Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends

Chapter 1: Psalms 1–17

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Psalm 7 with John Chrysostom – Praying to Be Heard [David prays as he is pursued by Cush, a Benjamite.] They will tear me apart like a lion and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue me (v. 2). To be sure, he had built an army, and had a large number with him; so why does he say, with no one to rescue me ? Because he considers not even the whole world as help if he does not enjoy influence from on high, nor does he think of it as solitude if he is alone, as long as he shares in help from him. Hence he also said, “No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength” (Ps 33:16). LORD my God, if I have done this and there is guilt on my hands (v. 3). This must be our concern, not simply to pray but to pray in such a way as to be heard. It is not enough that prayer affects what is intended, unless we direct it to God. For the Pharisee prayed and achieved nothing (cf. Luke 18:10–14), and again the Jews prayed but God turned away from them in their prayer (cf. Isa 1:15); they did not pray as they should have prayed. That is why we were invited to pray the prayer most likely to be heard. He suggested this in Psalm 6 as well, begging to be heard not unconditionally but with the condition that he made an effort of his own. Now, what effort was that? This: “All night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears.” This: “I am worn out from my groaning.” This: “Away from me, all you who do evil” (Ps 6:5–8). All these win God over: lament, tears, groans, parting company from the wicked, living in fear and trembling of judgement.