"I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint."
--Psalm 22:14

Did earth or heaven ever behold a sadder spectacle of woe! In soul and body, our Lord felt Himself to be weak as water poured upon the ground. The placing of the cross in its socket had shaken Him with great violence, had strained all the ligaments, pained every nerve, and more or less dislocated all His bones. Burdened with His own weight, the august sufferer felt the strain increasing every moment of those six long hours. His sense of faintness and general weakness were overpowering; while to His own consciousness He became nothing but a mass of misery and swooning sickness. When Daniel saw the great vision, he thus describes his sensations, "There remained no strength in me, for my vigour was turned into corruption, and I retained no strength:" how much more faint must have been our greater Prophet when He saw the dread vision of the wrath of God, and felt it in His own soul! To us, sensations such as our Lord endured would have been insupportable, and kind unconsciousness would have come to our rescue; but in His case, He was wounded, and felt the sword; He drained the cup and tasted every drop.

"O King of Grief! (a title strange, yet true To Thee of all kings only due) O King of Wounds! how shall I grieve for Thee, Who in all grief preventest me!"

As we kneel before our now ascended Saviour's throne, let us remember well the way by which He prepared it as a throne of grace for us; let us in spirit drink of His cup, that we may be strengthened for our hour of heaviness whenever it may come. In His natural body every member suffered, and so must it be in the spiritual; but as out of all His griefs and woes His body came forth uninjured to glory and power, even so shall His mystical body come through the furnace with not so much as the smell of fire upon it.

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"Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins."
--Psalm 25:18

It is well for us when prayers about our sorrows are linked with pleas concerning our sins--when, being under God's hand, we are not wholly taken up with our pain, but remember our offences against God. It is well, also, to take both sorrow and sin to the same place. It was to God that David carried his sorrow: it was to God that David confessed his sin. Observe, then, we must take our sorrows to God. Even your little sorrows you may roll upon God, for He counteth the hairs of your head; and your great sorrows you may commit to Him, for He holdeth the ocean in the hollow of His hand. Go to Him, whatever your present trouble may be, and you shall find Him able and willing to relieve you. But we must take our sins to God too. We must carry them to the cross, that the blood may fall upon them, to purge away their guilt, and to destroy their defiling power.

The special lesson of the text is this:--that we are to go to the Lord with sorrows and with sins in the right spirit. Note that all David asks concerning his sorrow is, "Look upon mine affliction and my pain;" but the next petition is vastly more express, definite, decided, plain--"Forgive all my sins" Many sufferers would have put it, "Remove my affliction and my pain, and look at my sins." But David does not say so; he cries, "Lord, as for my affliction and my pain, I will not dictate to Thy wisdom. Lord, look at them, I will leave them to Thee, I should be glad to have my pain removed, but do as Thou wilt; but as for my sins, Lord, I know what I want with them; I must have them forgiven; I cannot endure to lie under their curse for a moment." A Christian counts sorrow lighter in the scale than sin; he can bear that his troubles should continue, but he cannot support the burden of his transgressions.

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Prayer

Commanded.

Isaiah 55:6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
TO BE OFFERED
- To God.
  
  Psalms 5:2 Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.
  
  Matthew 4:10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
- To Christ.
  
  Luke 23:42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
  
  Acts 7:59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
- To the Holy Ghost.
  
  2 Thessalonians 3:5 And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.
- Through Christ.
  
  Ephesians 2:18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
  
  Hebrews 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
God hears.

Psalms 10:17 LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:

Psalms 65:2 O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.
God answers.

Psalms 99:6 Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name; they called upon the LORD, and he answered them.

Isaiah 58:9 Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;
IS DESCRIBED AS
- Bowing the knees.
  
  Ephesians 3:14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
- Looking up.
  
  Psalms 5:3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.
- Lifting up the soul.
  
  Psalms 25:1 Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul.
- Lifting up the heart.
  
  Lamentations 3:41 Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.
- Pouring out the heart.
  
  Psalms 62:8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.
- Pouring out the soul.
  
  1 Samuel 1:15 And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.
- Calling upon the name of the Lord.
  
  Genesis 12:8 And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.
  
  Psalms 116:4 Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.
  
  Acts 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
- Crying unto God.
  
  Psalms 27:7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
  
  Psalms 34:6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
- Drawing near to God.
  
  Psalms 73:28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.
  
  Hebrews 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
- Crying to heaven.
  
  2 Chronicles 32:20 And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven.
- Beseeching the Lord.
  
  Exodus 32:11 And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand?
- Seeking unto God.
  
  Job 8:5 If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;
- Seeking the face of the Lord.
  
  Psalms 27:8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.
- Making supplication.
  
  Job 8:5 If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;
  
  Jeremiah 36:7 It may be they will present their supplication before the LORD, and will return every one from his evil way: for great is the anger and the fury that the LORD hath pronounced against this people.
Acceptable through Christ.

John 14:13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

John 16:23-24 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
Ascends to heaven.

2 Chronicles 30:27 Then the priests the Levites arose and blessed the people: and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy dwelling place, even unto heaven.

Revelation 5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
Quickening grace necessary to.

Psalms 80:18 So will not we go back from thee: quicken us, and we will call upon thy name.
THE HOLY GHOST
- Promised as a Spirit of.
  
  Zechariah 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
- As the Spirit of adoptions, leads to.
  
  Romans 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
  
  Galatians 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
- Helps our infirmities in.
  
  Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
An evidence of conversion.

Acts 9:11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,
Of the righteous, avails much.

James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Of the upright, a delight to God.

Proverbs 15:8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
SHOULD BE OFFERED UP
- In the Holy Ghost.
  
  Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
  
  Jude 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
- In faith.
  
  Matthew 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
  
  James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
- In full assurance of faith.
  
  Hebrews 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
- In a forgiving spirit.
  
  Matthew 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
- With the heart.
  
  Jeremiah 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
  
  Lamentations 3:41 Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.
- With the whole heart.
  
  Psalms 119:58 I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word.
  
  Psalms 119:145 KOPH. I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O LORD: I will keep thy statutes.
- With preparation of heart.
  
  Job 11:13 If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;
- With a true heart.
  
  Hebrews 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
- With the soul.
  
  Psalms 42:4 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.
- With the spirit and understanding.
  
  John 4:22-24 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
  
  1 Corinthians 14:15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
- With confidence in God.
  
  Psalms 56:9 When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.
  
  Psalms 86:7 In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.
  
  1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
- With submission to God.
  
  Luke 22:42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
- With unfeigned lips.
  
  Psalms 17:1 Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.
- With deliberation.
  
  Ecclesiastes 5:2 Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.
- With holiness.
  
  1 Timothy 2:8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
- With humility.
  
  2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
  
  2 Chronicles 33:12 And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers,
- With truth.
  
  Psalms 145:18 The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.
  
  John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
- With desire to be heard.
  
  Nehemiah 1:6 Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned.
  
  Psalms 17:1 Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.
  
  Psalms 55:1 Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.
  
  Psalms 61:1 Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.
- With desire to be answered.
  
  Psalms 27:7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
  
  Psalms 102:2 Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily.
  
  Psalms 108:6 That thy beloved may be delivered: save with thy right hand, and answer me.
  
  Psalms 143:1 Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.
- With boldness.
  
  Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
- With earnestness.
  
  1 Thessalonians 3:10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
  
  James 5:17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
- With importunity.
  
  Genesis 32:26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.
  
  Luke 11:8 I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.
  
  Luke 18:1-7 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. ...
- Night and day.
  
  1 Timothy 5:5 Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.
- Without ceasing.
  
  1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
- Everywhere.
  
  1 Timothy 2:8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
- In everything.
  
  Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

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