Psalm 70

Introduction: Story of Titanic radio controller sending out SOS call for help.

Transition: Today, from Psalm 70 we are going to investigate the prayer of desperation. Much like the radio man on the Titanic, David records this prayer as a desperate attempt to be delivered, rescued, saved. Unlike the Titanic, David’s prayer was heard loud and clear. I wonder, Have you ever been in that place in your life, when you cried out to God in desperation?

Read: Psalm 70 and pray.

Desperate prayer rightly identifies the enemy.

The enemy is he who seeks to end life. To snuff out the breath of another. In John 10:10 Jesus says…

The enemy is also he who delights in hurt. He pleasures in the pain of others. We know this has been true of the enemy of God from the beginning. Satan, the evil one, has constantly caught out to cause hurt.

Also, from verse 3, the enemy mocks and scorns and accuses. Revelation 12:10 tells us..

Revelation 12:10 ESV

And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.

All of these characteristics rightly identify the true enemy of God’s people as Satan, the devil… the deceitful and vicious lier who roars around seeking whom he may devour.

Do not be afraid, when we pray in desperation we are exposing him and crying out to the King of Kings to whom will rescue us.

Keep in mind church, the war has already been won through the death , burial, resurrection, and soon return of Jesus Christ our Lord. The victory belongs to the Lord. However, for such a time as this we remain on the battle field and are fighting on the front line.

Illustration: Desperate prayer rightly identifies the enemy. It is as if we are in the trenches of spiritual warfare. And as we engage in the battle with fiery dart flying all around us, we call in to our great and mighty caption for an airstrike upon the true enemy of our souls. And he will not delay. He will send the fortress of his holy angels to wreck havoc upon the enemy. It is incumbent upon us to cry out in desperation, picking up our communication device of prayer, and identify the enemy.

What keep us from this? Confusion. 1 Corinthians 14:33 tells us that..

1 Corinthians 14:33 ESV

For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,

Which helps us understand that confusion is a tactic of the enemy. So what should we do? How might we apply this to our prayers?

Gain clarity from Scripture about nature of our battle. For example… Ephesians 6:10–13 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”

Transition story: Several years ago, I had met a guy who was caught up in addictions and all sorts of others sins. Over time he became a Christian and eventually , since he needed a place to live, he stayed with me for about 3 months. After receiving some bad news one day, he just flipped and took off. He stole from me and refused my help. He simply ran off. While I was deeply hurt by all that, and wrestling to make since of it all… I started to cry out to God in desperation. Eventually, I got to the place of rightly identifying the enemy. It was not the guy i had attempted to help. Yes, he was responsible for his sinful decisions, but he was not my enemy.

Transition: Church, The fight was and continues to be against the enemy of our souls. And when we pray in desperation we rightly identify him.

Secondly…

Desperate prayer continually focuses on God’s greatness.

Notice verse 4 again. (Expound)

When we are desperate in prayer, we are focusing our hearts and minds on the One with the final answers.

For example…

Bonnie, there is no doubt that this has been the theme of your prayers these last two months as you cried out for Dillion.

Many of you are praying like this for the salvation of friends and family.

This is a regular expression of our hearts as we seek God together corporately and secretly.

I remember several years ago kneeling in my office with three 2 other guys and crying out to the Lord in desperation as one of the guys was battling infertility. We cry out to God this way when spouses die, and dreams are crushed.

We see this kind of prayer in the Lord Jesus on the night He was betrayed. He sweat drops of blood as He cried out to God in desperation, “Not my will but thine be done.”

What keeps us from focusing on God’s greatness? Contempt. When we fold to the temptation of the evil one; Is God really good? to think God is not good. How could a good God allow this tragedy, this horrific situation, this terrible relationship, this brokenness and sadness? When those question are asked of God from a person in desperation, who is focusing on the greatness of God… He will not despise. God will bring comfort and clarity. However, when those questions are throne at God like a spear they reveal a heart of contempt.

Application: Consider taking time today, this week, to pour out your heart by saying, “God is great.” Answer your doubts with that truth. Speak that truth to your friends and neighbors. Share that reality with those you go to school with and work with. When you and your spouse are talking about the hardships of the week, speak this truth to one another in prayer… God IS Great.

Transition: Now, let us look at a final observation about desperate prayer.

Desperate prayer humbles us.

Verse 5 is a clear confession of David’s position before God. (expound)

This theme of humility runs throughout the entire Bible. Listen to just a few examples…

Isaiah 57:15 ESV

For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.

Psalm 51:17 ESV

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

1 Peter 5:6 ESV

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,

James 4:6–7 ESV

But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

What keeps us from humbling ourselves before God? Plainly, it’s pride. When I think I can handle the situation. When I think my understanding is sufficient. When I lean on my own ability or skill rather than the greatness of God… then my prayers will be weak and puny. Self dependency will make our prayers sound like a muffled whimper. However, when our hearts are humbled before the Lord, and our attitudes are desperate and poor and needy. Not just a show, but actually the disposition of our soul. We can rest assured that our great God will hasten to us and help us and deliver us.

Closing: If you are a Christian today, then at some point in your life you prayed in desperation. The only way we can cry out to Jesus as Lord for the salvation of our souls is when by the grace of God we have been awakend to the reality of our rebellion against a Holy God. Only when we have heard the good new that God has loved us by sending Jesus Christ to die the perfect death in our place and rise again as the victor over our sin can we humbly say to God, save a wretch like me. If you have never actually come to this place in your life, then I invite you today to consider the greatness of God. Consider the love of Christ. Consider your desperate need to be forgiven by God for your sin against Him. And cry out to Jesus in desperation. Those of us who know and follow Jesus… remember! Remember who your real enemy is. Remember that God is great. Remember your need and poverty of soul. Are you burdened? Are you overwhelmed? Are you confused or full of contempt?

Rejoice! Be glad! God will be quick in His deliverance. Practice desperate prayer.