Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)
This prayer of David holds a special place in Judaism; it is the concluding portion of what is called the Shemoneh Esrei (the Eighteen Benedictions). It is thus interpreted as a petition for God to honor prayers that have already been uttered and to do likewise for prayers that have yet to be spoken. Actually, David’s conclusion to this psalm could be regarded as an appropriate summary for all prayers — that God will receive and accept what has been spoken to Him. I might add that, seeing that this prayer has been remembered and studied for multiple centuries, we could conclude that this provides evidence that David’s prayer was, indeed, considered acceptable in God’s sight.
Notice also that David asks the LORD to regard, not just the words spoken, but also to consider those thoughts and feelings that are never uttered. I think all of us can appreciate what David seems to be saying here — God, please be aware of the thoughts and meditations that crowd my mind, many of which I am unable to put into words. Let’s face it: there are times when some things just can’t be articulated and yet so very important to us. It is comforting to think that God can understand what is going on within us and is able to receive our heart’s prayer as well as the words we speak. As it is written, “You alone know the hearts of all the sons of men” (1 Kings 8:39).
Let us conclude, then, with this thought: for all things, spoken and unspoken, we depend upon and trust in our God. He is the One we lean upon in our weakness and times of trouble. He is the Rock upon which we stand when life’s storms are stirring around us. He is the One who keeps us from all harm and who, in the appointed time, will redeem us and gather us unto Himself. And as Jacob said at the end of his life, the LORD is the One who has redeemed us from all evil. Amen!
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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