When my boys were little fellas and they heard that a special someone was coming to visit they would anxiously wait either outside, weather permitting, or inside, placing themselves right in front of a big picture window we had in our home. Expecting to see that someone drive down the driveway any minute: after awhile their expectations would wane into hope, hoping soon to see them. Here we see David as he prays, “I will direct my prayer unto Thee and will look up”, with expectation! In the Old Testament expectation’ always means that which is expected, as in Proverbs 10:28, “The expectation of the wicked shall perish.” Hope is a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen; hope requires more faith than expectation does, and admitting that we’re not in control: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” Hebrews 11:1: teaching us to hope more with expectancy. Our Lord Jesus says in Matthew 7:7-8, “Ask and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you.” David’s practical expectation causes him to use the figure of the archer; “I will shoot (direct) my prayer into heaven unto thee and look up making sure I have hit the target.” Or the Hebrew word translation is even fuller, “I will direct”, used in the ceremonies – arranging the showbread (Lev.24:5-6) – laying the pieces of sacrifice in order upon the altar – and the wood in order. I will arrange my prayer in the morning and lay it out before you just as the priest arranges the morning sacrifices upon the altar to be offered: “And I will look up”: the Hebrew, “And will look out,” that is look out for the answer. When I have prayed I will look out with expectation for the return of the blessing. Ah, that we could learn to pray with expectation. Now that David has resolved to pray what must he pray? He must plead against the enemy. What is the most important thing in this world? The Kingdom of Christ and His glory! The only Kingdom that shall ever enjoy universal peace is the KINGDOM of Christ. It is the only kingdom that shall ever be free from evil, foolishness, iniquity, deceit, bloody men. When we pray for the Kingdom of Christ we naturally pray against the kingdom of man. David prays against the very things that God hates. To be hated of God is an awful thing; and to be prayed against is equally so. “But as for me”: the workers of iniquity have made their resolve and so have I, I will pray with hope and positive expectancy because Jesus said in Matthew 7:7-8 “Ask and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you.” There are two sides to this blessed truth, like that of faith and repentance where you find one you find the other, we pray with expectancy and in hope. ~~Terry Worthan
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