Psalms 32:6

For this shall every one that is godly pray unto Thee, in a time when Thou mayest be found.

The duty of prayer

I. the nature of this duty. We may say prayers, even the most beautiful of prayers, such as we have in our liturgy, but all this may be and yet we may never pray. If our religion does not teach us to pray, it is a religion good for nothing. The faithful pastor will urge his people to pray, and, if they will not hearken, he will pray God by afflictions to compel them to pray.

II. the time when we should pray--“when Thou mayest be found.” For there is a time when God may not be found. Reprobates on death-beds have tried to find God, but could not (Proverbs 1:24). Oh, do not trifle with the gospel of the grace of God.

III. thy encouragement to pray. “For this cause shall,” etc. God heard the poor, contrite penitent when he confessed his sin, and freely forgave him all. Therefore, do none of you think, it is all in vain now for you to pray. Once, you think, you might have been heard, but not now. Oh, it is not so. The day of grace is not over, but, if you trifle now, it may be to-morrow. Therefore seek the Lord now, at once. (T. Mortimer, B. D.)

The experimental pardon of sin sought by prayer

I. the thing spoken of--“For this.”

II. the character--“Every one that is godly.”

III. prayer--“For this shall every one that is godly pray.” And then--

IV. prayer at a particular time--“In a time when Thou mayest be found.” (T. T. West, M. A.)

On seeking God

We want not encouragement of seeking God, nor need doubt of finding Him, if we take these grounds with us:

1. If we seek Him in His own house: for where should a man be found but in his own house? God hath one standing house in the Old Testament, not where His infinite essence, which the Heaven of heavens was not able to contain, but where His name and memorial dwelt: but in the New He hath a number of houses, and being omnipresent, He will be found in them all.

(1) The church-assemblies. Therefore in these houses of prayer seek Him by faithful prayer, and thou shall not miss Him.

(2) Every Christian family is a house of God: whore two or three consent in any one thing in His name, Christ is in the midst of them. The apostle saluteth private Christians with the Church in their houses. Therefore make thy house God’s house, by setting up His worship therein, and Thou shall have Him near thee with all sweet fellowship and fulness of blessedness.

(3) Every Christian soul is a temple of God (2 Corinthians 6:16). Then make thy heart His temple, and, if thou wouldst find Him, seek Him there, thou shall find Him nowhere else, or sooner than there.

2. As we must seek Him in His own house, so by His own light and means, and this is twofold.

(1) The Word of God in precepts and promises; this is a lanthorn to our feet, and a light to our paths, by which God may be discerned, whom the darkness of the world cannot comprehend.

(2) Such signs of His presence as He hath made choice of to reveal His grace in. In the Old Testament believers must seek Him in sacrifices and ceremonies, and therein He gave them gracious answers: the ceremonies were all typical, and pointed at Christ and the good things to come in Him. So in the New Testament God’ hath appointed visible signs annexed to His Word, as the public service of Him in spirit and truth, the offering up of our sacrifices of prayer and praise, and frequenting of the holy Sacraments or Ceremonies; in all which He will be sought. God cannot be seen or found but by His own light, and therefore he that would seek Him, must have the light of understanding (Psalms 14:2).

3. We shall find God, if we seek Him, not by the eyes of sense and nature, but of faith and obedience.

4. We shall seek aright, if we seek God in God’s manner, and that is in four things.

(1) If we seek Him in sincerity of spirit (Ephesians 6:18), praying in the Spirit, as knowing that we are to deal with God who is a Spirit: and in sincerity, because He is a God that loveth truth in the inward parts: this condemns hypocritical seeking, which is but deceitful (Jeremiah 29:13).

(2) In fervency: men are commanded to seek for wisdom as for gold and treasures; how eagerly and instantly do men seek after gold and earthly things! Why, no labour can beat them from their desires: how much more carefully ought they to seek after spiritual graces, and most of all after God Himself!

(3) In season, timely (Psalms 63:2).

(4) In His Son: seek Him in Christ the only Mediator; for none can come to the Father but by the Son.

5. We shall seek aright and with comfort, if we seek Him in the right ends, namely, for Himself; not as the Jews who followed Christ for bread; not to gain the world by Him, but to gain Himself and His favour, which is better than life; yea, to obtain this, be content to seek Him with the loss of all, as the disciples and martyrs did. (T. Taylor, D. D.)

Prayer the proof of godliness

I. the universal mark of godliness.

1. In its infancy.

2. In all stages of its growth.

3. True prayer is an infallible mark of godliness.

4. Prayer is natural to the godly man.

5. To such a man, prayer is a very happy and consoling exercise.

6. The prayers of the godly may be presented in a great many forms.

II. A potent motive for praying.

1. Because God heard such a great sinner as David was.

2. Because we all need pardon daily.

3. Every one who is godly will pray unto God, because he has received the pardon of sin.

4. Because troubles come.

5. Because God does hear prayer. Prayer does move the arm that moves the world, though nothing is put out of gear by our praying.

III. THE special occasion when prayer is most useful.

1. The time of this mortal life.

2. Under the Gospel dispensation.

3. The time of the finding out of sin. (C. H. Spurgeon.)