“When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.” (Psalm 27:10)

The preceding verses to our text bear out that David was almost shouting his prayer to the Lord. His need was urgent, the circumstances were fearful, and David was not attempting to impress the crowd around him with his religious piety. An urgent need demands an urgent expression!

Such urgent expression, however, should not be understood or suggest that shouting is sufficient to move the Lord to hear. Jesus warned against using “vain repetitions” and “much speaking” as a substitute for genuine petition (Matthew 6:7). The Creator certainly understands the human condition. Our dear Lord Jesus “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). We are clearly told that we are to seek Him with our whole heart.

This kind of prayer is like thirsting for the Lord’s help “in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is” (Psalm 63:1). This kind of prayer reaches out with the soul to “desire thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early” (Isaiah 26:9). God does promise that the seeking prayer will be responded to! “Those that seek me early shall find me,” Wisdom promises in Proverbs 8:17. “I will hearken unto you,” the Lord says. “Ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:12-13).

It is the “effectual fervent prayer” of the righteous man that “availeth much” (James 5:16). HMM III

Adapted from Treasures in the Psalms, Henry M. Morris III, 344-345.