“〔耶稣〕大声哀哭，流泪祷告，恳求那能救他免死的主，就因他的虔诚蒙了应允。” - 来 5:7

神会垂听我们的祷告吗？是的；神会回应我们的祷告吗？是的。纵使不一定是在我们希望的时间，也不是常常照我们所求的，然而我们却有这等应许：“万事都互相效力，叫爱神的人得益处”（罗马书8:28）。

诗篇70篇的内容围绕着一个恳求：“神啊，求你速速来帮助我！”（参看第1、5节）。诗人正陷在困境中，有人要杀害他，或至少要伤害他，所以诗人请求神帮助他，他实际上是在说：“给我一个喜乐的证据，给我一个赞美你的理由”（第4节）。

读这篇诗篇时，我想到耶稣正在面对人生中最大痛苦的那个晚上。衪知道有一个十字架在等待着衪，衪便祷告恳求神说：“我父啊，倘若可行，求你叫这杯离开我；然而，不要照我的意思，只要照你的意思”（马太福音 26:39），衪三次这样祈求。但在转瞬之闲，衪便被捕了，第二天早上，衪被钉死在十字架上。

神有没有垂听耶稣的祷告？神有没有回应衪的祷告？希伯来书 5章说，耶稣的祷告蒙神回应，因为衪顺服神的旨意，而神的旨意就是，耶稣要舍弃性命，藉着耶稣的死，神便能行救赎之工，“叫爱神的人得益处。”我们岂能不爱衪呢？

祷告

神啊，我们祷告时，求你提醒我们记得，你已赐耶稣给我们，又求你帮助们相信，你时常都为我们的益处作工。阿们。

诗篇 70

1神啊，求你快快搭救我！耶和华啊，求你速速帮助我！
2愿那些寻索我命的抱愧蒙羞，愿那些喜悦我遭害的退后受辱。
3愿那些对我说“啊哈！啊哈！”的，因羞愧退后。
4愿一切寻求你的因你高兴欢喜，愿那些喜爱你救恩的常说：“当尊神为大！”
5但我是困苦穷乏的，神啊，求你速速到我这里来！你是帮助我的，搭救我的，耶和华啊，求你不要耽延！

Heard Prayers

"[Jesus] offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission." - Hebrews 5:7

Does God hear our prayers? Yes. Does God answer our prayers? Yes. Not always when we want. And not always the way we want. But we do have this assurance: "In all things God works for the good of those who love him" (Romans 8:28).

Psalm 70 is framed by a single plea: "God, hurry up and help me!" (see vv. 1, 5). The poet is in trouble. People want to kill him, or at least ruin him. So the poet pleads for God's help, saying, in effect: "Give me a reason to rejoice. Give me a reason to praise you" (v.4).

When I read this psalm, I imagine Jesus on the most difficult night of his life. He knows that a cross awaits him, so he prays. He pleads with God: "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will" (Matthew 26:39). Three times he says that prayer. Minutes later he is arrested. The next morning he is nailed to a cross to die.

Did God hear Jesus' prayer? Did God answer his prayer? Hebrews 5 says Jesus was heard because he submitted himself to the will of God. And God's will was that Jesus would die. In the death of Jesus, God was working "for the good of those who love him." How can we not love him?

Prayer

God, when we pray, help us to remember that you gave Jesus for us, and help us to trust that you are always working for our good. Amen.