Prepared for Old Testament Theology on April 9, 2003.
Introduction: Prayer is one of the most central concepts in all of Scripture. Since the Bible is a book about God and His relationship to man, it is fitting that it should have much to say about that relationship. Prayer is essentially the direct intercourse of the heart with God, whether in thought, in word, or in song.
I. The Words for Prayer
The primary word for pray is פלל. It occurs 85x (14 in 1 Chr., 11 in 1 Sam., 10 in 1 Kgs., and 10 in Jer., and 7 in Is.). Its noun form תְּפִלָּה occurs an additional 80x (32 in Ps., 12 in 2 Chr., and 8 in 1 Kgs.). Other words are עתר (26x), תְּחִנָּה / תַּחֲנוּן (26x and 18x), זעק / זְעָקָה(72x and 19x), קרא / מקְרָא (876x and 23x), צעק / צְעָקָה (55x and 21x), חלה (89x).
II. The Key Passages on Prayer
A. Examples of Prayer
1. The Prayer of Moses in Exodus 32:11–14
While Moses was receiving the Ten Commandments from the Lord, the Israelites were sinning by making an idol and worshipping it as Yahweh. The Lord was angry and desired to destroy them, but Moses interceded for them and God decided to spare them.
2. The Prayer of Hannah in 1 Samuel 2:1–10
3. The Prayer of Solomon in 2 Chronicles 6:12–7:1, 12–15 (1 Kings 8:22–54)
4. The Prayer of Daniel in Daniel 9:3–21
5. The Prayer of Nehemiah in Nehemiah 1:4–11
6. The Psalms of Prayer in Psalm
B. Teaching on Prayer
III. The Theological Truths about Prayer
A. The Time of Prayer
Prayer is offered all during the day (1 Chr. 23:30; Ps. 86:3; 88:1). Daniel customarily prayed at least three times a day (Dan. 6:10; cf. Ps. 55:17): in the morning (Ps. 5:3; 88:13; 119:147), at noon, and in the evening (1 Chr. 23:30). The Psalmist offered praise seven times a day (Ps. 119:164). It is to be offered as long as one lives (Ps. 116:2).
B. The Place of Prayer
Prayer can be offered from anywhere. Daniel prayed from his home (Dan. 6:10), Jonah prayed from the fish’s stomach (Jon. 2:1), Judah cried out on the battle field (2 Chr. 13:14), and people common prayed in the temple (1 Kings 8:27–28).
C. Posture in prayer
People would pray while standing (1 Sam. 1:26; Gen. 24:12), sitting (Jud. 20:26; 2 Sam. 7:18), bowing down (2 Chr. 7:3), kneeling (2 Chr. 6:13; Dan. 6:10), laying prostrate (Ezk. 9:8; 1 Chr. 29:20), and lifting their hands up (2 Chr. 6:13; Ps. 28:2).
D. Hindrances to prayer
Prayer is hindered by refusal to obey God’s law (Pr. 28:9; Zech. 7:12), by pride (Job 35:12), by unconfessed sin (Ps. 66:18; Is. 59:1), by half-hearted pursuit (Deut. 4:29; Jer. 29:13), by idolatry (Ezk. 14:3), and by failure to help the needy (Pr. 21:13).
E. Kinds of Prayer
Prayer is an expression of communion (Ps. 63; Ps. 73:25), of praise for who God is (Ps. 135:3), of thanksgiving for what God does (1 Chr. 16:7), of petition or supplication (Ps. 40:13), of confession (Ps. 51; Dan. 9:20), of submission (Job 1:20–21), and of intercession (1 Sam. 12:23).
F. Content of Prayer
The range of things prayed for is quite broad: help from physical (Ps. 31:15) and emotional distress (Ps. 77:1), instruction and guidance (Ps. 25:4; 27:11), for grace and mercy (Ps. 119:132), forgiveness (Ps. 51:9), physical well-being (2 Kings 20:1–7).
IV. The Theological Problems concerning Prayer
A. Imprecation and Prayer
One of the more difficult issues related to prayer is how the desire for the destruction of others can be consistent with the attitude necessary for true prayer. It first must be kept in mind that God’s glory is the highest aim of all prayers, and sometimes God must punish evil to preserve His glory. It should also be pointed out that imprecation is not uniquely an OT occurrence (Luk. 18:7; 1 Cor. 16:22; Gal. 1:8–9; 2 Tim. 4:14; Rev. 6:10; 11:17–18).
B. Predestination and Prayer
If God has already determined what is going to happen (whether by foreknowledge or foreordination), how is it that prayer is really necessary? The fact that the end (the answer) is determined by God does not eliminate the use of means (prayer). The God who ordained to answer has also ordained the necessary means of prayer for its accomplishment. Just as God’s purposes in election are certain, yet only fulfilled through the means of gospel proclamation, so prayer functions as a God-ordained means to accomplishing His predetermined ends.
Conclusion: There seems to be a significant amount of development concerning the theology of prayer in the NT. It takes on significance in relation to the unfolding of the doctrine of the Trinity: prayer is addressed to the Father, in the name of and on the basis of the work of the Son, in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Sources: Baker Topical Guide to the Bible; Easton’s Bible Dictionary; Fausset’s Bible Dictionary; ISBE; NDBT; Spear (The Theology of Prayer); Carson (Teach Us to Pray)