If _Faith_ be called the eye, _Prayer_ may be called the wings of the soul. No sooner does Faith descry God his "ROCK," than forthwith Prayer spreads out her pinions for flight. In the close of the preceding verse, (when in the extremity of his agony,) David had announced his determination to betake himself to supplication--"_In the night His song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life._" He follows up his resolution now with material for petition. He puts on record a solemn and beautiful liturgy--"_I will say unto God my Rock, Why hast Thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?_" How wonderfully does God thus overrule His darkest dispensations for the exercise and discipline of His people's spiritual graces! In their overflowing prosperity they are apt to forget Him. He sends them afflictions. Trial elicits faith--faith drives to prayer--prayer obtains the spiritual blessing! It was the sense of want and wretchedness which drove the prodigal to cry, "Father, I have sinned!" It was the "buffeting" thorn which sent Paul thrice to his knees in the agony of supplication, and brought down on his soul a rich heritage of spiritual blessing. It was these surging waves--the "deep calling to deep"--which elicited the cry from this sinking castaway, "_My heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the_ ROCK _that is higher than I!_" "BEHOLD HE PRAYETH!" That announcement seems in a moment to turn the tide of battle, and change the storm into a calm. Well has a Christian poet written:-- "Frail art thou, O man, as a bubble on the breaker; Weak, and govern'd by externals, like a poor bird caught in the storm: Yet thy momentary breath can still the raging waters; Thy hand can touch a lever that may move the world." The struggle till now may have seemed doubtful; "_but they that_ WAIT _upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles_."[90] It is said, the beautiful plumage of the Bird of Paradise not only impedes its flight when flying against the wind, but often in the ineffectual effort it is brought helpless and exhausted to the ground--its golden hues soiled and ruffled. When, however, a gentle breeze springs up, it spreads out its feathers in a fan-like shape, and is borne joyously along! So with the believer. When he is called to do battle with unbelief, the wings of faith are often soiled, and mutilated, and broken; he falls a helpless thing to the earth. But when God's own south wind blows, he spreads out his glorious plumage, and, rising on the pinions of prayer, is borne onwards and upwards to the region of heavenly peace and joy! [90] Isaiah xl. 31. There are one or two characteristics in David's prayer worthy of note, with which we shall sum up this chapter. 1. Observe his INSTANT _resort to the "God of his life!"_