What other scriptures emphasize God’s attentiveness to the cries of the righteous? Setting the Scene: David’s Cry in Psalm 17:1 “Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea; listen to my cry. Give ear to my prayer—from lips free of deceit.” (Psalm 17:1) David stands convinced that God hears him because he walks in integrity. Scripture continually echoes this confidence. Psalms: Repeated Assurance in the Prayer Book • Psalm 34:15 — “The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their cry.” • Psalm 34:17 — “The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears; He delivers them from all their troubles.” • Psalm 40:1 — “I waited patiently for the LORD; He inclined to me and heard my cry.” • Psalm 145:18-19 — “The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call out to Him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them.” Wisdom Literature: Clear Words from Proverbs • Proverbs 15:29 — “The LORD is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.” • Job 36:7 — “He does not take His eyes off the righteous; He enthrones them with kings and exalts them forever.” Prophets: God’s Heart for His People • Isaiah 30:19 — “O people of Zion who dwell in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. He will be gracious if you cry for help; as soon as He hears, He will answer you.” • Isaiah 41:17 — “The poor and needy seek water, but there is none… I the LORD will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.” • Jeremiah 29:12-13 — “Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” • Jeremiah 33:3 — “Call to Me, and I will answer and show you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Gospels: Jesus Affirms the Father’s Open Ear • Matthew 7:7-11 — “Ask and it will be given to you… For everyone who asks receives.” • Luke 11:9-13 — Parallel promise of the Father’s generosity. • Luke 18:7-8 — “Will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry out to Him day and night?” • John 9:31 — “We know that God does not listen to sinners, but He does listen to the godly man who does His will.” Epistles: Apostolic Encouragement to Pray Boldly • Romans 8:26-27 — The Spirit Himself intercedes when we pray. • James 5:16 — “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” • 1 Peter 3:12 — “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayer.” • 1 John 5:14 — “This is the confidence we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” Revelation: Heavenly Scenes of Heard Prayers • Revelation 5:8 — The golden bowls of incense are “the prayers of the saints.” • Revelation 8:3-4 — An angel offers incense “with the prayers of all the saints” before God’s throne. Tying It Together Across every section of Scripture—law, prophets, writings, Gospels, epistles, and even the consummation in Revelation—God repeatedly pledges that He bends down to listen when the righteous cry out. Psalm 17:1 is not an isolated plea; it joins a vast chorus testifying that the living God hears, cares, and acts on behalf of those who walk uprightly and call on His name. |
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