RAD IO PRAYER MESSAGE
by Rev. Thomas E. Steele Director, Biola Extension ^ Department
K ecorded for our instruction and admonition in the Word of God are some wonderful Scriptural prayers. In Judges 13:8 and 9 we read, “Then Manoah intreated the LORD, And said, O my Lord, let the man of God which thou didst send come again unto us, and teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be bom. And God hearkened to the voice of Manoah; and the angel of God came again unto the woman as she sat in the field.” The context of this prayer is most interesting for the chapter opens with spiritual darkness, as indicated by the statement, “And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD delivered them into the hands of the Philistines forty years.” This was a time of spiritual declension, idolatry and immorality. It had re sulted from the disobedience of the Israelites during the conquest of Ca naan. They failed to drive out or to destroy many of the pagan, idolatrous tribes as God had commanded. Nation al bondage, under the oppressive hand of the Philistines, had been the lot of the tribe of Dan for almost forty years. The name Manoah is interesting be cause, like all Hebrew names, it tells something about the individual. The meaning is “Resting Place.” With the context it indicates that Manoah was a man of God; one who knew what it meant to “rest in thé Lord.” This is what the Psalmist meant when he ex
horted, “Wait patiently f o r him” (Psalm 37:7). Manoah, upon hearing of his wife’s unique confrontation by the heavenly visitor, who is later de scribed (v. 13) as an angel of the Lord, goes immediately to prayer. His peti- ton hum ility. There was no wordy verbage which seems to characterize much of the praying we hear today. This prayer reflects the simplicity of a man who apparently knew what it meant to walk with God. He had a teachable spirit which is what is en couraged in the 25th 'Psalm, “Show me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths, Lead me in thy truth, and teach me, for thou art the God of my salva tion; on thee do I wait all the day.” Another aspect of Manoah’s prayer is what we also need. That is a willing obedience to the Lord. This is further bom out through the chapters which follow. Finally, one cannot help but notice that this supplication reflects a spirit of faith. He asks, “Teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be bom.” He simply believed the report that his wife had given to him. He believed that the Lord was going to do exactly what He promised He would do. Now, since God looks on the heart, t h e s e things: humility, simplicity, teachableness, obedience, and faith, are of the utmost importance. Without them we cannot enjoy the blessing and approbation of God, no matter how (continued on next page) 23
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker