Psalm 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: I. THE BLESSING DESIGNED — that the Lord will hear us. This supposes — 1. That our prayer be rightly endorsed and presented, which can only be through the atonement of Christ. True, when men, like Balaam, are set on their iniquity, God will at times let them have their way. But the text speaks of a right answer to a right prayer. 2. That our prayers are for permitted things. II. THE DECLARED HINDRANCE to prayer — "If I regard iniquity in my heart." Now — 1. This is not sin in the life so much as in the heart which is contemplated. The blind man's reasoning was right (John 9:31). And yet men will keep up the form of prayer though purposing to sin. 2. And it need not be some definite sin that is designed, but if the desires of the mind be turned to sin, then prayer is hindered. III. THE REASON OF THIS DECLARED CONNECTION between sin and disregarded prayer. Because in such state of heart we cannot pray. We may recite words, but we cannot pray. Let us deal honestly with God in our prayers. (Daniel Moore, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:WEB: If I cherished sin in my heart, the Lord wouldn't have listened. |
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