Psalm 119:145 | “With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O Lord! I will keep your statutes.”

The qoph stanza opens with urgency and intensity. The psalmist cries out to the Lord with his whole heart. This is not casual prayer or empty words. It is earnest, heartfelt pleading. He cries to Yahweh, the covenant keeping God. In distress, the psalmist does not scatter his hopes or seek multiple sources for help. He goes first and only to the Lord. The psalmist expects an answer because he knows the character of the one he addresses. Spurgeon writes, “If God does not hear prayer we pray in vain. The term ‘hear’ is often used in Scripture to express attention and consideration. In one sense God hears every sound that is made on earth, and every desire of every heart; but David meant much more; he desired a kindly, sympathetic hearing, such as a physician gives to his patient when he tells him his pitiful story. He asked that the Lord would draw near, and listen with friendly ear to the voice of his complaint, with the view of pitying him and helping him. Observe, that his whole hearted prayer goes to the Lord alone; he has no second hope or help.” Having cried out to the Lord, the psalmist commits himself to obedience. True prayer listens as well as speaks, and expresses not only words but a readiness to obey his commands.