Psalms 10:17

Thou art the same, and thy power, and promise, and relation to thy people are the same, and the work and workings of grace are the same in them; why therefore may we not hope that he who has been will still be, will ever be, a God hearing prayers?" But observe, (1.) In what method God hears prayer.

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — odd-straight-quotes

Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the humble - Their desire or their prayer that thou wouldst interpose in their behalf in the time of danger, and rescue them. Compare Psa 6:8-9. The word “humble” here refers to those who were poor, downtrodden, oppressed; and the original reference is, doubtless, to the psalmist himself, and to his friends. He was so certain that God would interpose, he had such assurance that his prayer would he answered, that his mind was perfectly calm.

NOTICE at the outset, the logic of this verse. It is very simple, very forcible, very accurate logic. It runs thus—"You have"—"You will." "Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble: You will prepare their heart." When you know that the Lord God is immutable, "the same yesterday, today and forever," you may conclude without mistake that what He has done, He is prepared to do again.

The Psalm ends with a song of thanksgiving to the great and everlasting King, because he has granted the desire of his humble and oppressed people, has defended the fatherless, and punished the heathen who trampled upon his poor and afflicted children. Let us learn that we are sure to speed well, if we carry our complaint to the King of kings. Rights will be vindicated, and wrongs redressed, at his throne. His government neglects not the interests of the needy, nor does it tolerate oppression in the mighty.

NOTICE at the outset, the logic of this verse. It is very simple, very forcible, very accurate logic. It runs thus—"You have"—"You will." "Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble: You will prepare their heart." When you know that the Lord God is immutable, "the same yesterday, today and forever," you may conclude without mistake that what He has done, He is prepared to do again. The argument from the past to the future would be a sorry one if you were dealing with fallible man, for what man has done is no sure guarantee of what he may do! He is such a creature of freaks and whims, but when you have to deal with the Eternal God, who is faithful and true, and changes not, you may reckon with safety that the thing which has been is the thing which shall be. Well did the Apostle say, "Who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver: in whom we trust that He will yet deliver us." On looking at the text, again, you will see that the same blessed logic is carried a step farther, for you read, "You will," and then, again, "You will"—"You will prepare their heart, You will cause Your ear to hear." Faith, first of all, concludes that God will bless because offormer blessings. And then she is so sure of her conclusion that upon it she is prepared to build up a further confidence. This is a noble faith, worthy of imitation—but it is by no means common—not a hundredth part as common as it ought to be! To doubtful minds it is difficult, even, to infer the future from a present fact immediately before their eyes, but to the believing heart it is an easy thing to do something more than that! Namely, to draw an inference of hope from a former inference of hope. Faith builds a sure abode with invisible stones.

IT has been sometimes said that a good Sabbath makes a good week. Sir Matthew Hale long ago said— "A Sabbath well spent Brings a week of content," while George Herbert quaintly wrote— "The Sundays of man's life Threaded together on Time's string, Make bracelets to adorn the wife Of the eternal, glorious King. On Sunday, Heaven's gate stands ope, Blessings are plentiful and rife; More plentiful than hope." Sunday is the market day of the week and if a man does well at market, he considers that he has done well for all the week.

IT has been sometimes said that a good Sabbath makes a good week. Sir Matthew Hale long ago said— "A Sabbath well spent Brings a week of content," while George Herbert quaintly wrote— "The Sundays of man's life Threaded together on Time's string, Make bracelets to adorn the wife Of the eternal, glorious King. On Sunday, Heaven's gate stands ope, Blessings are plentiful and rife; More plentiful than hope." Sunday is the market day of the week and if a man does well at market, he considers that he has done well for all the week. The Sabbath oils the wheels of the week—its bodily rest is useful, but its spiritual anointing is far more so! Now, if that is the case, and I think it is, I might venture to say that a good first Sabbath in the year will go a long way towards making a good year. Very often things go on as they begin. It is very seldom that troubles come alone and it is still more seldom that mercies are given to us singly. We may always say, when we get a blessing, "Gad, a troop comes." So I would that we might receive a great blessing on this first Sabbath of another year, that a troop of blessings might follow on the heels thereof, and that a host of mercies might continue to come to us even till we reach the last day of the year— and then that we might begin, again, with new tokens of our Lord's loving kindness and tender mercy~ I thought our text might be a very serviceable Word of God for this first Sabbath evening in the year of Grace, 1871. It is intended to be of use, not only for tonight's sermon, but to be remembered all the year round. I think there is something in it which will render it suitable to all of us at all times during the next 12 months and, indeed, during the whole of the rest of our lives.

The Psalm ends with a song of thanksgiving to the great and everlasting King, because he has granted the desire of his humble and oppressed people, has defended the fatherless, and punished the heathen who trampled upon his poor and afflicted children. Let us learn that we are sure to speed well, if we carry our complaint to the King of kings. Rights will be vindicated, and wrongs redressed, at his throne. His government neglects not the interests of the needy, nor does it tolerate oppression in the mighty. Great God, we leave ourselves in thine hand; to thee we commit thy church afresh. Arise, O God, and let the man of the earth—the creature of a day—be broken before the majesty of thy power. Come, Lord Jesus, and glorify thy people. Amen and Amen.

Lord, thou hast heard - Thou hast not permitted thy tempted and afflicted followers to pray in vain. Thou wilt prepare their heart - See the economy of the grace of God: 1. God prepares the heart; 2. Suggests the prayer; 3. Hears what is prayed; 4. Answers the petition. He who has got a cry in his heart after God, may rest assured that that cry proceeded from a Divine preparation, and that an answer will soon arrive. No man ever had a cry in his heart after salvation, but from God. He who continues to cry shall infallibly be heard.