1 Samuel 3:18
So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. Then Eli said, "He is the LORD; let him do what is good in his eyes."
2 Kings 20:2-6
Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, "Remember, O LORD, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes." And Hezekiah wept bitterly. Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the LORD came to him: "Go back and tell Hezekiah, the leader of my people, 'This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the LORD. I will add fifteen years to your life. And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my sake and for the sake of my servant David.' "
It has been a while that I enjoyed a Sunday sermon and yesterday's guest speaker (can't recall his name, but the greatest of all messages all resound of the cross not the speaker) shared a humorous, yet sharp sermon that brought great light to the subject of prayer.
Apart from the two examples above, there were a couple more to press home the point that God, in His majesty listens to prayer. Even a desperate cry from an undeserving person can get the attention from God. What more from one who faithful and loved deeply by God.
Eli, a high priest, demonstrated the negative example as he did not repent nor mutter a prayer to turn the judgment of God. There was such a resignation in him as he heard the words from the little boy Samuel. If only he prayed.
Hezekiah, on the other hand, had his death sentence proclaimed by prophet Isaiah. He reacted by praying and pleading and got a 15 year extension on his life.
Prayer can and does move the hand of God. I must take heart because I speak to my inner man in this season that when we pray, God will move.
M.
"When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened" (Jonah 3:10)
