vs. 28 – “Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer”

Fools who ignore God’s instruction and reproof, which come by way of His word, the scriptures, will have their prayers unanswered. We are taught by God in the scriptures so that we may be wise, and not fools. Would it not be foolish to live such that in the hour of extremity and danger, our cries to heaven would be unheard?

Notice the times and circumstances when the prayer of fools will be unheard by heaven. Vs. 27 – “When your fear cometh as desolation, and you destruction cometh as the whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.” When would answered prayer be more vital than at such times, and in such circumstances! Yet, the fool’s prayers shall go unheard, and be as vain as crying to the wind for help, when the whirlwind threatens to destroy, and pains and sorrows multiply!

Do not be deceived by your own simple-mindedness into thinking that these sort of times and circumstances are limited to the ungodly, who are the sort of fools being described by the wise man. No, no – because fear, destruction, distress, and anguish can and do (and may we go so far as to say shall) come upon the righteous, the spiritually wise who set their hope in God. The prophet Job stated, “For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me,” (Job 3:25). “Many are the afflictions of the righteous:” but thanks be to God that, “the Lord delivereth him out of them all,” (Ps. 34:19). And how comes this deliverance? “The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles,” (Ps. 34:17). Their prayers, their cries, their petitions, supplications, requests, pleas, and heart-groanings are heard by the ears of the Almighty, and almighty help is the response that descends from heaven! We will have trouble and sorrow – was not our Lord, in whose steps we are to follow, called “a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief,” (Isa. 53:3)? God has not taught us to expect no trouble, no sorrows, no dangers, and no pain. He has taught us, “And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me,” (Ps. 50:15). We are to pray to Him in the times of our fear, when destruction comes, when the whirlwind whirls about us, and distress and anguish are our momentary earthly portion.

So then that which concerns us is to avoid the way of fools. If we would have our prayers to God heard and answered, we must listen to and obey God’s instructions, repent when He reproves, endure patiently His correction, and faithfully attend the school of the scriptures. We must “be … in the fear of the LORD all the day long,” (Ps. 23:17).