Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  8000 The life of the believer  »  8600 Prayer and worship of the believer  »  8640 calling upon God

Asking God to act, in dependence upon him and out of a sense of sometimes desperate need.

Calling upon God as an act of worship

By those who depend upon him and proclaim his name

Genesis 4:26 See also Genesis 12:8; Genesis 26:25; 1 Chronicles 16:8 pp Psalm 105:1; Psalm 86:5; Psalm 116:2,17; Job 27:10; 2 Timothy 2:22

Those who do not acknowledge God or call upon his name

Psalm 14:4 pp Psalm 53:4; Psalm 79:6; Isaiah 65:1; Jeremiah 10:25; Zephaniah 3:9

Calling upon God in time of need

Psalm 50:15; Lamentations 3:55 See also 1 Samuel 12:17-18; 2 Samuel 22:4 pp Psalm 18:3; 1 Kings 18:24; 2 Kings 5:11; Job 19:7; Psalm 4:1; Psalm 17:6-9; Psalm 18:6; Psalm 27:7-12; Psalm 28:1-2; Psalm 55:16; Psalm 86:3,7; Psalm 91:15; Psalm 120:1; Proverbs 1:28; Isaiah 58:9; Isaiah 65:24; Jeremiah 11:14; Jeremiah 33:3; Joel 1:19; Habakkuk 1:2; Zechariah 13:9

Calling upon God for his salvation

Acts 2:21 See also Joel 2:32; Romans 10:12-14

Calling upon God was part of the priestly function of intercession

Psalm 99:6 See also Exodus 17:11; Exodus 32:31-32; Numbers 21:7; 1 Samuel 12:19,23; Jeremiah 15:1

Examples of those who called upon God

Abraham

Genesis 13:4

Moses

Exodus 17:10-13,15; Exodus 32:11-13,30; Numbers 14:13-19; Deuteronomy 9:26-29

Samuel

1 Samuel 7:5-9

Elijah

1 Kings 18:36-37

Jonah

Jonah 2:2,7

Stephen

Acts 7:59-60

See also

1320  God as Saviour
7766  priests
8020  faith
8607  prayer, God's promises
8610  prayer, asking God
8622  worship
8636  asking
8648  enquiring of God
8653  importunity to God