March 10, 2010 – 10:47 am
The Israelites – Exodus 2:23-25 - ‘Now it happened in the process of time that the king of Egypt died. Then the children of Israel groaned because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry came up to God because of the bondage. So God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God acknowledged them.’
The answer to this prayer has to be one of the most famous events in the whole Bible, and it takes place in response to a corporate prayer from the people of Israel – and not some nice organised prayer meeting type of prayer but simply from the cries and the groans of the people because of the bondage they were in at the hands of the Egyptians. Read More »
Isaac – Genesis 25:21 – ‘Now Isaac pleaded with the LORD for his wife, because she was barren; and the LORD granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived.’
What a simple verse this is – at first glance there’s not much you can say about this prayer – Isaac pleaded with God, and God heard him and granted his request. However, if you look behind all this, there is so much more going on here, which is so easy to miss, but isn’t that often the way? The Bible so often uses simple language for things that are incredibly profound and significant. Read More »
February 24, 2010 – 4:18 pm
The Holy Spirit – Romans 8:26 – ‘Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.’
What can you say about a verse like this – how can you describe the experience of the Holy Spirit interceding on your behalf with groanings that cannot even be put into words? But at the same time what a comfort that in the darkest, most painful moments of our lives there is someone who is crying out to God on our behalf – and His prayers always get answered. Read More »
January 19, 2010 – 4:41 pm
Hezekiah – 2 Kings 20:3 – ‘Then he turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the LORD, saying, “Remember now, O LORD, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what was good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.’
There doesn’t really seem to be a whole lot of depth to the situation of this prayer, but it does bring out the answer to a profound question which ought to both thrill, amaze and humble us all at once. Read More »
January 19, 2010 – 11:11 am
Hezekiah – 2 Kings 19:15-19 – ‘Then Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said: “O LORD God of Israel, the One who dwells between the cherubim, You are God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear; open Your eyes, O LORD, and see; and hear the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God. Truly, LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands, and have cast their gods into the fire; for they were not gods, but the work of men’s hands—wood and stone. Therefore they destroyed them. Now therefore, O LORD our God, I pray, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the LORD God, You alone.”’
This prayer is just one of a number of glorious prayers in the books of Kings and Chronicles. It’s so simple and yet so profound, Read More »
The Israelites – Exodus 2:23-25 - ‘Now it happened in the process of time that the king of Egypt died. Then the children of Israel groaned because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry came up to God because of the bondage. So God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God acknowledged them.’
