Charles Spurgeon’s sermons were so popular in his time, that stenographers took down the transcript of his messages as he preached, and prepared them for publication the following day.
His belief in the full divine inspiration of Scripture rings out in his teaching. Here in the second part of his sermon “Real Prayer”, notice how how he draws each point from the words, the context, even the very grammar of the sacred text. Reflect deeply on his lessons here for your own prayer life.
“Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” – Psalm 50:15
In the promise of Psalm 50:15, we have God’s free grace vowed to us.
If a person once says to you, “I will,” you hold him to his promise. He has placed himself at the command of his own declaration. If he is a true man and has plainly said, “I will,” you have him in your hand. He was free before giving the promise, but he is not free after giving it. He has put himself in a certain position, and he must act according to what he has promised. Is this not true?
With the deepest reverence, I say the same things about my Lord and Master. He has bound himself in the text with cords he will not break. He must now hear and help those who call upon him “in the day of trouble”.
Notice that our text is unconditional in that it applies to everyone. It contains the gist of another promise that Scripture gives, “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).
When we look at the context of Psalm 50, it was originally written to those who had mocked God. They had presented their sacrifices without a true heart. Yet the Lord said to each one of them, “Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver you.” I gather from this that God excludes none from the promise. You atheist, you blasphemer, you immoral and impure one, if you call upon the Lord now, in the day of your trouble, he will deliver you. Come and try him.
Moreover, notice that this “I will” includes all the power that may be required for your deliverance.“I will deliver you.” But how can this be? That I cannot tell you, and I do not feel bound to tell you. It rests with the Lord to find suitable ways and means. God says, “I will.” Let him do it in his own way. If he says, “I will,” you can be sure that he will keep his word.
I do not suppose that Daniel knew how God would deliver him out of the den of lions. I do not suppose that Joseph knew how he would be delivered out of prison when his master’s wife had slandered his character so shamefully. I do not suppose that these ancient believers ever dreamed of the way of the Lord’s deliverance. They just left themselves in God’s hands. They rested on God, and he delivered them in the best possible manner. He will do the same for you.
Notice the text does not say exactly when God will bring deliverance. “I will deliver you” Is plain enough, but whether it will be tomorrow or next week or next year is not so clear. You are in a great hurry, but the Lord is not. Your trial may not have yet worked all the good for you that it was sent to do, and therefore it must last longer.
God may likewise subject us to many trials. Yet if he says, “I will deliver you,” you can be sure that he will keep his word. When you get God’s “I will”, you may always cash it by faith. “I will deliver you,” is tantamount to deliverance already received.
The Lord is always punctual. You never were kept waiting by him. You have kept him waiting many times, but he is prompt to the instant. He never keeps his servants waiting one single tick of the clock beyond his own appointed, fitting, wise, and proper moment. The Lord rides on the wings of the wind when he comes to the rescue of those who seek him. Therefore be courageous!
Amen, Lord Jesus, Amen.