The psalms can deepen our prayer life, broadening our focus and deepening our understanding of God and His will. Up to this point in the book, David has encouraged us to pray with awe and wonder at God’s creation as well as with confidence in God’s guidance and protection. He has urged us to confess our own sins even while we plea for God’s justice to be done to the wicked and the oppressors.

But in today’s reading, we are reminded that if we would remain close to the God Whom we beg to hear our prayers (verse 1), we must resolve to obey Him, to live according to His law. In fact, in this psalm David summarizes so much of what we learned in the Law of Moses, doesn’t he? We should not be self-focused, taking advantage of the poor by charging interest (verse 5), but instead be willing to suffer personal harm in order to remain faithful to promises we have made (verse 4). We should desire truth and justice, instead of taking bribes and telling hurtful lies about people (verses 3 and 5). In short, it’s a life of integrity and righteousness that is pleasing and acceptable to God (verse 2).

And it is only as we live out our faith in Christ by obeying His law of love for God and love for one another that we can truly claim to be one with Him. And it is only when our prayers spring from such a close relationship with Christ, thus expressing His will, that we can truly say we are praying in the name of Jesus.

But if we pray in this way, we can be confident that Christ will hear and answer our prayers (John 14:13-14, I John 5:14-15). For as James reminds us, it is the effective prayers of the righteous that accomplish much (James 5:16).

So, let’s not only strive to bring the content of our prayers into line with God’s will. And let’s not only trust in Christ as our Savior, so that He might break the power of sin over our lives. Let’s also turn away from the remnants of sin within us so that our prayers may spring from pure hearts, from lives that are devoted to His glory and to the good of others. For those are the prayers we can be sure will be answered.

Psalm 15 (NASB)

A Psalm of David.
O Lord, who may abide in Thy tent? Who may dwell on Thy holy hill?
2 He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, And speaks truth in his heart.
3 He does not slander with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor takes up a reproach against his friend;
4 In whose eyes a reprobate is despised, But who honors those who fear the LORD; He swears to his own hurt, and does not change;
5 He does not put out his money at interest, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.