Psalms 145:17-21: a reflection

17The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and gracious in all his works. 18The LORD is near to all those who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. 19He will fulfill the desire of those who fear him. He also will hear their cry, and will save them. 20The LORD preserves all those who love him, but he will destroy all the wicked. 21My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD. Let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.

The closing lines of this great psalm of praise gather up several truths about God, and one of them is a deep comfort: The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. The God who is exalted and worthy of all praise is also near, near to everyone who calls upon him sincerely. He hears their cry; he fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he saves them. The high and holy God is near to all who call.

Notice the nearness of God to those who call. We might expect the God who is righteous in all his ways, exalted above all, to be distant, hard to reach, indifferent to individual cries. But the psalm says the opposite: he is near to all who call on him in truth. Not far off, not unreachable, not deaf to our cries, but near, attentive, ready to hear those who sincerely call upon him. God's greatness does not make him distant; he draws near to all who call.

That is an encouragement to call on God. Sometimes we hold back from prayer, imagining God to be distant or uninterested, too great to attend to us. But he is near to all who call on him in truth; he hears, and he saves. The only condition is that we call on him in truth, sincerely, from the heart, not with empty words. When you feel far from God, or wonder whether he hears, remember that he is near to all who call on him. Call on him sincerely, and know that he is not distant but near, attentive to your cry. The exalted LORD draws near to those who call on him in truth; call on him, and find him near.

Lord, the close of this psalm declares that you are near to all who call on you, to all who call on you in truth; you hear their cry, fulfill the desire of those who fear you, and save them. Thank you that your greatness does not make you distant. I might expect the God who is exalted above all to be far off, hard to reach, indifferent to individual cries; but you are near to all who call on you in truth. Not far off, not unreachable, not deaf to my cries, but near, attentive, ready to hear. When I hold back from prayer, imagining you distant or uninterested, or when I feel far from you and wonder whether you hear, remind me that you are near to all who call on you. Help me call on you sincerely, from the heart, and know that you are not distant but near, attentive to my cry. The exalted LORD draws near to those who call in truth; I call on you, and find you near.