For the Glory of God

“But do thou for me, O GOD the Lord, for thy name’s sake: because thy mercy is good, deliver thou me.” (Ps 109:21 AV)

Herein is the purest of motive for any prayer request.  The context truly adds additional depth to the understanding of this truth.  David is seeking justice for those who had terribly persecuted him and his family.  The things they had done are almost unmentionable.  David went so far as to request those who did the wrong be cursed to the next generation.  He asked their prodigy not continue.  If this is Absalom, the prayer was answered, for Absalom had no children.  Yet, let us remember what the Spirit has illuminated this morning.  No matter what the request, specially of justice, it should not be for our own vindication.  Justice, or any other prayer request, should be for the glory of the name of God, first.

When we look at the vast majority of request we make of God, they tend to be in our own interests first.  Sure, most of them are not selfish in nature to the degree of peevish consumerism.  We want God to heal a sick loved one because they are important to us.  We desire our lost love ones to come to Christ because we cannot bear the thought of their eternal damnation.  We pray for an increase in numbers for our church because it would excite our soul and build our faith in the LORD.  We ask for a promotion or a better employment situation that we might be more faithful at church and with our family.  There is nothing wrong with those motives.  They are decent and good motives.  However, where is the glory of God in all of this? Where is His reputation in all this?  Let me give you and example from many decades ago.

The first church that I ever attended was very unique.  They were genuinely and sincerely soul-conscience.  Their entire reason for existence was to get the gospel out by any means.  Even if those means had a personal cost.  It was rare to hear of a personal prayer request that did not have an aspect of soul-winning attached.  “Pray for my surgery tomorrow that Gods’ power will be seen and that we get an opportunity to share the gospel with the staff.”  “Pray that the LORD would give me a new job because I have exhausted all opportunities to witness in the place I am now.”  “Pray for the funeral for my loved one because there will be many lost souls there.”  There was one such occurrence that really spoke to me.  This faithful family had two young children who were cousins.  They went missing.  They were found face down in a body of water.  Rushed to the hospital to try and revive them, the prayer chain went out with the request (from these young parents) that they receive opportunity to witness to the medical staff.  They wanted prayer for their children.  But they equally wanted the name of God to be glorified.

Perhaps we would see more prayer answered if we seek the glory of God first.  Not that these other motives cannot also be a factor.  But if the glory of God is first, then no matter the outcome, God’s will is accomplished.  We are not to manipulate an outcome by promising faithfulness to the LORD.  He knows better.  Rather, this must be genuine.  No matter the outcome, let the glory of God shine.