The Duty of Prayer
Psalm 32:6
For this shall every one that is godly pray to you in a time when you may be found…


I. THE NATURE OF THIS DUTY. We may say prayers, even the most beautiful of prayers, such as we have in our liturgy, but all this may be and yet we may never pray. If our religion does not teach us to pray, it is a religion good for nothing. The faithful pastor will urge his people to pray, and, if they will not hearken, he will pray God by afflictions to compel them to pray.

II. THE TIME WHEN WE SHOULD PRAY — "when Thou mayest be found." For there is a time when God may not be found. Reprobates on death-beds have tried to find God, but could not (Proverbs 1:24). Oh, do not trifle with the gospel of the grace of God.

III. THY ENCOURAGEMENT TO PRAY. "For this cause shall," etc. God heard the poor, contrite penitent when he confessed his sin, and freely forgave him all. Therefore, do none of you think, it is all in vain now for you to pray. Once, you think, you might have been heard, but not now. Oh, it is not so. The day of grace is not over, but, if you trifle now, it may be to-morrow. Therefore seek the Lord now, at once.

(T. Mortimer, B. D.)



Parallel Verses
KJV: For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.

WEB: For this, let everyone who is godly pray to you in a time when you may be found. Surely when the great waters overflow, they shall not reach to him.




The Attitude of the Penitent
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