Psalm 145:18
“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” Psalm 145:18
Nearer to God
What other nation or people are so blessed to have their “gods” near them the way we have the Lord our God near us when we pray to Him? There is a sense in which He is ‘near’ to every single living person on earth but there is a special sense in which He manifests Himself to those who call on him. If a man would love Jesus and keep His commands then God comes unto this man and makes abode with him (John 14:23). It is in prayer, in praise, in his peace and joy where we have communion with him.
Call on Him
If God doesn’t give you what you want, what do you usually do? I know it feels terrible but what is our default response? We usually run away from Him in search of greener pastures. Sometimes it is quicker results or the results we want just like Saul did when he went to the medium to speak with the dead Prophet Samuel (1 Samuel 28). When we do not hear God’s response after we have spent so much time reaching out to him, it can be very frustrating. But who else can we run to for refuge, Who else does not sleep or slumber while watching over us? He is near to those who call on him. Even though sometimes we pray with bitterness, anger, with cold hearts or when we are still brimming with pride David decrees that he is close to those who call upon His name in truth (Calvin John). Never stop calling upon the name of God.
Rise in Faith
The invitation is to seek him with all sincerity and truth and he will answer. Will you do it? His word promises that He will open the door when we knock. We must keep calling on him for our material needs, our spiritual needs. He promises to give us grace in times of timidity, strength when we are weak. The prophet Joel writes, “Let the weak say “I am strong” which means that we must not plead with our shortcomings. We must never let the dark times be our story. The farmer must go to war with his peaceful toil, the sick must forget their sickness and put on a strength that they did not have before. This is faith, assurance of victory even when all signs say otherwise. God is well able to supply all our needs according to his riches in glory through Christ (Philippians 4:9).
John Patton was a missionary in New Hebrides island. One night the hostile natives were bent on burning the mission station with the Pattons inside. That night they made a simple prayer that God would protect them from all harm and they slept peacefully. To their surprise the next morning the crowd had left. Sometime later after the chief got saved, John asked him why they did not burn their house that night. The chief surprisedly replied, “we were afraid of the many men with the shining garments and swords circling the station.” (Today in the Word, MBI, October 1991, p. 18). Let us therefore not stop calling on God.
King James Version (KJV)
“The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.”
New International Version (NIV)
“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”
New American Bible (NASB)
“The Lord is near to all who call on Him, To all who call on Him in truth.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
“The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.”
The Living Bible (TLB)
“He is close to all who call on him sincerely.”