PRAYER IN THE BIBLE There are many different approaches we can take to the Bible. Each time we use a new approach we may find different meanings in the same passage. One such approach is to look at how prayer develops in the Bible. PENTATEUCH GENESIS The first prayer we find in the Bible is that of Cain (Genesis 4). He has just killed his brother Abel. This is a prayer started by God. We think of prayer as our talking to God. The prayers in the beginning of the Bible are often initiated by God. Cain's prayer is first DENIAL. He is not his brother's keeper. Then God confronts Cain with his murder of Abel. God next pronounces Cain's punishment. He will be banished from the soil and become a restless wanderer on the earth. Then Cain shows SELF PITY with a touch of REBELLION. My punishment is too great. You are too hard on me. I must avoid you. In chapter 15 Abraham attempts to BLAME GOD for his condition. It is all God's fault that he has no male heir. Abraham confronts God: What good are all of your gifts if I have no male heir to pass them on to? This also is a form of SELF PITY and REBELLION. Abraham has a son Ishmael by his wife's slave girl. Later when his wife Sarah has a son she forces Abraham to cast out Ishmael. Abraham prays that Ishmael may live in God's favor. This is the first prayer we see that is a REQUEST of God rather than an expression of self pity. The next prayer is one of my favorites. Abraham begins to BARGAIN WITH GOD. Abraham PLEADS that God not destroy Sodom (Genesis 18). What if there are fifty just people? God consents not to destroy the city if there are fifty just people. Then by fives and tens Abraham whittles the number down to ten just people. Each time Abraham reminds God that he has consented to a certain number. So would God destroy the city if there are just five or ten less than the previously agreed upon number. He tells God that he is going to destroy the city for just five or ten people. Hagar's prayer (Genesis 21) is next. "Let me not watch my child die." Of all the prayers this is the most AMBIGUOUS. Is she saying Don't let him die? Or Let me die before him? Is she trying to SHAME GOD into protecting her and her son? Or is she saying if we both must die, let me die first? Or is she saying what seems to most obvious prayer: just don't let me see him die? Abraham's servant (Genesis 24) prays for GUIDANCE. He is sent out to find a wife for Isaac. He tells God to show him the right woman. The one I ask for water is to offer water to my cattle also. Of all the prayers so far this prayer shows the greatest TRUST IN GOD. Jacob's prayer in chapter thirty two is the most complex. It is the first prayer we see that occurs in stages. First he prays that he be delivered from his brother Esau. There is no evidence that Esau has any evil intent in attempting to meet his brother. The FEAR of Jacob stems from his GUILT. He had stolen Esau's birthright. After his GUILT is dissipated he BLAMES GOD. After all, God, it was you who told me to do this. It is all your fault. God will not accept blame so Jacob tries another approach. It is a combination of SELF PITY and BARAGAINING WITH GOD. Jacob tells God that he is unworthy of the many gifts God has given him. The unspoken message to God is: on the contrary you are so good! When that fails to work Jacob PLEADS INNOCENT. I did everything you said. I've been good. Finally, in DESPARATION he simply asks God to save him. The prayers of Genesis show all the elements we have in our own prayer. We find DENIAL, SELF PITY, REBELLION and DESPARATION. Those who pray BARGAIN WITH GOD, PLEAD, ATTEMPT TO SHAME GOD, BLAME GOD, and PLEAD INNOCENT. Only one shows a genuine TRUST IN GOD and prays for God's GUIDANCE. EXODUS In the book of Exodus prayer begins to take on a much different form. The relationship with God begins to change. In this book prayer is no longer the prayer of individuals it is the PRAYER OF THE PEOPLE. The earliest prayer is heard by God because God becomes MINDFUL OF THE COVENANT. Moses (Exodus 3) asks who am I that I should go to Pharoah and lead my people out of Egypt? God says simply I will be with you. Thus begins a new saga, a new emphasis in biblical prayer. There will still be the prayers of individual persons, but the major emphasis in prayer will be on KEEPING THE PEOPLE TOGETHER and FULFILLING THE COVENANT. After the departure from Egypt prayer is most often Moses PLEADING WITH GOD FOR THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE The people make a golden calf and begin to worship it. Moses is angry but he returns to God in the HOPING TO MAKE ATONEMENT FOR THE SIN OF THE PEOPLE. This is a completely new concept. It is one that will profoundly affect prayer and religous practice. No longer is prayer limited to individuals praying for their own needs. Moses becomes an advocate for the people with God. He establishes a tent in which God is present. Anyone may go at any time and experience the presence of God and dialogue with God. Prayer has become a REAL PRESENCE of God among the people. It is a presence that will GUIDE, CONSOLE, CORRECT, PUNISH, do any of the jobs that need to be done to keep the people faithful to the covenant. The terms of the covenant are spelled out in the laws which define the people's worship, the leadership of the community. Eventually these laws will define their diet and other parts of their lives. Prayer now becomes more and more COMMUNAL. We find few prayers in Exodus and the next several books. Those we do find are Moses PLEADING ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE. LEVITICUS This is a book of laws and rituals. We find no prayers offered. NUMBERS This book lists the various census of the people and a restatement of basic laws. However we find two prayers of Moses. In the first Aaron and Miriam, the brother and sister of Moses, grumble against Moses because he marries a non-Hebrew. Moses calls for a family summit at the meeting tent of the Lord. At the end of the meeting the Lord was so angry with Miriam, sister of Moses, that she became a snow white leper. Aaron prays that Moses not hold this against them. Moses, in turn, prays to the Lord (Numbers 12). He asks the Lord to HEAL Miriam but is told she will not be healed. The second prayer is at the end of Moses Life. He then prays (Numbers 27)that God will APPOINT A LEADER who will act as a leader in all things and guide the people in their actions so they will not be like sheep without a shepherd. This is very similar to Jesus' prayer in John 17. As an answer to his prayer God tells Moses to appoint Joshua. POST PENTATEUCH JOSHUA Joshua is a key book in the Bible. Prior to this book the people are pretty well united as a people. They have been united in their plight. They have been united under Moses. They have been united in the effort to find a home. Now Moses is gone. They have a home. They are no longer a people in flight. Once they find a home, they begin to fight with one another over the land. Joshua's prayer is "Alas, O God why did you ever let us cross the Jordan?" It was not God's idea in the first place. For a long time Joshua had been pushing to embark on capturing the land. Moses had opposed this adventure. Only upon his death and Joshua is in control does this venture take place. The prayer of Joshua is like so many of our own. It says basically: "God, please GET ME (US) OUT OF THE MESS WE CREATED' JUDGES Judges is a key book in the Bible. By this time Moses is no longer remembered. A political structure is necessary to keep some kind of unity among the people. By now they inhabit different areas and fight with one another. Even the leaders of Israel lack the certainty that Moses (and initially Joshua) seemed to have. The prayers which under Moses had become prayers for the people begin to return to the prayers of individuals. Even though some pray for wisdom or strength to lead the people. By the time of Samson a new element is introduced into prayer, vengeance. Gideon is uncertain whether or not he should lead the people. He ASKS FOR A SIGN Judges 6). If you want me to lead this people then let the dew fall on this fleece and the ground next to it be dry. And so it happens. Apparently Gideon did not really want to lead the people or at least was still uncertain. This time he asks that the ground be wet and the fleece be dry. And so it was. With God's answer Gideon leads the people. The wife of Manoah was barren. She was told in a vision that she was to have a son. Manoah was apparently uncertain about how to raise him. He asks for GUIDANCE in raising his son (Judges 13). Samson asks for WATER (Judges 15). Samson adds a new dimension. It is a dimension that will endure even to our own day. Samson tells God IT IS IN YOUR INTEREST TO HEAR MY PRAYER. Later after he has lost his strength and has been blinded he prays once last time as he about to destroy the temple and with it 3000 Philistines. Here Samsom prays for VENGEANCE and for STRENGTH. We can even pray for something contrary to nature of God. And we are able to do it in God’s name. HISTORIC BOOKS The type of prayer found in the Bible gives us a clue to the history of the Bible. At first prayer is much as we know it today. Individuals ask God for help. They bargain with God. They attempt to better themselves. They are aware of God’s presence and God’s help. However, much of the prayer is largely personal. With Moses prayer takes on a different tone. It becomes the prayer of a people. even though it is uttered by a person, it is not personal prayer. Moses prays for the people, that they be delivered, that they recognize the presnce of God. With the death of Moses people forgot about God’s deliverance. They begin to quarrel among themselves. They lack leadership. Often the leaders pray for their own needs. FIRST/SECOND SAMUEL The book of FIRST SAMUEL starts in the same way. Hannah prays that she have a child (1 Samuel 1) She also BARGAINS WITH GOD. If you will send me a son, I will dedicate him to you. She became very EMOTIONAL in her prayer. The priest watching her thought she was drunk. Later she had a son and dedicated him to the Lord. Later, her son Samuel (1 Samuel 7) introduced a new form of prayer. He adds a RITUAL to the prayer. Samuel flings water on the ground. He told the people they will disappear just as the water is absorbed in the ground. He calls for a fast and an end to sacrifices to false gods. It is one of the last prayers for the people that we find. Samuel anoints Saul as KING. This is a new dimension in the life of the Israelites. Later he anoints David as king. The two fight and David prays frequently to God. Most of these prayers are recorded in the book of PSALMS. They are prayers of JOY, prayers of GUILT, of REPENTANCE, and most other human elements. However, they are largely the prayers of an individual. David also prays for HELP (deliverance from Saul). He prays for GUIDANCE. (2 Samuel 2)Later for BLESSING (2 Samuel 7). He prays for JUSTICE Psalm 9), then for GRACE (Psalm 25(, and for MERCY (Psalm 51). Even though he is king of Israel his prayer is often largely personal. FIRST/SECOND KINGS At the end of David’s reign he is succeeded by his son Solomon. One of the most beautiful prayers is that of Solomon (1 Kings 3). Solomon is told by God that he may ask for anything he wishes. He asks for wisdom that he may be able to judge and lead his people. It is one of the few refernces back to the spirit of prayer first established by Moses, prayer being for the people. At the death of Solomon Israel had become so divided that no King of Israel could hold them together. They split into two kingdoms, Israel and Judah. Earlier when the temple was dedicated Solomon again offered a prayer on behalf of the people (1 Kings 8). However, this prayer proved to be more of a POLITICAL SERMON and another case of BARGAINING WITH GOD. It was a warning of what was to come. In his wisdom Solomon could see that Israel was crumbling. So he invoked God to KEEP THE KINGDOM UNITED. The split came toward the end of Solomon’s life. With his death and the split in the kingdom there were now two competing kings in Israel. We enter into the era of the prophets. Many gathered together in desert areas and formed religious communities dedicated to restore some religious sense to the people. Others fell back into idolatry. The split was never to be healed. One of the first prophets was Elijah. Unlike later prophets we do not find any of his writing. We find a few references to him in 1 Kings. These include a few of the prayers he offered. Unlike later prophets, the prayers of Elijah are for himself and for the individuals he prays for. He prays for the son of widow with whom he stays (1 Kings 17). The boy is dying. Elijah prays for his recovery and is quick to remind God that this widow took care of him. This is own form of BARGAINING WITH GOD. He raised the boy to life. It appears he used some form artificial respiration. Elijah would have made a good TV prophet today. He was quite the showman. He fought against the prophets of Baal and their idolatrous worship (1 Kings 18). He prodded them to call down their gods to bring fire upon animals ready for sacrifice. Nothing happened. Maybe your god is asleep he prodded them. Try again. When attempts failed he took his animals ready for sacrifice. He doused them with water. Repeated the dousing more. Finally he called down God and asked that God let the people know that He is God and that Elijah is God’s prophet. His sacrifiice was consumed by fire. Despite his victory Elijah still was fearful that his enemies might kill him/ He ran away and his final prayer was a prayer to God for DEATH. He gives as his reason to seek death the infidelity of the people to the covenant. God intervenes and tells Elijah to anoint a king and anoint another prophet before he dies. The remainder of the prayers in 2 Kings are prayers for military victory and for the health of the leaders. FIRST/SECOND CHRONICLES This books returns to an earlier history. It repeats some data but picks up some that had been left out. It also provides a reinterpretation of Jewish history. Despite a more religious tone. the prayers remain largely the same. The prayers are for PROSPERITY and for MILITARY VICTORY. Only now, these hopes and desires take on a more religious significance. They were written at a time when they were threathened with exile. Some of the writings date from post exilic times. It was from these times that the hope of a Messiah began to emerge. The prayer of Jabez (1 Chronicles 4) is typical of the prayers of the time. He prays that God will bless him "and extend his boundaries." Even when threathened with exile, many are praying for MORE LAND, GREATER PROSPERITY. In a later time we might be able to read that prayer in a more spiritual way: that God might extend the boundaries of our hearts, the boundaries of our love. PROPHETS The prophetic era included the time before the Babylonian Exile, the time of the exile itself, and the time after return from exile. Parts of what we now call Isaiah embrace all three time frames. There were many prophets and prophetic groups in Israel during these various stages of Israel’s history. We have learned of only a few of them. The prayer of the prophets we find in the Bible centered aound the COVENANT and ISRAEL’S INFIDELITY TO THAT COVENANT. JEREMIAH Jeremiah was one of the prophets who saw the destruction of Jerusalem coming. His oracles contained an unceasing message of repentance. In his prayer Jeremiah uses a familiar theme: Save YOUR people, Lord, FOR YOUR OWN SAKE (Jeremiah 14). He raises a question to God. WHY SHOULD YOU BE A STRANGER IN THIS LAND? It is to your advantage. God, to redeem your people. The entire thrust of Jeremiah’s life, mission, and message was FIDELITY TO THE COVENANT. He maintained that God was always faithful to that covenant and we must also be faithful. Jeremiah added a new dimension. Even if the people were not faithful God would be faithful and would create a NEW COVENANT (Jeremiah 42). More than the prayer of Jeremiah, we see the fruit of his prayer. In spite of the increasing infidelity of the people, God always remains faithful. He continues to forgive and to establish new covenants. EZEKIEL Ezekiel lived during the time of the exile. He is at times overwhelmed by the evil he sees around him. He refuses to be a part of it. He goes into hiding, remains silent, lives in a form of DENIAL. He pleads with God. I will not be a part of the mess of this people. “I WILL NOT BECOME UNCLEAN” by associating with them. God tells him he cannot live in his present society without becoming contaminated by it.. He can only chose the type of contamination he will suffer. Ezekiel abandons his DENIAL and becomes a great prophet. DANIEL Like most prophets Daniel feels inadequate for the job. He prays to God asking for WISDOM so he may do his work (Daniel 2). AS he becomes more aware of the wide spread evil his prayer becomes almost like the PENITENTIAL RITE at mass. It contains a list of the peoples' sins. They have rebelled. They have departed from God's commandments and laws. They have not obeyed the prophets. Daniel adds a familiar refrain (Daniel 9). For YOUR SAKE, o God, save this people and this city for they bear your name. Like many others in the Old Testament Daniel uses the COVENANT made by God as a BARGAINING CHIP. You will look bad, o God, if YOUR people are not forgiven. HABAKKUK This prophet rather than questioning the integrity of the people, questions God (Habakkuk 3). He complains that God leaves his prayers UNANSWERED. God is not listening. He even throws a few jibes at God. Your eyes are so pure you don't even see evil. God tells him to be silent. Wait. Who are you to question the Lord? In the end Habakkuk realizes that God will deliver the people. Regardless of the evil Habakkuk sees about him, the Lord is present to him and the people. To Continue To return to home page Thanks for stopping by. Hope you enjoyed the website and come back often. Each individual page has our name, address, phone number, and immediate access by e-mail. We'd like to hear from you email us at bill crumley IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH 3041 CHITIMACHA TRAIL P.O. Box 278 CHARENTON, LOUISIANA 70523 337-923-4281 |
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