"If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof. Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats? Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the Most High: and call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me." [Psa 50:12-15]
Have you ever felt hesitant to ask for help from someone whom you had been lately accustomed to asking? Have you ever thought that if you were to bother them once more for help or for a question, that they might get upset, angry, or turn you away to your shame? Yes, we have perhaps all been in this situation, where dealing with the present confusion or weakness seemed far wiser and far better than asking for the aid of a fellow man, whose response was unknown or whose attitude seemed altogether bad. But praise be to God that our Lord is not so; for He encourages us greatly, saying, “call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.” Yes, we have a sure and certain help in our God, for we come to Him in the name of Jesus Christ, through whose advocacy and blood we are heartily accepted. As such we are admonished,
“Having therefore, brethren, freedom to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way…through…His flesh; and having an High Priest over the house of God, [Jesus Christ]; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith…” [Heb 10:19-22]
And again, is through Jesus our Lord, “in whom we have freedom and access with confidence by the faith of Him.” [Eph 3:12] Jesus offers us not just access, but freedom. The word often translated boldness means freedom or liberty. Boldness not in the sense of brazenness, but in the sense of freedom. As is the definition, “freedom from timidity; liberty…confidence; confident trust…” [Webster] We can assuredly approach God through Jesus, because Jesus has made us fit and able to do so. Through His blood, we can freely approach God without fear, without timidity, as beloved children. “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment…” [1 Jn 4:18] The throne we approach does not boom with the sound of thunder as Mount Sinai, or burn to ashes those who venture too closely as the fiery furnace of Nebuchadnezzar; no, but the throne of our Abba Father is altogether different, so that it might be said, “let us therefore come freely unto the throne of grace…” [Heb 4:16]
What a wonderful trait of God, His acceptance of us through Jesus, and His desire to hear our questions and cries for help. God does not turn us away, neither does He become irritated at us. No, but instead He encourages us to come; to call upon Him in the day of trouble. And let us not foolishly set bounds to “the day of trouble;” for it is a subjective term: what one may deem trouble, another may not. But praise be to God that He does not set bounds on trouble, but rather exhorts us all to lay hold of Him in that day, however severe or not it may be.
Moreover, it is written, “ye people, pour out your heart before Him: God is a refuge for us.” [Psa 62:8] God encourages us again to pour out our heart before Him. Not so that He can condemn or ridicule, but rather, because He “is a refuge for us.” He is a refuge: a “shelter or protection from danger or distress…a sanctuary which secures safety by its sacredness…[a] place inaccessible to [the] enemy.” [Webster] Though men are not so, yet our God is: therefore, let us go to Him; for He will always accept us, having urged us to come to Him with questions and with cares, as it is said elsewhere, “casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.” [1 Pe 5:7]
But let us notice one final thing in our passage for today. This coming to God for help in our distress is not just safe, but it is desired and gives God pleasure. For He says here, in effect, that He has no delight in nor desire for burnt offerings, [c.f., Psa 40:6] however many thousand may be offered: [c.f., Mic 6:7] but what truly pleases God and what He truly desires, is for us to, among other things, “call upon [Him] in the day of trouble.” God is not just neutral in His desire for us to come to Him, but rather urges us to do it, taking pleasure in it.
May God be thanked and praised for His holiness, and may we ever become more like Him.
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