The Divine Willingness to Hear Prayer
J. E. Hargreaves. Isaiah 65:24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. I. MAN NEEDS TO CALL UPON AND SPEAK TO GOD. What is man's greatest need? To him who believes in a future world — eternal life. To whom shall he go for this? He must call upon God. This is shown — 1. From the consciousness of an existing want which cannot be supplied. (1) By himself. (a) From within. (b) From without. (2) By the world. (a) Its inhabitants. (b) Its wealth. (c) Its pleasures. 2. From the fact that light, pardon, guidance, comfort, heaven, can only be had from God. II. MAN IS ENCOURAGED TO CALL UPON AND SPEAK UNTO GOD. This is shown by four considerations of God's dealings with man — 1. Opening the way of approach to Himself by His Word. 2. Teaching the way by His servants. 3. Directing in the way by His Spirit. 4. Distinctly promising to bless all who come in the way. But from the text we learn explicitly that man is encouraged to call upon and speak unto God. "Before they call, I will answer.' God perceives and realizes the desires of the Christian heart. Amid all the complex movements of the universe, He sees the unfolding of the praying heart, and, swifter than the lightning flash, the answer comes. David found it so (Psalm 32:5), so did Daniel (Daniel 10:12), and we have found it so (Matthew 6:8). "And while they are yet speaking I will hear. God is willing to listen to the articulated wish of the Christian hearts. Amid the clash of nations' strife, the busy hum of struggling humanity, the hoarse cries for sensual pleasure, the blasphemies of the lewd, the groans of the crushed and disappointed, He listens to the speaking of His children, and hears the faintest whispered want. Illustrations: The Israelites at Mizpeh (1 Samuel 7.); David's triumph over his enemies (Psalm 6:8, 9); Daniel and the seventy weeks (Daniel 9:21); Cornelius (Acts 10:3). (J. E. Hargreaves.) Parallel Verses KJV: And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. WEB: It shall happen that, before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.