Praise is awaiting You, O God, in Zion; and to You the vow shall be performed. O You who hear prayer, to You all flesh will come. (Psalm 65:1)
Have you ever been in a crowded room full of different voices speaking at the same time? If you’re like me, after a few minutes of the noise, you’re looking for an escape from the hubbub. So many voices having so many different conversations becomes an overall rumble in my ears which provokes me to search for a quiet space. Now, can you imagine if all those voices and words were directed at you, all at the same time? The point is, as humans, we are incapable of hearing the words of two men speaking at the same time much less a multitude of people speaking simultaneously. However, the Almighty hears the individual prayers of all mankind, even though they are being prayed constantly.
Rabbinical writers underscore the point with this observation; the sound of a single voice can be understood by ten ears but the sound of ten voices can not be understood by one ear save that of the Almighty. He and He alone hears the myriad of voices calling out to Him for mercy and assistance and only He is just in how and when He responds to those prayers. Because He is Just, He is not like a human king who might be tempted to discriminate between the weak and the powerful, the poor and the rich. He treats all flesh as equals in regard to their petitions. That being said, the Bible makes it clear that the prayers of those who cherish iniquity will not be heard (Psalm 66:18); the prayer of those who turn away from God’s Word is an abomination (Proverbs 28:9).
Clearly, God hears every one but responds to those who are broken and repentant. That David says, “to You all flesh will come” implies that the prayers heard by God are the ones uttered by those whose heart is turned toward Him in humility and possessing a desire to draw near to Him. That translates into a belief that God hears every prayer submitted by broken and humble people, even those dedicated to what we might consider to be the mundane and routine concerns of life. Still, the same God who responded to prayers offered by Moses, Joshua and David will respond to my prayers and to yours when we approach Him in sincerity and contrition. God is not put off when millions of voices call out to Him simultaneously; to the contrary, He invites it.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
Recent Comments