PSALM 3:1–4 Cry Aloud
READ: PSALM 3:1–4 (MATTHEW 27:45–54)
Morning story: The Rebellion of Absalom Link
Kids' Questions:
- Was Absalom good or bad?
- Is it right to pray out loud to God?
V. 4 “I cried aloud to the LORD, and he answered me from his holy hill.”
“I cried aloud to the LORD . . .” Ever done that?
Over the space of four years Absalom had hypocritically cultivated a good attitude toward himself from his fellow Israelites (2 Sam. 15:1–7). He made himself look good and his father King David look bad. Slowly, people were won over. Absalom’s aim was to overthrow the king and seize the throne in Jerusalem. When he did, David was faced with overwhelming odds. He actually cried aloud to the LORD in his trouble.
Sometimes people pray without speaking aloud. They pray in their mind or heart. Think of Hannah in the temple. Her lips moved but her voice was not heard (1 Sam. 1:13). David, however, shouted his prayer in insistent fervour, directing his cries to the LORD his God. He knew that only the LORD was able to help him. Have you ever groaned or even shouted aloud to God?
God hears prayers like that! David says in Psalm 3, “He answered me out of his holy hill.” That holy hill was Mount Zion, the place the LORD God had chosen to live among his people forever (Ps. 2:6). David had previously brought the ark there, with its mercy seat symbolizing the future redeeming work of Jesus Christ. When he cried out in his trouble, David was sure that because of the ark his cries would certainly be heard by the LORD. That confidence itself was the initial answer to his cries. David’s situation was still perilous, but his heart was at peace. He was able to sleep and wake up again refreshed.
What Jesus Christ did for us with the shedding of his blood on Calvary ensures that our fervent cries will always be heard by God. On the cross David’s son cried out with a loud voice, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matt. 27:46). Because he was abandoned by his Father there in our place, we may know with certainty that our Father will never forsake us.
Our circumstances may not change right away, if at all. But our heart and perspective will. The Holy Spirit will flood us with confidence and peace for we will know for certain that our Father in Christ is near us. For the sake of Christ he always answers our cries—the silent ones as well as the loud ones!
Copyright Restriction: Please visit website to purchase official copies.
Comments ()