Back in 2010, when I was facing my first ever major surgery, several colleagues got together and came to pray for me. I still ‘hear’ their voices raised in petition on my behalf and the memory is a blessing. When my Mom was alive, I know she prayed for me everyday, too. Her prayer was not just a simple “Lord, bless Jerry today.” She asked wisdom, favor, protection, and the Power of the Spirit for me. I miss her prayers.
Daniel prayed for the restoration of his people and the city of his birth. In chapter 9 of the book that bears his name, the old man has opened the scroll of Jeremiah, reading the words God inspired, that the exile of the Jews would end after 70 years. The promise stirred him. He realized, as we all should, that that promises of God wait for our faith. We are partners with the Lord in bringing Heaven’s declarations to earth. We own and express His will in this world. Jesus, in the disciple’s prayer, taught us to pray – “May your Kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” His comes Kingdom in us and through us.
So, Daniel cries out to God with a heart that is passionate and broken: "O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For your sake, O my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.” (Daniel 9:19, NIV) The prayer is a beautiful lesson for every intercessor. There are two parts of his prayer worth noting.
First is that his expectation is based on the faithfulness and justice of the Lord. “Lord, you are righteous … The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving … Now, O Lord our God, who brought your people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and who made for yourself a name that endures to this day, we have sinned, we have done wrong. O Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts, turn away your anger and your wrath from Jerusalem, your city, your holy hill.” Do your prayers argue with God, accusing Him of failing to do what you think He should have done? From our perspective, limited as it is, we can sometimes slip into a feeling that He is cruel, or that He ignores us, or that He simply failed to act. God never fails. We pray best for others when we believe He is a good God, a faithful God.
Second, Daniel identified with those for whom he prayed. Repeatedly, he includes himself in confession. “We have rebelled… we have not obeyed … our sins have made us an object of scorn.” True Intercessors stand between Heaven and Earth. A man defined intercession as ‘having one hand on God’s shoulder and the other on your friend’s shoulder, making the connection.’ That’s a great image, isn’t it? We will not pray well for those from whom we stand to one side pointing the finger of judgment! “Get’em God,” is not the best intercession, is it? Jesus saved us, not from some distant place, but by becoming fully Man, tasting every experience, and ultimately becoming sin for us that we might receive the righteousness of God through Him. When you pray for others do your prayers judge or do you stand with those in need?
Our world needs intercessors! What if those trapped by sin, living in rebellion heard us praying for them with earnest tears instead of condemnation? Might that open their heart to God’s love? Surely God loves this world. Surely His desire is not to condemn but to save, not to destroy but to restore. Will we take hold of His promise and pray it into this world?
Christians, we are called to be a holy priesthood. Peter describes us as "a chosen people. You are a kingdom of priests, God’s holy nation, his very own possession. This is so you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light." (1 Peter 2:9, NLT) The primary function of a priest is to mediate the things of God to the people of his ministry. Joel describes the ministry of intercession this way. "The priests, who minister in the Lord’s presence, will stand between the people and the altar, weeping. Let them pray, “Spare your people, Lord! They belong to you, so don’t let them become an object of mockery. Don’t let their name become a proverb of unbelieving foreigners who say, ‘Where is the God of Israel? He must be helpless!’ ” Then the Lord will pity his people and be indignant for the honor of his land!" (Joel 2:17-18, NLT)
Let’s pray for others, our faith founded on God’s love and our hearts touched by the plight of those who are in desperate need. There is no greater work we can do for others than to pray fervently and faithfully for them.
Here’s the word from the Word, taken from Daniel’s prayer. "We have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. “Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame—… The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him; we have not obeyed the LORD our God or kept the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets. All Israel has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey you. … The LORD did not hesitate to bring the disaster upon us, for the LORD our God is righteous in everything he does; yet we have not obeyed him. “Now, O Lord our God, who brought your people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and who made for yourself a name that endures to this day, we have sinned, we have done wrong. O Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts, turn away your anger and your wrath … “Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, O Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. Give ear, O God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For your sake, O my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name." (Daniel 9:5-19, NIV)
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What we must avoid in intercession is praying for someone to be simply “patched up.” We must pray that person completely through into contact with the very life of God.
- Oswald Chambers
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