Lord, give attention to this misery. Look at it and act, sending redemption according to your promise! He does not plead on the basis of his own believing life. He says, “For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy.”
If we go to the Lord because we think we are such good believers, our prayers do not rise an inch above the ground. Then there will never be an answer. Then my prayer also goes up in flames because of God’s holiness. We can only pray on the basis of God’s love, his mercy according to his own Word. After Christ came, you may put it this way: I can only go to God’s throne as a supplicant on the basis of Christ’s work for me. He is God’s greatest gift of love!
18 O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy.