Sometimes we pray casually. Our mind wanders and we even have trouble staying focused on the God of the universe, with Whom we’re speaking. Yet there are other times when our prayers carry a sense of desperation. We know how urgently we need God to intervene on our behalf. We cannot afford to be left out in the lobby waiting for an appointment! We must rush in to His holy presence immediately in order to consult with our Lord. In those urgent moments, we need to know that He is listening to our every prayer and is already marshaling His resources to deliver us.
“Hear me speedily” is an interesting phrase! How do you “hear” speedily? Of course, for God to hear is for God to act. We can have no doubt that when God hears; He responds. However, Scripture is clear that there may be times when God turns His face away from us. Because of our sin, God can refuse to listen to our plea. That can be a terrifying predicament. For if God is not listening, then He is not intervening. There is no more desperate place to be than in a position where God is not listening to our prayers.
That is why the psalmist did not take for granted that God would hear him. He pled that God would hear him “speedily.” The psalmist could not afford to be found out of favor with his King.
How speedily does God hear your prayers?