Prayer Encouraged
Lamentations 3:57
You drew near in the day that I called on you: you said, Fear not.


1. When the godly do rightly pray unto the Lord, they have most notable experience of His favour towards them.

(1) Reasons.

(a) God performeth His promise unto them (Psalm 50:15; Matthew 11:28).

(b) Their affections are carried into heaven, where is the fulness of joy, from earthly things that are full of vexations.

(2) Uses(a) To teach us that we, therefore, are not heard when we pray, because we call not aright.

(b) To teach us to labour with ourselves, that we may increase in fervent and frequent prayer.

(c) To reprove them that either account fervent prayer needless, or are negligent in it.

2. The Lord doth give most notable encouragements and comforts unto those that rightly worship Him.

(1) Reasons.

(a) He doth thereby manifest His love unto His servants.

(b) He will daunt the enemies by their wonderful patience, constancy, comfort, and courage.

(c) Others may be allured by their example to trust in Him.

(2) Uses.

(a) To reprove them that account the patience of the godly, sottishness; their courage, desperateness; their constancy, obstinacy.

(b) To teach us that in walking uprightly, and calling upon God for His assistance, we shall be assured that He will be with us, howsoever He seem for a time to neglect us.

(J. Udall.)



Parallel Verses
KJV: Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not.

WEB: You drew near in the day that I called on you; you said, Don't be afraid.




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