91:15 — “When he calls out to Me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him and honor him.” • A threefold promise: answer, presence, deliverance. • Psalm 107:6 — “Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress.” (repeated in vv. 13, 19, 28) • A chorus through Israel’s history: cry, deliverance, thanksgiving. • Psalm 116:4 — “Then I called on the name of the LORD: ‘O LORD, deliver my soul!’” • Simple, urgent, effective. • Psalm 118:5 — “In my distress I called to the LORD, and He answered and set me free.” • Prayer moves the psalmist from confinement to spacious freedom. • Psalm 120:1 — “In my distress I cried to the LORD, and He answered me.” • A travel-song reminder that God hears on every road. • Psalm 130:1 — “Out of the depths I cry to You, O LORD!” • No depth is too deep for His ear. • Psalm 142:1-2 — “I cry aloud to the LORD; I lift my voice to the LORD for mercy. I pour out my complaint before Him; I reveal my trouble to Him.” • Honest outpouring welcomed by a compassionate God. Key Takeaways for Today • Scripture consistently links calling on the Lord with receiving His help; the pattern is meant for every generation. • Whether the trouble is internal (Psalm 34), external (Psalm 18), lifelong (Psalm 86), or sudden (Psalm 120), God’s response remains unwavering. • Each cry is rooted in a relationship: “You are my God” (Psalm 140:6). Affection fuels petition, and petition strengthens affection. • The Psalms invite us to echo their words, trusting that the same attentive God hears, answers, delivers, and deserves our honor. |
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