Psalm 65:2 states, “O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.”
Maybe you have had the experience of being in a courtroom—for yourself, for a friend, or to serve on a jury. My grandson, Daniel, is a lawyer. He spends many days in the courtroom actually working for a judge. When someone is called to appear in court, there is no choice, they must come. They may try to run, but short of death, they usually end up there.
One day each of us will appear before God to give account of our life (Revelation 20:11-15). Record books will be opened. Every life will be exposed. There will be no lawyers to prove your innocence or guilt. Everyone will be guilty unless their name is found written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Many people will want to sign up at that time, but it will be too late. Today is the day of salvation (II Corinthians 6:2).
Our text says that “all flesh” shall come: Adam, Eve, Noah and his generation, the Children of Israel, all kings (good and bad), the prophets (true and false), all religious and political leaders of our day, and yes, you and me. It will be a day of both sadness and joy. The song,“Day of Judgment” (author unknown), a song I haven’t heard since high school, says in the third verse, “Sinners trembling, saints rejoicing, each departing to his place, All the ransomed Christ will gather, He has saved them by his grace.” Though this song talks of a time when the world is on fire, and not necessarily the final judgement, it still expresses a time of sadness or joy.
As we approach Good Friday, let us think for a moment of the judgment Jesus had to appear at because He became flesh. The text says “all flesh.” You think He would be excused, being the Son of God. He was proven innocent, yet went to the cross and died on our behalf, as guilty.
The first part of our text reads,“O thou that hearest prayer.” God is a loving judge who wants everyone’s names to be in the Book of Life, not willing that any should perish. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness; but is long suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (II Peter 3:9). We don’t have to wait for the Judgement Day to come unto him. He actually draws us. Jesus said, “And if I be lifted up from the earth, (lifted up on the cross), I will draw all men unto me” (John 12:32). Jesus prayed to the Father all through His life. His last words before He died were a prayer to His Father, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46).
The Father heard His Son’s prayer, and He also hears ours. Jesus heard the two prayers of the malefactors crucified with Him. One prayed in anger, “If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.” He didn’t believe He was Christ— “If.” He didn’t understand; if Christ saved Himself, he couldn’t save him. The other called Jesus “Lord” and prayed to be remembered (from Luke 23:39-43). Jesus, dying, answered each prayer. Jesus said, “…him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37). Let us come quickly to Jesus, THE PRAYER GOD!
