We’re learning about prayer by studying those who prayed! Not via a textbook or lecture or some other means. It’s almost a biographical approach to the subject.

And many in the Bible prayed!

It’s been happening since Genesis 4:26. “Then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.” That’s a long time ago, numerous centuries, several millennia in fact.

Today I’d like us to briefly study one of Judah’s Kings, Asa by name. Not that the man is perfect, no one is! He had many lessons to learn, and even died not pleasing the Lord.

But on one impressive occasion he sure did pray!

“And Asa had an army of men that bare targets and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin, that bare shields and drew bows, two hundred and fourscore thousand: all these were mighty men of valour. ⁹ And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came unto Mareshah. ¹⁰ Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. ¹¹ And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee. ¹² So the LORD smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.” 2nd Chronicles 14:8-12

I realize the Bible skeptics will question these numbers, saying they are impossibilities. Did the Text say 300,000 soldiers out of Judah, and 280,000 more out of little Benjamin?

YES, and I plan to believe that Text!

But still, with all those men, King Asa was in the minority, his whole army adding up to about half that of his enemy. The Ethiopians had a million man army. “A thousand thousand!”

Out-manned 2 to 1, what’s a leader to do?

By the way, though comparatively few, these young Jewish fighters are skilled troops. “Mighty men of valor,” with the noun “valor” being “chayil” in Hebrew, a major word for “power, ability, efficiency!”

Still … so few in the face of so many?

Again, what do you do?

Surrender?

Call for help from some ungodly source?

Or … as Asa here did … TELL ALMIGHTY GOD!

Our Scripture again: “And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee.” 2nd Chronicles 14:11

Asa prayed!

“God, Thou are bigger than any enemy army!”

“This formidable foe is NOTHING to Thee!”

The Hebrew is “ayin,” an adverb of negation. It means “0” … zero … naught … inconsequential!

God can conquer a million man army before breakfast, so to speak! At least according to Asa’s rather bold faith on this memorable day of battle.

PRAYING WHEN THE ODDS ARE INSURMOUNTABLE!

PRAYING WHEN THE OUTLOOK IS BLEAK!

PRAYING WHEN NO ONE ELSE BELIEVES IN YOUR CASE!

PRAYING FOR GREAT THINGS!

“Help us,” O Lord, the King’s very words.

This is the Hebrew verb “azar,” meaning “to offer succor,” to give “support.” And I looked at the etymology of that verb “to succor.” It’s from the Latin infinitive “succurrere,” meaning “to hurry with help!” In fact “currure” alone means “to run!” LORD, COME RUNNING PLEASE! WE NEED THY STRENGTH!

Wow!

What arguments, what reasons why God should come and help …

We’re resting (trusting) in Thee!

We’re fighting today “in Thy Name!”

We desire to see no man “prevail” against Thee!

Asa did know how to pray!

But … with what results?

Our last verse today: “So the LORD smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.” 2nd Chronicles 14:12, word for word.

The verb “smote” means “put to the worse,” five times it does in the King James Version. Given the “plague” 3 more times! And killed (“slain”) 2 times. The Ethiopians, the numerically superior force, lost the battle that day. Defeated by the Lord of Hosts!

Because of a praying man.

And because of an awesome God!

The resources of a vast enemy army were “nothing” to a godly man who knew the “Resources” of God in Heaven!

But, can we pray like that?

Asking for such BIG things?

Jeremiah 33:3, with God doing the talking. “Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”

I guess we can then … also ask for BIG things too!

Praise the Lord.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

 

We see the end of Solomon’s “Temple Dedication” prayer today, and God’s response to it.

Second Chronicles 6:14-42, a very long prayer!

Its closing centers on God’s “help” when the nation goes to war. “If thy people go out to WAR against their enemies by the way that thou shalt send them, and they pray unto thee toward this city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name; then hear thou from the heavens their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.” 2nd Chronicles 6:34-35, the “if” placing the petition into what I call “contingency” praying. “Just in case!”

The Solomon, once again, mentions the possibility of “sin” and Israel. It’s longer but worth reading, for sure. “If they SIN against thee, (for there is no man which sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them over before their enemies, and they carry them away captives unto a land far off or near. Yet if they bethink (Hebrew “shub” … to “turn,” better yet, “to repent”) themselves in the land whither they are carried captive, and turn and PRAY unto thee in the land of their captivity, saying, WE HAVE SINNED, WE HAVE DONE AMISS, AND HAVE DEALT WICKEDLY. If they RETURN to thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, whither they have carried them captives, and pray toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, and toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for thy name: then HEAR thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling place, their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and FORGIVE thy people which have sinned against thee.” 2nd Chronicles 6:36-39, note how very sensitive to “sin” Solomon was in those early days!

Lastly Solomon pleads a general need, a Nation “right” with God, having the “Ear” of the Almighty! “Now, my God, let, I beseech thee, thine eyes be open, and let thine ears be attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.” 2nd Chronicles 6:40, just a single verse.

Then, in conclusion, God is “invited” into His new House, the Temple that has just been dedicated! “Now therefore arise, O LORD God, into thy resting place, thou, and the ark of thy strength: let thy priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, and let thy saints rejoice in goodness.” 2nd Chronicles 6:41

But, importantly … how did God respond?

The very next chapter, 2nd Chronicles 7 (particularly verses 1-2) tells us. “Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house. And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD’S house.”

Wow!

God did move “into” His earthly abode.

And, as long as Israel obeyed the Word, our Lord answered every request Solomon had lodged, no exceptions. Solomon, a leader in public prayer. A King, praying with his people!

No wonder the devil “hates” Israel like he does.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

 

Praying without prejudice!

In an ancient day when xenophobia was rife.

Solomon’s great prayer takes a “turn” this morning.

For some reason he prays not only for the people of Israel, but for those of foreign descent as well. And I doubt I would have ever written a Lesson on this aspect of prayer, likely not even thinking of such a thing. Yet, because of systematic Bible teaching, here we are!

Solomon at prayer, with the whole congregation of Israel:

“Moreover concerning the stranger, which is not of thy people Israel, but is come from a far country for thy great name’s sake, and thy mighty hand, and thy stretched out arm; IF THEY COME AND PRAY IN THIS HOUSE; then HEAR THOU FROM THE HEAVENS; even from thy dwelling place, AND DO ACCORDING TO ALL THAT THE STRANGER CALLETH TO THEE FOR; that all people of the earth may know thy name, and fear thee, as doth thy people Israel, and may know that this house which I have built is called by thy name.” 2nd Chronicles 6:32-33

The noun “stranger” is “nakriy,” not the normal word for “gentile!” It means an “alien,” not an indigenous citizen of a  given land. But it is derived from “noker,” a Hebrew word meaning “calamity, disaster, misfortune.” Someone who is in your country … because they have been endangered in their native land! A true “refugee!”

But there’s possibly more here, about this “stranger.”

He or she has come to Israel “for God’s great Name’s sake.” Because of God’s “Mighty Hand!” And “stretched out Arm,” in protection and provision!

Here’s a potential “convert” to the Faith!

Hungry for God!

No wonder this man or woman will want to pray!

And Lord, if they PRAY … please answer!

That’s what Solomon literally petitions our Lord!

How gracious!

How magnanimous!

Again the words of this request: “If they come and pray in this house; then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for.”

Wow!

At this point in Solomon’s life, middle age, he is yet living for God!

But why such a prayer?

It is “evangelistic” in nature, folks.

Read more now. This clause is called a “statement of purpose,” why God might desire to answer these prayers. “… that ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE EARTH MAY KNOW THY NAME, AND FEAR THEE, as doth thy people Israel, and may know that this house which I have built is called by thy name.” Answers to prayer, as a soul-winning tool!

I am impressed.

But one caution needs to be stated.

Solomon violated his own norm here.

Instead of converting these foreigners to his Faith … he allowed himself to be introduced to their various corrupted faith systems! He adopted their heathen practices!

He let them “turn his heart!”

He loved and married many of those “strange” women, 1st Kings 11:1 specifically says.

“And Solomon had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. for it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.” 1st Kings 11:3-4

Soul-winning, good!

Soul-blending, not good!

Think of it, the body of today’s Lesson. Praying for God to answer the prayers of someone else! What a lovely thought!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

 

Samuel’s life reminded us to pray one FOR another.

Now Solomon is reminding us to pray one WITH another!

And this prayer, surprisingly, focuses largely on sin, especially the sins of a nation! Even the “consequences” of sin are highlighted! Let me show you:

“When the heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, BECAUSE THEY HAVE SINNED against thee; yet if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and TURN FROM THEIR SIN, when thou dost afflict them; then HEAR thou from heaven, and FORGIVE THE SIN of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, when thou hast taught them the good way, wherein they should walk; and send rain upon thy land, which thou hast given unto thy people for an inheritance.” 2nd Chronicles 6:26-27

No rain!

And the next few verses list other “punishments” for sin: “pestilence, mildew, locusts, enemy invaders,” how very costly is this little Nation’s wrongdoings. Yes, Solomon is King of Israel.

Still, “forgiveness” is sought! “Then hear thou from heaven thy dwelling place, and FORGIVE, and render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men:) that they may fear thee, to walk in thy ways, so long as they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers.”

I do not know of a single contemporary Head of State who would pray such a prayer! I mean world-wide, the entire globe. We’ve become so global minded, so “acceptant” of every view (including competing views, both of which could not possible be true), so reverent of so-called “tolerance!”

Folks, Solomon had a good beginning to his monarchy!

But later, as you know, he “fell” into gross sin.

“But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites.” Then “Solomon clave unto these in love. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.”

Sad: “For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.” All the foregoing data is taken, word for word, from 1st Kings chapter 11.

My point today … a person can be so sensitive to sin, so afraid of iniquity at one point in his or her life … and then later adopt the very habits he once abhorred!

Had Solomon lived by the dictates, the desires, of his Temple Dedication Prayer, his life and Kingdom would have been far more godly!

What can we do?

Pray like this:

Jesus taught us. “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” Both Matthew 6:13 and Luke 11:4 record these petitions.

Let’s too ask the Lord to help, strengthen, us to be “faithful” all our lives! Paul again, an early “goal” of his … “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I MIGHT FINISH MY COURSE with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 20:24

The truth is that, 30-35 years later, the Apostle did so, dying faithful and victorious! “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have FINISHED MY COURSE, I have KEPT THE FAITH: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day.”

Amen!

Stay faithful!

Stay pure!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

 

 

I am sure someone will be SURPRISED!

Solomon?

Solomon!

Hardly a paragon of Christian living!

And yet the man prayed.

In fact, the longest prayer in the Bible flowed from the lips of this man, a son of King David. The prayer at the dedication of the Temple. The “Temple of Solomon” it’s called yet today.

On that grand day, worship of God was extravagant!

“Also king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel that were assembled unto him before the ark, sacrificed sheep and oxen, which COULD NOT BE TOLD OR NUMBERED FOR MULTITUDE.” 2nd Chronicles 5:6

With musicians and singers (the whole allotment of them) and 120 priests sounding trumpets … “They lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD. So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.” 2nd Chronicles 5:13-14

Then, after reviewing a section of Israel’s history, Solomon began to pray: “And he stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands … and said, O LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee in the heaven, nor in the earth; which keepest covenant, and shewest mercy unto thy servants, that walk before thee with all their hearts.” The prayer obviously begins with praise, adoration! Here beginning with 2nd Chronicles 6:12.

We shall study this prayer for several days, I think.

Here’s the first request lodged with God. Merely asking God to fulfill His Word! (A God Who has never failed to do so, according to Joshua! “And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.” Joshua 23:14)

Here’s that beginning: “O LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee in the heaven, nor in the earth; which keepest covenant, and shewest mercy unto thy servants, that walk before thee with all their hearts. Thou which hast kept with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him; and spakest with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thine hand, as it is this day. Now therefore, O LORD God of Israel, KEEP WITH THY SERVANT DAVID MY FATHER THAT WHICH THOU HAST PROMISED, saying, There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit upon the throne of Israel; yet so that thy children take heed to their way to walk in my law, as thou hast walked before me. Now then, O LORD God of Israel, LET THY WORD BE VERIFIED, which thou hast spoken unto thy servant David.” 2nd Chronicles 6:14-17

The Hebrew of the verb “be verified” is simply spelled “aman,” literally! It means: let Thy Word be “faithful, true, made sure, stand fast, continued!”

That’s great praying!

Reminding God of His Promises!

Praying God’s revealed Will! Something you already KNOW is going to occur! For example, in Ezekiel 36 God told the Jews His great plans for their future … then said, “I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them; I will increase them with men like a flock.” In essence, “I promise this, but I still would have you pray for it,” Ezekiel 36:37, what a seminal verse!

Solomon is “on track!”

But, wait a minute. There are dozens of prayers in the Bible asking God to “keep His Word.” Why include the (at best questionable) Solomon as an example?

Because he, as King, is here praying for his whole Nation!

He is praying in the presence of all Israel!

This is congregational prayer, group prayer, corporate prayer!

Verse 12 (2nd Chronicles 6) told us, just before the prayer began: “And he (Solomon) stood before the altar of the Lord IN THE PRESENCE OF ALL THE CONGREGATION OF ISRAEL, and spread forth his hands ….” And prayed for quite a while, with thousands upon thousands listening!

Oh … let me include one more element of his prayer today. “But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built! Have respect therefore to the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and the prayer which thy servant prayeth before thee: that thine eyes may be open upon this house day and night, upon the place whereof thou hast said that thou wouldest put thy name there; to hearken unto the prayer which thy servant prayeth toward this place. Hearken therefore unto the supplications of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, which they shall make toward this place: hear thou from thy dwelling place, even from heaven; AND WHEN THOU HEAREST, FORGIVE.” 2nd Chronicles 6:18-21, ASKING FOR NATIONAL FORGIVENESS

Both individually … “if a man sin against his neighbor” … and as a Nation … “if thy people Israel be put to the worse before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee; and shall return and confess thy name, and pray and make supplication before thee in this house; then hear thou from the heavens, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel” … quite amazing! 2nd Chronicles 6:22 and 24-25.

Confession of sin, potential sin anyway!

This is good praying!

And here in public!

Gathered as a Nation!

Wish America could see such days, once again!

The Lord willing, more Solomonic praying tomorrow morning.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell