Incline
When used as a noun, the word incline refers to the dreaded position that your exercise treadmill can take, making your leisurely jog into a death march up the side of Mt. Everest! A torturous mechanization, its very existence is proof of hell’s fire. Death to the inclined treadmill!
As a verb, this same word puts on a much better, and vastly more desired, meaning. Incline, as a verb, means: to “feel willing or favorably disposed toward”. Being inclined toward something means you want to do it, and the act of inclining is favorably making ready for action. In other words, when we incline, we prepare ourselves to act due to a favorable disposition.
In Psalms 116, David reflects on the Lord’s protection and providence. He talks about how God delivered him from distress. He begins the psalm with the statement, “I love the Lord”. Pretty straightforward. David’s declaration of love is supported throughout the remainder of the psalm with the reasons why the psalmist loves the Lord. But in verse 2 is the statement I would like to focus on - “Because He inclined His ear to me, therefore I will call on Him as long as I live.”
David indicates that God “inclined his ear” to him. The original Hebrew says “extended His ear”. In either translation, it is easy to see that from David’s viewpoint God was listening. More to the point, God was waiting for the call.
The Lord stood ready, favorably disposed toward acting on behalf of David. The psalmist understood this truth and because of it he created a policy - a statute - to govern the rest of his life. As long as David lived, because he knew that God Almighty was listening favorably for his call, he would call on his God. In times of need, God was David’s unwavering, unfailing, trustworthy, provider and protector. The Lord was listening and ready to act on David’s behalf.
An inclined ear is a tremendously powerful asset when it is attached to the Creator of the Universe. When an omnipotent God is inclining His ear to your call, it would seem the right thing to do would be to follow David’s lead - call on Him for the rest of your days! If by our cry for help, we engage the listening ear of God Almighty and if through that engagement, because He is so inclined, God moves on our behalf, shouldn’t we call upon Him?
Call upon God TODAY. The Lord is listening, favorable disposed to act on your behalf!
