Prayer as Worship (Part 2)

Wayne Galloway
09/18/22 - Sunday Morning Bible Class

Worship 20

Prayer As Worship 2

Ex. 32:11-14; Deut. 9:26-29;

Num. 14:13-19; Deut. 1:19-45

Introduction:

1.  There are many examples of intercessory prayer in Scripture. 

2.  An intercessory prayer involves praying on behalf of other people.

3.  Abraham interceded for Sodom (Gen. 18:16-33) and for Abimelech (Gen. 20:7).

4.  Hezekiah interceded for his people asking for God’s deliverance from Sennacherib (2 Kings 19:14-37).

5.  Daniel prayed for God’s blessing on His people that they might be delivered from captivity (Dan. 9:1-19).

6.  There are some very important common elements in these prayers.

      a.  Each recognized God’s graciousness.  Abraham recognized that God would not destroy

           the righteous with the wicked.

      b.  Each recognized that God was in sovereign control of the events of human history. 

           Hezekiah said, “You are the God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth.”

      c.  Each recognized God as the only God.  Note 2 Kings 19:17-19.

      d.  Each recognized God’s judgment against sin and sinners.  Daniel acknowledged the sin of

           Israel as the reason for their captivity.  Repentance was the appropriate response if God

           was to deliver them. 

7.  There is much to be learned from these prayers, but for now, we will consider the two intercessory prayers of Moses for Israel.

      a.  He interceded for them after the golden calf incident.

      b.  He interceded for them again when they refused to enter the promised land.

8.  The intercession of Moses was necessitated by God’s anger at their sin and unfaithful response to what He had done for them.

Discussion:

I.  Intercession resulting from the golden calf incident (Ex. 32:11-14; Deut. 9:26-29).

     A.  First, observe that the Lord is justified in His angry response to Israel (Ex. 32:7-10).

           Moses is not justifying what the people have done while judging God as being in the

           wrong.  His question is, “How will this appear to the Egyptians?”  It would appear that He

           was unfaithful to His promises.

     B.  Notice that Moses was not self-centered.  God said, “I will make of you a great nation.” 

          Moses is not interested in taking on greater status or a greater role in God’s plan. 

          1.  Moses is concerned about God’s image in the world (Ex. 32:12; Deut. 9:28).

          2.  God has invested much effort into this His people (Ex. 32:11; Deut. 9:26, 29).

          3.  God should spare them for the sake of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Ex. 32:13; Deut.

                9:27).

     C.  Both Moses and God are angry about the situation.  The sin did not go unchecked. 

          However, there was forgiveness (for the penitent; note the call to “circumcise your heart,

          and stiffen your neck no longer” in Deut. 10:16) and yet a blotting out of God’s book of

          those who sinned (I take this to mean, “those who continue in sin, the unrepentant.”).

II.  Intercession resulting from their refusal to enter the promised land from Kadesh-Barnea (Num. 14:13-19; Deut. 1:19-45).

     A.  Note again in this episode that the Lord’s anger is justified.  They have spurned Him and

           have not believed in Him (Num. 14:11).

     B.  Yet Moses’ prayer of intercession is based on the fact that, “The Lord is slow to anger and

           abundant in lovingkindness, forgiving iniquity and transgression” (Num. 14:18).  It is

           God’s lovingkindness that makes intercessory prayer effective.

     C.  But God does not overlook sin.  “He will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity

          of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generations.”  Cf. Ex. 20:6; Deut.    

           5:9-10.  God holds the guilty accountable.  He forgives the penitent who love Him and

           keep His commandments, because of His lovingkindness.  There are both natural

           consequences experienced by coming generations, and spiritual consequences for

           the individuals who reject the Lord, refuse to trust Him and who rebel against Him.

      D.  Intercessory prayer is founded in God’s graciousness and His control of His emotions (cf.

           Heb. 5:2, “metriopathia” is translated “deal gently” in the NASB.  It carries the idea of

           “holding one’s emotions in control.”).

      E.  Like the intercessory prayers of Moses, the intercessory prayer of Abraham preceding the

           destruction of Sodom is founded on Abraham’s perception of God as just (Gen. 18:23-

           25).  He would not sweep away the righteous with the wicked.  This suggests that each

           individual is responsible for their own actions (cf. Ezek. 18:19-20).

III.  What are some of the implications of this in practical application?

       A.  It is appropriate that we pray for one another that healing might be received (James

             5:14-16; 1 Jn. 5:16-17).

       B.  Such intercessory prayers acknowledge God as a God of grace.

       C.  There is no motive to intercede for the impenitent (Jer. 7:16; 11:14; 14:111 Jn. 5:16-17).

       D.  Since God controls His emotions we are to control our emotions. 

            1.  Yes, God is angry because of sin and sinners, but His grace offsets that anger.

            2.  He forgives the penitent (Matt. 18:21ff).

       E.  The Holy Spirit intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words (Rom. 8:26-27).