Practicing Prayer and Intercession in Daily Life Under Sovereignty
Prayer is defined as converse with God, the soul's direct address to the divine, encompassing both oral and mental forms, and ranging from occasional to constant, ejaculatory to formal [2]. It is described in scripture as "beseeching the Lord" (Exodus 32:11), "pouring out the soul before the Lord" (1 Samuel 1:15), and "drawing near to God" (Psalm 73:28) [2]. Prayer presupposes a belief in God's personality and his willingness to engage in such interaction [2].
The Bible commands prayer (Isaiah 55:6; Matthew 7:7; Philippians 4:6) and indicates it should be offered to God, to Christ, and to the Holy Spirit, always through Christ [7]. God is depicted as hearing and answering prayers (Psalm 10:17; 65:2; 99:6; Isaiah 58:9) [7]. Various physical postures and expressions are associated with prayer in scripture, such as bowing the knees (Ephesians 3:14), looking up (Psalm 5:3), lifting up the soul or heart (Psalm 25:1; Lamentations 3:41), and pouring out the heart or soul (Psalm 62:8; 1 Samuel 1:15) [7]. For instance, Solomon is recorded as kneeling and spreading forth his hands to heaven, a practice also seen with David and Ezra [12].
Intercession, a specific form of prayer, involves pleading on behalf of others. Christ himself is understood to exercise this function as part of his priestly office, both during his earthly ministry (Luke 23:34; John 17:20) and continually in heaven, where he appears in God's presence for believers (Hebrews 9:12, 24) [5]. His intercession is founded on his perfect sacrifice and aims to secure the fulfillment of God's promises [5]. Believers are encouraged to pray for others, including those in affliction [6]. For example, David prayed for deliverance from oppression so that he might serve God without fear and keep His precepts more cheerfully [11].
The practice of prayer in daily life, particularly in light of God's sovereignty, presents a theological mystery that scripture does not theoretically explain [4]. The tension arises from the belief that humanity lives under unalterable general laws and the opposing belief in human mastery over destiny [4]. Despite this, the Bible consistently directs believers to pray. King Solomon's prayer in 1 Kings 8:59 exemplifies this, where he asks that his supplication "be near to the LORD our God day and night, that He may maintain the cause of His servant and the cause of His people Israel, as each day requires" [1, 3]. This demonstrates a reliance on God's active involvement in daily affairs, even while acknowledging His overarching control.
Jesus provided a model for prayer, often referred to as "the Lord's Prayer," which contrasts with the "vain repetition of pagan prayers" (Matthew 6:7-8) [8]. This prayer is a "succinct expression of their new faith" and models simplicity [8]. Notably, Jesus frequently addressed God as "Father," a less common practice in Jewish prayer at the time [8]. The petition "may your name be kept holy" acknowledges that God's name can be profaned by the sin of His people (Isaiah 29:22-24; Ezekiel 39:7) [8].
Paul's epistles frequently include prayers and blessings, such as his final prayer in 2 Thessalonians 3:16, which echoes Jesus' blessing in John 14:27 and contrasts with the difficulties faced by the Thessalonian believers [9, 10]. Paul consistently emphasized the Lord Jesus' presence with His people (Romans 15:33; Philippians 4:9) [9]. The "Lord of peace" is a title given to Christ, similar to "the God of peace" (Romans 15:33; 2 Corinthians 13:11), and Paul prays for this peace to be given "always" and "in every way" [10]. This highlights the belief that prayer is a means through which God's sovereign peace is mediated to believers in their daily lives, regardless of circumstances [10].
Sources
- 1 Kings “1 Kings 8:59 (NASB) — "And may these words of mine, with which I have made supplication before the LORD, be near to the LORD our God day and night, that He may maintain the cause of His servant and the cause of His people Israel, as each day requires,”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Prayer — Is converse with God; the intercourse of the soul with God, not in contemplation or meditation, but in direct address to him. Prayer may be oral or mental, occasional or constant, ejaculatory or formal. It is a "beseeching the Lord" (Ex. 32:11); "pouring out the soul before the Lord" (1 Sam. 1:15); "praying and crying to heaven" (2 Chr. 32:20); "seeking unto God and making supplication" (Job 8:5); "drawing near to God" (Ps. 73:28); "bowing the knees" (Eph. 3:14). Prayer presupposes a belief in the personality of God, his ability and willingness to hold inter”
- I Kings “I Kings 8:59 (Webster) — And let these my words with which I have made supplication before the LORD, be nigh to the LORD our God day and night, that he may maintain the cause of his servant, and the cause of his people Israel at all times, as the matter shall require:”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Prayer — The object of this article will be to touch briefly on-- + The doctrine of Scripture as to the nature and efficacy of prayer; + Its directions as to time, place and manner of prayer; + Its types and examples of prayer. + Scripture does not give any theoretical explanation of the mystery which attaches to prayer. The difficulty of understanding real efficacy arises chiefly from two sources: from the belief that man lives under general laws, which in all cases must be fulfilled unalterably; and the opposing belief that he is master of his own destiny, and need ”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Intercession of Christ — Christ's priestly office consists of these two parts, (1) the offering up of himself as a sacrifice, and (2) making continual intercession for us. When on earth he made intercession for his people (Luke 23:34; John 17:20; Heb. 5:7); but now he exercises this function of his priesthood in heaven, where he is said to appear in the presence of God for us (Heb. 9:12, 24). His advocacy with the Father for his people rests on the basis of his own all-perfect sacrifice. Thus he pleads for and obtains the fulfilment of all the promises of the everlas”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Affliction, Prayer Under — Exhortation to -- Jas 5:13. That God would consider our trouble -- 2Ki 19:16; Ne 9:32; Ps 9:13; La 5:1. For the presence and support of God -- Ps 10:1; 102:2. That the Holy Spirit may not be withdrawn -- Ps 51:11. For divine comfort -- Ps 4:6; 119:76. For mitigation of troubles -- Ps 39:12,13. For deliverance -- Ps 25:17,22; 39:10; Isa 64:9-12; Jer 17:14. For pardon and deliverance from sin -- Ps 39:8; 51:1; 79:8. That we may be turned to God -- Ps 80:7; 85:4-6; Jer 31:18. For divine teaching and direction -- Job 34:32; Ps 27:11; 143:10. Fo”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Prayer — Commanded -- Isa 55:6; Mt 7:7; Php 4:6. To be offered To God. -- Ps 5:2; Mt 4:10. To Christ. -- Lu 23:42; Ac 7:59. To the Holy Spirit. -- 2Th 3:5. Through Christ. -- Eph 2:18; Heb 10:19. God hears -- Ps 10:17; 65:2. God answers -- Ps 99:6; Isa 58:9. Is described as Bowing the knees. -- Eph 3:14. Looking up. -- Ps 5:3. Lifting up the soul. -- Ps 25:1. Lifting up the heart. -- La 3:41. Pouring out the heart. -- Ps 62:8. Pouring out the soul. -- 1Sa 1:15. Calling upon the name of the Lord. -- Ge 12:8; Ps 116:4; Ac 22:16. Crying to God. -- Ps 27:7; 34:6. Drawing”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 6:9: 6:9-13 The Lord’s Prayer is similar in form to a common Jewish prayer (the qaddish). Jesus gave this prayer to his followers as a succinct expression of their new faith. 6:9 Pray like this: In contrast to the vain repetition of pagan prayers (6:7-8), “the Lord’s Prayer” is a model of simplicity. • Jews rarely addressed God as Father, but Jesus did so in every prayer but one (Mark 15:34). • may your name be kept holy: God’s name is profaned by the sin of his people (Isa 29:22-24; Jer 34:15-16; Ezek 39:7; Amos 2:7).”
- 2 Thessalonians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Thessalonians 3:16: 3:16 The final prayer echoes Jesus’ blessing in John 14:27 (cp. Num 6:26) and contrasts with the situation these believers faced in Thessalonica (2 Thes 1:4-10; 1 Thes 2:14). Paul was always conscious of the Lord Jesus’ presence with his people (Rom 15:33; Phil 4:9).”
- 2 Thessalonians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Thessalonians 3:16: Lord of peace--Jesus Christ. The same title is given to Him as to the Father, "the GOD of peace" (Rom 15:33; Rom 16:20; Co2 13:11). An appropriate title in the prayer here, where the harmony of the Christian community was liable to interruption from the "disorderly." The Greek article requires the translation, "Give you the peace" which it is "His to give." "Peace" outward and inward, here and hereafter (Rom 14:17). always--unbroken, not changing with outward circumstances. by all means--Greek, "in every way." Most of the oldest manuscript”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 119:134: Here, 1. David prays that he might live a quiet and peaceable life, and might not be harassed and discomposed by those that studied to be vexatious: "Deliver me from the oppression of man - man, whom God can control, and whose power is limited. Let them know themselves to be but men (Psa 9:20), and let me be delivered out of the hands of my enemies, that I may serve God without fear; so will I keep thy precepts." Not but that he would keep God's precepts, though he should be continued under oppression; "but so shall I keep thy precepts more cheerfully and with ”
- Exodus (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Exodus 9:29: I will spread abroad my hands - That is, I will make supplication to God that he may remove this plague. This may not be an improper place to make some observations on the ancient manner of approaching the Divine Being in prayer. Kneeling down, stretching out the hands, and lifting them up to heaven, were in frequent use among the Hebrews in their religious worship. Solomon kneeled down on his knees, and spread forth his hands to heaven; Ch2 6:13. So David, Psa 143:6 : I stretch forth my hands unto thee. So Ezra: I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto th”