Give Ear

I grew up watching Bugs Bunny. He would often listen for something whether it was Elmer Fudd tracking him or Bugs eavesdropping on someone else. He would cock his head in the direction of the sound, and his ears would lean even more in that direction. He was literally giving ear to what he was listening to.

I tried to recall a specific time I have given ear to something. Listened attentively. I remember some sermons or lectures that I listened to, but I have a feeling that even in those sermons, my mind and ears still drifted in a different direction. A time I do remember giving ear completely was in 1988, shortly after I graduated. As a graduation gift, a friend gave me and two of my friends tickets to the Depeche Mode concert at the Rose Bowl. Looking back, I know most of the lyrics were not good, but Depeche Mode was my favorite band at the time. OMD, who I also really liked, was one of the opening bands that night. The concert was loud and energetic. I didn’t have to cock my head and ears like Bugs Bunny to hear, but I gave my ear to every word sung that night. I didn’t want to miss a thing. I wanted to enjoy every note.

In Psalm 5, David calls on God to listen to him. In fact, in the first three verses, he petitions God to listen four times in different ways.

Give ear to my words, O Lord;

consider my groaning.

Give attention to the sound of my cry,

my King and my God,

for to You do I pray.

O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice;

in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for You and watch.

I encourage you to take a few minutes to read the rest of the Psalm and write down all the “God is” truths.

I’ve mentioned in other devotional posts that I’ve been using and enjoying Mark Futato’s commentary on Psalms. He not only explains the meaning of the Psalm, but he also analyzes the construction and format of the Psalm. I have found this interesting, so this week I am including his chart (I love charts!) of Psalm 5 filled in with some of his explanation to give you a little background before we take our look at Psalm 5.

The first three verses are the ones that drew me to Psalm 5 this week, but of course there is much more than those verses. Have you ever prayed and wondered if God was listening? Have you questioned if God cared about the concerns that you were pouring out to Him? You aren’t alone. Physically talking face-to-face with someone can seem more real. Yet, David is crying out to a real Person. The verb tense used is the imperative (command) even in verse 3 where the ESV translates it as an indicative (statement). David isn’t being disrespectful. He is speaking in faith knowing that God is real. God is present. God does give ear, consider, give attention to, and hear our prayers. He doesn’t miss a single word.

David declares God to be LORD (YHWH, the name God revealed to Moses on Mount Sinai), my King and my God. David’s God is personal (my). He is ruler. He is omnipotent. He is sovereign. He has the power and authority to act on David’s requests which is why at the end of verse 3, David says he watches. He is expectant because he knows who He has petitioned.

David wanted God to listen to his words, his groaning, his cry, and his voice. Words and voice bring to mind a normal conversation, but cry and groanings denote emotion, pain, suffering. David knows he can be authentic with his God. We can too. We can plead with God to listen knowing that He does (1 Peter 3:12; 1 John 5:15; Psalm 66:17-20; 34:15; 116:2). We don’t need to pretend our circumstances are ok or try to hide what we are thinking or feeling from God (He knows it all anyway). He wants us in faith to bring everything to Him.

Verse 7 reveals even more of David’s view of his God and his own position. He recognizes that it is only because of the abundance of God’s steadfast (unfailing) love that he can come into God’s presence with his prayer. Likewise, God’s abundant love in sending Jesus to die in our place and rise again to intercede for us grants us the privilege of coming into God’s presence (Hebrews 4:14-16). In the second part of verse 7, David says he bows down toward God’s holy temple in fear of God. David’s position is one of humility and awe before His God.

David’s second request is for God to lead him in righteousness and to make His way straight before David. He’s asking God to instruct him. Not only did David want God to hear his cries, but David wants to hear God speak. He wants to know how he should rightly respond. Part of that response is rejoicing, singing for joy, and exulting in God (vs 11) for the refuge and protection God has given him.

God has spoken to us in His Word. Yes, we should cry out to God. He wants us to bring our cares to Him, but we also need to have a teachable heart. We need to be studying God’s Word, so we will know how to respond in righteousness. In His grace, God has given us His Holy Spirit to help us understand and obey His Word. God does not leave us alone to muddle through His instruction.

Remember in verse 3 where we read that David was watchful and expectant in his prayer? Verses 11 and 12 disclose what David was watching for – God’s protection over those who love God, God’s blessing, and God’s covering with favor as a shield. David called God his King (vs 2). It was characteristic of a king to grant protection to those under him. David was expecting God to act according to who he knew God to be, and he waited in faith.

Reflection

1. What do your prayers look like? Authentic? Personal? Expectant? Humble? Awestruck? What from Psalm 5 challenges you to pray differently?

2. God gives ear to your cries. Are you giving ear to His instruction or are you expecting God to just make it all happen while you are idle? Sometimes when we are stuck, asking another person to help us search, study, and apply God’s Word can help us give ear to God’s instruction.

3. Psalm 5 made me consider my own listening skills in relation to others. Do you listen when other people are sharing their cries and groanings with you? How do you respond when others share their hurts or struggles with you? It may be an opportunity for you to pray with them, speak truth, show compassion, and walk with them. Is there someone who comes to mind?