Prayer and praying menBounds, Edward M. (Edward McKendree)
Religion
Prayer and praying men
Bounds, Edward M. (Edward McKendree)
Bible -- Prayers; Prayer -- Christianity
In close connection with this season of prayer, we must not overlook
David’s penitential praying when Nathan, by command of God, uncovered
David’s two great sins of adultery and murder. At once David
acknowledged his wickedness, saying unto Nathan, “I have sinned.”
And as showing his deep grief over his sin, his heart-broken spirit,
and his genuine repentance, it is only necessary to read Psalm 51
where confession of sin, deep humiliation and prayer are the chief
ingredients of the Psalm.
David knew where to find a sin-pardoning God, and was received back
again and had the joys of salvation restored to him by earnest,
sincere, penitential praying. Thus are all sinners brought into the
divine favor, thus do they find pardon, and thus do they find a new
heart.
The entire Book of Psalms brings prayer to the front, and prayer
fairly bristles before our eyes as we read this devotional book of the
Scriptures.
Nor must even Solomon be overlooked in the famous catalogue of men who
prayed in Old Testament times. Whatever their faults, they did not
forget the God who hears prayer nor did they cease to seek the God of
prayer. While this wise man in his later life departed from God, and
his sun set under a cloud, we find him praying at the commencement of
his reign.
Solomon went to Gibeon to offer sacrifice, which always meant that
prayer went in close companionship with sacrifice, and while there, the
Lord appeared to Solomon in a vision by night, saying unto him, “Ask
what I shall give thee.” The sequel shows the material out of which
Solomon’s character was formed. What was his request?
“O Lord my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of my father;
and I am but a little child; I know not how to go out or to come in.
“And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast
chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for
multitude.
“Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy
people, that I may discern between good and bad; for who is able to
judge this thy so great a people?”
We do not wonder that it is recorded as a result of such praying:
“And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.
“And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and
hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for
thyself, nor hast asked the life of thy enemies, but has asked for
thyself understanding to discern judgment;
“Behold I have done according to thy word; Lo, I have given thee a
wise and understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before
thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
“Also I have given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches
and honor; so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto
thee all thy days.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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