A Theology of Prayer - Struggles in Prayer

Study 48

Text: Psalm 14

PLEAD FOR GOD'S DELIVERANCE

In the battle against evil, we must learn to plead that God would bring about special deliverance of His people. We must not take for granted that deliverance is on its way, regardless of our prayer efforts! God wants His people to plead in His Name for deliverance. He will hear and answer as we plead with faith and expectation.

"Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion!
When the Lord brings back the captivity of His people,
Let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad."
Psalm 14:7

RECALLING AN OLD MOSAIC WORD

On what basis may we believe that God would hear and answer such a prayer for deliverance? Let us look at a text from the Book of Deuteronomy for the answer.

"And the Lord will scatter you among the peoples,
And you will be left few in number among the nations
Where the Lord will drive you…
But from there you will seek the Lord your God,
And you will find Him if you seek Him with
All your heart and with all your soul.
When you are in distress, and all these things come upon you,
In the latter days, when you turn to the Lord your God
And obey His voice (for the Lord your God is a merciful God),
He will not forsake you nor destroy you,
Nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them."
Deuteronomy 4:27, 29-31

1. Sometimes the problems in our life are self-created

In Israel's case, their forsaking of the Lord in favour of idols, caused them to be exiled from their home! Distress was greatly felt by all in exile. The futility and the danger of sin cannot be ignored easily!

2. Remembering and appreciating afresh the nature of God

We are reminded indeed that the Lord is most merciful! There is forgiveness with Him, if there is true repentance!

3. Finding God all over again

God will allow Himself to be found by all who seek Him with all their heart and with all their soul! How we must treasure our new-found relationship with the Lord!

4. New-found Hope in God

This is the hope that the psalmist David had in his heart as he poured out his heart to the Lord in prayer. What he wrote would find great resonance in the prayers of those who cried out to God when they personally experienced exile!

~ Pastor Charlie Tan ~