Psalms 80:1a

Psalms 80:1  Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth. 

Psalms 80 is a prayer. It opens with a plea: “Give ear”. This phrase is one word in Hebrew meaning ‘to expand’ or ‘broaden out the ear’. Implicit in the word is the idea of straining to hear. Why would one strain to hear? Because the sound being made is so weak and feeble. As one reads this Psalm, it becomes apparent that when it was written, God’s people were in a tough place. They had been wasted, devoured. trodden down. Now, they are whispering from the dust, ‘Give ear!’
It brings to mind king Jehoshaphat standing with the people praying to the Lord declaring, ‘We have no might against this great company but our eyes are on Thee!’

This Psalm is a prayer for help. It phrases it in several different ways, the first of which is this: Give ear. Why? Because we are weak and feeble with no strength. Why? Because the worst thing that could happen to us is for God to no longer speak. His Word is life. His silence and absence will bring death. In Jeremiah 11:14, God tells the prophet, I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble. This horrific scene is one that was brought on by a stubborn and rebellious people who refused the directions God gave time and again until it was too late.

There is the idea that God hears all. To which I would say, true. But when Scripture declares He will not hear, that is to say, He will not respond. There is a grave error in believing one can do what they please and when they are ready, they will come to God and be forgiven. Who is Creator and who is created? Is God a genie in the lamp that you can summon Him at will to do your wish?

It is as it is written in 2 Co 6:2, NOW is the day of salvation. Tomorrow is not guaranteed. Even if you are alive, there is no guarantee that God will answer in your time of trouble if you turn away now. He’s not at your beckoning. You are at His. If you hear His voice, don’t turn away.

Perhaps when we understand the gravity of the situation, the opening of this prayer: Give ear, will take on a deeper meaning. Perhaps we can see a humility when the writer acknowledges God’s own prerogative in listening to our prayers. He’s not compelled to listen. It’s heaven’s mercy and grace that He listens. The wonder is not that prayers are not answered. It’s that they are answered at all, for what have we to offer Him?

May we never forget that when we pray, perhaps every day, at least once in a while, to humbly ask the Almighty to give ear.

O Lord, Hear us when we call.