A Yiddish proverb says "Prayers go up and blessings come down." Troubles and anxieties never seemed to cease in this mortal life. A child of God undergoing afflictions of faith can certainly pray in faith and rejoice in hope of deliverance. Our Lord never fails to protect His own. He is ever near to the agonizing soul to vindicate every grievance brought before the throne of grace. This is the psalmist David's experience and he testifies in joy that the "righteous shall be glad in the Lord (v 10 )." The cunning works of wicked men that tormented the psalmist's soul are duly told to his God (v 1b-6 ). Verses 2-4 Words of malice came like wounds from arrows. Verses 5-6 Devised evil schemes and ceaselessly searching for weaknesses to capitalize. The plight of the wicked in God's amazing answer to prayer is described in verses 7-9 . The helpless child of God thereby rejoices in God's intervention, faith strengthened giving praise to the glory of God (v 10 ).

This is the plea of the psalmist out of his anxieties and troubles (prayer) as Hannah did in her prayer of deep anguish in 1 Samuel 1:16 "Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto."

Preserve my life from fear of the enemy - The word "preserve" is from the root verb "to watch, guard, keep" alluding to God as Protector. He is able to guard his children from the dread or fear of the enemy.

Psalm 64:2 "Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity."

The word "hide" is used in the same sense as in 2 Kings 11:2 to describe how the servants hide little Joash from the wicked queen Athaliah who wanted to kill it. God being the subject, shielding and protecting someone from perceived danger, Proverbs 22:3 "A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished."

Psalm 64:3 "Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words."

To "whet" is to sharpen. The tongue is described as a sword and piercing destructiveness of arrows in a bent bow ready to shoot to inflict a fatal wound. The wound is described as "bitter" or hurtful words. The counter arrows of God likewise strikes suddenly against the devisers of wickedness (v 7 ).

Psalms 64:4 "That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not."

The hidden pitfalls, snares and nets of the wicked do spring upon the righteous at the most unguarded moment. Proverbs 4:23 "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." A moment of carelessness can be most costly for the Christian.

Psalm 64:5-7 "They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them? They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep. But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded."

The mind is a fertile ground for sin as the hearts of the man is evil unless it comes under the sanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit and the Word.

Psalms 64:7-9 "But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded. So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see them shall flee away. And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of is doing."

God answers prayer and He is able to vindicate and counteract every effort of the wicked.

To counter the enemies of the Church, Rev Ting Li Mei, `the praying saint of China', formed prayer bands. Each prayer band comes together as a praying circle. These prayer bands were formed from his converts all over China. Their motto, "Trusting the Lord (we) get victory". In Rev Ting's own words, "we are surrounded by thousands and ten-thousands of angels." For every enemy, there was an instrument that God raised to counteract it. Hence, although on all sides there were enemies to oppose the erection of the Temple and the completion of the city, God provided a neutralizing counteracting power adequate to destroy them all. What tremendous boost of morale for God's ailing children. All who endeavour to serve God will face the Adversary's wrath. Pray unceasingly!

Psalms 64:10 "The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory."

The result of prayer is firstly, joy in the heart, secondly, a faith strengthened and thirdly, praise in the heart for God's amazing deliverance.

SWEET HOUR OF PRAYER

Words: William Walford, 1845; Music: Sweet Hour, William B. Bradbury, New York: 1861).

Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer!

That calls me from a world of care,

And bids me at my Father's throne

Make all my wants and wishes known.

In seasons of distress and grief,

My soul has often found relief

And oft escaped the tempter's snare

By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!

The joys I feel, the bliss I share,

Of those whose anxious spirits burn

With strong desires for thy return!

With such I hasten to the place

Where God my Savior shows His face,

And gladly take my station there,

And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!

Thy wings shall my petition bear

To Him whose truth and faithfulness

Engage the waiting soul to bless.

And since He bids me seek His face,

Believe His Word and trust His grace,

I'll cast on Him my every care,

And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!

May I thy consolation share,

Till, from Mount Pisgah's lofty height,

I view my home and take my flight:

This robe of flesh I'll drop and rise

To seize the everlasting prize;

And shout, while passing through the air,

"Farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer!"