Psalm 50:15 And call on me in the day of trouble: I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me. God here reproves Israel not for keeping back from Him abundant ceremonial service — they were not at fault there — but for not rendering Him the worship of the heart. That was what He desired more than all burnt offering and sacrifice. And the reasons of God's preference are evident. For — I. IT BRINGS GLORY TO HIM IN ITSELF. 1. It shows that God is a reality to the man. 2. There is spiritual intercourse in it. How easy it is to say a prayer without coming into contact with God! Year after year the tongue repeats pious language, as a barrel organ grinds out the old tunes, and there may be no more converse with the Lord than if the man had muttered to the ghosts of the slain. Many prayers might as well be said backward as forwards, for there would be as much in them one way as the other. The abracadabra of the magician has quite as much virtue in it as any other set of mere words. 3. It is filled with a manifest hope in God. 4. It exhibits a clinging affection to Him, and — 5. A most stedfast confidence. Therefore is it that such prayer brings glory to God. II. ALSO, THROUGH THE ANSWER WHICH IT WINS. The answer is personal, positive, practical, permanent. III. AND THE LORD WILL BE GLORIFIED IN YOUR CONDUCT AFTERWARDS. Adoration, gratitude, trust, patience, a consecrated life. It is by the sharp needle of sorrow that we are embroidered with the praises of the Lord. The brightest of the saints owe much of their clearness to the fire and the file. We must be tried that the Lord may be glorified. ( C. H. Spurgeon.) Parallel Verses KJV: And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.WEB: Call on me in the day of trouble. I will deliver you, and you will honor me." |
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