Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.
Ver. 25. Then came she and worshipped him] She will not be said nay, or set down either with silence or sad answers; but, like another Gorgonia, she threatens heaven, and is (as her brother speaks of her) modestly impudent and invincible. She will believe, as a man may say with reverence, whether Christ will or not. And to bring her to this it was that he so long held her off, for, Desideria dilata crescunt; at cito data vilescunt. (Nazianzen.) Manna, that light meat, was but lightly set by, because lightly come by. But they that earn it before they eat it, and that know how they come by that which they have, will set a high price upon it, and know how and why they part with it.
Lord, help me] Few words, but very forcible. When thou comest before God, "let thy words be few," saith Solomon,Ecclesiastes 5:1. This St Peter calls "to be sober in prayer,"1 Peter 4:7, without trifling, or vain babbling, which the wise man calls "the sacrifice of fools." The Baalites' prayer was not more tedious than Elijah's short, and yet more pithy than short, charging God with the care of his covenant, truth, glory, &c. a It was Elijah that prayed loud and long, though in few words, yet very effectual. Fratres Egyptiaci brevissimis et raptim iaculatis orationibus uti voluerunt (saith Augustine), ne par moras evanesceret et hebetaretur intentio. Those ancient Christians of Egypt were very brief in their prayers.
Help me] The word properly signifieth to run at one's cry that calls for help, b as the tender mother doth to her hungry child, when he sets up his note, and cries lustily.
a Orationis brevitas pathos habet. Aretius in loc.
b Βοηθειν, quasi επι Βοην θειν, ad clamorem alicuius accurrere auxilii ferendi causa. Beza.