Calling upon God

Calling upon God as an act of worship

By those who depend upon him and proclaim his name

Genesis 4:26 KJV 1900

And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the Lord.

See also Ge 12:8; Ge 26:25; 1 Ch 16:8; Ps 86:5; Ps 116:2; Ps 116:17; Job 27:10; 2 Ti 2:22

Those who do not acknowledge God or call upon his name

Ps 14:4; Ps 79:6; Is 65:1; Je 10:25; Zep 3:9

Calling upon God in time of need

Ps 50:15; La 3:55

See also 1 Sa 12:17–18; 2 Sa 22:4; 1 Ki 18:24; 2 Ki 5:11; Job 19:7; Ps 4:1; Ps 17:6–9; Ps 18:6; Ps 27:7–12; Ps 28:1–2; Ps 55:16; Ps 86:3; Ps 86:7; Ps 91:15; Ps 120:1; Pr 1:28; Is 58:9; Is 65:24; Je 11:14; Je 33:3; Joe 1:19; Hab 1:2; Zec 13:9

Calling upon God for his salvation

Acts 2:21 KJV 1900

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

See also Joe 2:32; Ro 10:12–14

Calling upon God was part of the priestly function of intercession

Psalm 99:6 KJV 1900

Moses and Aaron among his priests, And Samuel among them that call upon his name; They called upon the Lord, and he answered them.

See also Ex 17:11; Ex 32:31–32; Nu 21:7; 1 Sa 12:19; 1 Sa 12:23; Je 15:1

Examples of those who called upon God

Abraham

Genesis 13:4 KJV 1900

Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the Lord.

Moses

Ex 17:10–13; Ex 17:15; Ex 32:11–13; Ex 32:30; Nu 14:13–19; Dt 9:26–29

Samuel

1 Samuel 7:5–9 KJV 1900

And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the Lord. And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the Lord, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the Lord. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh. And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines. And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the Lord our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines. And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the Lord: and Samuel cried unto the Lord for Israel; and the Lord heard him.

Elijah

1 Kings 18:36–37 KJV 1900

And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the Lord God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.

Jonah

Jon 2:2; Jon 2:7

Stephen

Acts 7:59–60 KJV 1900

And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.