Psalms 4:1
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1 To the chief Musician [natsach] on Neginoth, [nagiynah] A Psalm [mizmowr] of David. [David]
Hear [`anah] me when I call, [qara'] O God ['elohiym] of my righteousness: [tsedeq] thou hast enlarged [rachab] me when I was in distress; [tsar] have mercy [chanan] upon me, and hear [shama`] my prayer. [taphillah] KJV-Interlinear
For the choir director; on stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.
1 Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! Thou hast relieved me in my distress; Be gracious to me and hear my prayer. NASB
The word Neginoth, means a stringed instrument. David is giving instructions to play this psalm set to music played by a stringed instrument. Music is typically used to symbolize Gods grace policy.
Answer when I call, is a request in prayer for God to grant the request being made. The call is the prayer and the answer is the expectation of a positive response from God in granting the request.
God is the one to whom the prayer is directed, God the Father. The Father is the only authorized recipient of prayer. By example Jesus prayed to the Father. There is no other person or thing to which prayer may be directed.
No prayer goes to any human being, to any angel, to any animal or bird or fish. No prayer may be directed to any dead thing or inanimate object like a rock or planet.
All prayers offered to Mary or Jesus, or ancestors, or angels, or rocks or anything or anyone other than the Father, are invalid. Certainly all prayers offered to idols or religious objects, or false gods, are invalid.
God of my righteousness, is the complete reference to the format and process of prayer. There is only one way to pray, to the Father, in the name of the Son, and by the power of the Holy Spirit. Prayer offered in any other way, or by any other means is invalid.
God is in the plural, referring to the entire trinity and their function within prayer.
Righteousness, is Gods righteousness, imputed to each person who believes in Christ. Prayer belongs to believers only. Unbelievers who pray, do so without results.
The only prayer of the unbeliever that is valid, is the prayer of believing in Christ. Ones expression of faith is a type of prayer, which God accepts for salvation.
Enlarged, means to make room or to enlarge space. God gives the believer who is in fellowship, room to pray.
In distress, means in times of trouble. Trouble of any kind.
When the believer finds himself in trouble, and while he is functioning within his spiritual life, that is, resides in fellowship, then God makes adequate room or time for prayer. This space is always reserved for mature believers, and at times for immature believers, depending on the nature of the trouble.
Sometimes, if the believer has been negative toward his spiritual life, and has received adequate warning, then trouble could easily come upon him and without space or time for recovery. The negative believer, probably will not even think of praying anyway. God knows the state of mind of each individual, and allows appropriate room for prayer, under the circumstances.
Mercy, is grace in action. This is the call for God to not just hear, but to act, and act with favorable action for the believer.
Hear, again is repeated for emphasis for action on Gods part, to bring aid as required, to the believer.
Your spiritual status determines the power, effectiveness, and results of your prayers.
The immature or marginal or negative believer, bats zero most of the time. No obedience to Gods will, and thus no favorable response from God, in prayer.
The believer who is positive toward God, studies daily, is growing up in their spiritual life, operates in the fellowship sphere (due to regular confession), is otherwise obedient to Gods will, principles, mandates, and so forth, will have a powerful and effective prayer life.
If your prayers do not seem to work, then perhaps you need to examine your spiritual life and discover where the weak links are within yourself, and then correct them, by changing your spiritual growth pattern, or pattern of life.
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