Son of David, have mercy on me!

Those who trust in the Lord are commonly called to suffer in this world. They are not the ones that sit in the King’s palace or have so much money they don’t know what to do with it. No, you will find those who trust in the Lord in much lowlier places. They might not be living under a bridge, but their life is probably going to be rather dull. They get up and go to work every day, and then at night they come home and tend to their families. On Sundays, you’ll usually find them sitting in a rather uncomfortable pew listening to one man speak from a very old and outdated book. They probably don’t live a super exciting life, and almost all abnormal things are going to be some trial for them.

When trials come upon us, we ought to earnestly and without ceasing cry out to the Lord. This of course will never be easy. It is when things look the most hopeless that we should cry the loudest to the one who is able to help. The highest expression of faith is to be able to say with Job: “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” Daniel’s friends had this type of attitude when faced with execution.

Daniel 3:16-18 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up."

Although we know that they were saved from the fire, many Christians throughout history were not. They testified with their blood to the truth. To these martyrs, we owe a great debt of respect for they were not willing to exchange the truth of God for a lie. I am thankful that I don’t live in a country were I am constantly in danger of having to testify to the truth this way.

Even so, there are a great many things to beseech God for today. Perhaps it is for a job, or sick loved one, or a wife, or a place of worship. God delights in his children asking for things in faith. If God is merciful to the Canannite woman and the blind man, how much more so will he be merciful if we beseech him with our requests?

Matthew 15:21-28 Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed." But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, "Send her away, for she cries out after us." But He answered and said, "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, help me!" But He answered and said, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs." And she said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table." Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

Luke 18:35-43 Then it happened, as He was coming near Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the road begging. And hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what it meant. So they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. And he cried out, saying, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Then those who went before warned him that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come near, He asked him, saying, "What do you want Me to do for you?" He said, "Lord, that I may receive my sight." Then Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

These two beseeched Christ with faith. They didn’t let the initial road block stop them either. They continued to cry out to the Son of David. We should do the same today; come to God consistently in prayer for what we seek. Has not Christ said that those who ask shall receive?

Matthew 7:7-11 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

If earthly fathers give good gifts to their children, how much more so our Heavenly Father? Let us bring our petitions before God, as the only one who is able to work all things to our good.