Prayer For Mercy And Help

Isaiah 64:1–12
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Once a man asked an evangelist “how can we have revival?” The evangelist answered by asking “Do you have a place where you can pray?” Yes the man replied. Tell you what to do, go to that place and take a piece of chalk along. Kneel down there, and with the … More

Prayer
Realizing their uncleanness (vv. 5-7), they ask God to smite their enemies (vv. 1–4). They prayed that the Lord tear the heavens like a piece of cloth, come down (vv. 1-2) and execute judgment on the nations. Fire and boiling water picture judgment (Jer. 1:13–14). The awesome things (v. 3) probably refer to the phenomena of fire, darkness (Deut. 4:11–13), and earthquakes (Ex. 19:16–19) when God gave the Mosaic Law. This revealing God, the only God (v. 4) acts on behalf of those who believe in Him and who therefore willingly do what is right. Recalling this, the remnant would ask that God work on their behalf. They would confess their sin (v. 5b), spiritual uncleanness (v. 6a), weakness (v. 6b, like a shriveled leaf), and lack of prayer (v. 7). However, they would not blame God for their dreadful condition; they would know that their wasting away was because of their sins. Therefore they would have to count on God’s faithfulness and promises.

This final part of this beautiful prayer (vv. 8-12) by the righteous remnant is a confession of trust in the Lord. The remnant would address God as their Father and as the Potter. Israel was to be like obedient children and as submissive as clay. Therefore the remnant would obediently and submissively ask the Lord to withhold His anger and to look on them as His own. The remnant would remind God that Israel’s cities including Jerusalem had been destroyed and that even the temple had been burned. The nation would urge God to do something about the situation (v. 12), thereby breaking His silence and withholding His punishment on her.

Application

Sometimes it seems that it takes a catastrophe or something that brings desperation to our life to get us to turn to God in prayer. My desire is to keep the communication lines open with the Lord every day and to be in constant communion with Him. 

Isaiah 64:1-12 (English Standard Version)


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