Page 64 - Psalms Ebook

strength.” That is a prayer. But as you go through the psalm he does not
continue to talk to the Lord. In verse 2 it looks like he is talking about
the Lord, not to the Lord. “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and
my deliverer.” You see, he does not say You are my rock.

“My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield and the horn of
my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to
be praised.”

It sounds like he is talking to somebody else. And then in verse 4 it
looks like he is giving a testimony.

“The cords of death encompassed me, and the torrents of ungodliness
terrified me. The cords of Sheol surrounded me; the snares of death
confronted me. In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to
my God for help; He heard my voice.”

Is that a prayer? It does not look like he is talking to God. It looks like
he is testifying about his own situation. And as he goes through Psalm
18 you will see over and over again it seems like he’s talking to others.
Sometime he is talking about God. Sometime it sounds like he is talking
to himself. Other times he is talking to the Lord. In verse 25 to 29, it is
clear there he is talking to the Lord. Then in verse 30 it looks like he has
come back to testify to man. Then in verse 35,

“You have also given me the shield of Your salvation, and Your right
hand upholds me.”

It looks like he is talking to God again. I am just trying to show you how
much God includes in prayer. This whole Psalm, the Bible says, is a
prayer. Sometimes he talks to himself. So what? That is still a prayer.
Sometime he testifies. Prayer is deeper than words. That is also part of
the prayer. And so he was praying while he talked to somebody else and
while he meditated in his own heart. God responds to the poured out
heart. That is why this whole Psalm is a prayer.

While I talk to you, am I praying at the same time? And the answer is,
yes, indeed I am. My heart is open to the Lord, and while I speak, I pray.
And when you talk to people, if your heart is open to the Lord you are
praying at the same time. That is what is so wonderful about prayer. It
is bigger than anything. That is why we will never fully know how to
pray. Because it is your whole life poured out before God. It is the big
yes of your heart saying I want God’s will.

You do not have to keep saying, “Thy will be done.” You live in such a