My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest.
The prayer of a righteous person accomplishes much. God promises to hear the righteous in their distress and pain but this verse portrays a plea not being answered immediately. We have to remember that a prayer not answered does not negate God out of the picture. He is gloriously enthroned above and He rules supremely. The Psalmist is asking God for the stillness in his own soul in the midst of pain and affliction from within and without. At the moment, he is not feeling too high about himself. He is being mocked, despised and shamed for holding onto the name of God Himself. He trusted God but his prayers remain in abeyance. The phrase “by day” and “by night” may signify the regularity and the constancy of his prayers. Figuratively, “by night” may also imply “in the darkness and adversity” of the soul, the plea offered to God is not answered.
We all go through different seasons of life; some bright days and some bleak days. We cry to God for help for peace and rest in the midst of trials and struggles but at times our prayers seem to go unheeded. We continue to plead earnestly but we do not find the rest we need. The Psalmist, however, did not lose hope in his unanswered prayers. He assures himself of God’s power and dominance over all creation. He affirms and reminds his own soul of the faithfulness of God to the past generations and sees ahead of how posterity will serve and praise the name of God for his sovereign power and deeds.
Prayer: Lord, Help me be totally confident of your works and power in my life and in this world, amen.
