John Dick.
Dick (1764-1833) was successively minister of United Secession congregations in Edinburgh and Glasgow; he was also a professor of theology. This extract is taken, with editing, from his Lectures on Theology, vol 4.
Prayer is offered up in expectation of an answer; and when it is the prayer of faith, it is not presented in vain: “The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers” (1 Pet 3:12). On this part of the subject, let me make the following observations.
- God sometimes gives an immediate answer to the prayers of His people. Many instances of this might be collected from the Scriptures. When the Israelites, in their flight from Egypt, were enclosed by the Red Sea in front, the mountains on either side, and the host of Pharaoh behind them, Moses, in this distress, was pouring out his prayer. The Lord said to him: “Wherefore criest thou unto Me? Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward” (Ex 14:15). Immediately the waters were divided, and a passage to the opposite shore opened up. When Elijah entreated God to decide, in a visible way, the controversy between Himself and Baal, fire descended from heaven and consumed, not only the sacrifice, but also the stones of the altar (1 Ki 18:38).
These are the words of God about His people: “They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them. And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear” (Is 65:23,24). The idea suggested is the promptitude of the answer. While the petitions are yet on their lips, and before they have had time to express all that they had conceived in their hearts, He will send down from heaven the blessing they desire. No sooner had the Apostles prayed that the Lord would grant unto His servants that, with all boldness, they might speak His word than “the place was shaken where they were assembled together, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost” (Acts 4:29,31), who inspired them with heavenly eloquence and undaunted courage.
God gives a speedy answer to the prayers of His people when the case is urgent and delay would prove injurious. And while He thus honours the duty of prayer, and holds out encouragement to persevere in it, He furnishes a proof, by which all should be convinced, that there is profit in serving the Lord. When an audible answer had been returned from heaven to Christ, He said, “This voice came not because of Me, but for your sakes” (Jn 12:30).
- Although God has heard the prayers of His people, He sometimes delays to answer them. Whatever conclusion their impatient minds may draw, their petitions are not rejected when the favour asked for is not immediately conferred. David was convinced of this truth, as we see from his exercise recorded in Psalm 130: “Lord, hear my voice; let Thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications”. Afterwards he adds, “I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in His word do I hope. My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning.” This is the language of expectation. He did not receive an immediate answer, but he did not sink into despondency. He looked for the blessing as the sick man waits for the morning light; he supported himself by the faithful promises of God, which were the foundation of his hope: “Though [the vision] tarry,” says the prophet, “wait for it, because it will surely come, it will not tarry” (Hab 2:3).
While God grants His people full liberty to address Him on every occasion and promises that all their wants shall be supplied, He does not permit them to dictate to Him when He should act. His own wisdom, not their anxiety, is the rule of His procedure. They are incompetent judges, as they know little more than their own feelings and cannot take a comprehensive view of the relations and consequences of His dispensations. It is enough to be assured that God never turns away His ear from the prayer of faith, and that nothing truly good shall be withheld from those who fear Him.
Perhaps they are not yet in a proper state of mind to receive the blessings they ask for, not duly humbled by a sense of their unworthiness, and consequently not prepared to estimate them according to their value or to feel all that warmth of gratitude which would lead them to sincere and fervent thanksgiving. The delay may serve the salutary purpose of awakening their dormant piety, or of increasing its vigour and activity. It will teach them to live by faith, in dependence on His promises, to serve Him in hope, instead of always being impelled by the actual experience of His goodness. It will lead their thoughts more to God, and make their supplications more importunate. Human nature is so constituted that mercies which have been long sought – and sometimes despaired of, but at last obtained – acquire in our eyes a double value and are enjoyed with a keener relish.
For these and other reasons, there is sometimes a considerable interval between the prayer and its answer, but none of those who wait on God shall be ashamed. The prayer was heard when it was presented; it was remembered, although the saint might have been tempted to exclaim, The Lord has forgotten me. And at the proper time, a testimony of God’s favour is given, to convince them that blessed are they who wait on the Lord.
- The prayer of faith is heard even when the blessing sought is withheld, but another more expedient is bestowed. When, at their last meeting with the Saviour, the disciples asked Him: “Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” He did not answer. His reason is given in the following words: “It is not for you to know the times and the seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power” (Acts 1:6,7). But, although He refused to gratify their curiosity on this subject, He promised them what was of far greater value than the information which they were anxious to obtain: “Ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you”. He would give them the Spirit, to teach them all mysteries and all necessary knowledge.
When the Apostle Paul thrice entreated the Lord that the messenger of Satan, sent to buffet him, might be removed, he obtained only this answer: “My grace is sufficient for thee; for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor 12:9). He was not relieved from his present distress, but he was assured of grace to support him. God reserves to Himself the power of judging what answer He shall return to the prayers of His people; it is a power in which they should cheerfully acquiesce as it will always be exercised for their best interests. From their imperfect knowledge, they may commit mistakes in their requests, but their petitions are pleasing to Him as expressions of their faith and hope and humble desires. He therefore bestows in return a blessing more suitable to their circumstances and more conducive to their good, which they afterwards perceive to be preferable to what they themselves selected.
- God hears the prayers of His people, even when He does not return any direct answer to them. A Christian may pray, as he is bound in duty to do, for the recovery of a friend who is sick; yet his friend may die. Or he may pray for the conversion of particular people, who may never come to the knowledge of the truth. In such cases a distinction should be made, and we must say that, although the prayers are not heard, so far as this implies obtaining an answer, yet they are acceptable to God when they proceed from a holy heart and are conformable to the general rule of Scripture.
The exercise of grace may be pleasing to God, although behind it there lies a mistake. The love which a saint bears to a hypocrite whom, in charity, he supposes to be a saint on the basis of his profession of piety, is the fulfilment of the law, and receives God’s approval as well as any other duty. The unworthiness of the object does not destroy its value because his real character is unknown. Notwithstanding the error of those members of the church in Rome who, not considering that the ceremonial law was abolished, observed a distinction of days and meats from a principle of conscience, we are assured by Paul that the Lord received them (Rom 14:3). We may therefore conclude that, although the people of God may present their petitions for favours which His wisdom does not judge it proper to bestow, yet He is pleased with their prayers because they are founded on the general promises of Scripture. Such prayers ought not to be considered lost. They are among the works of faith and labours of love which God will not forget.
The prayer of faith is always heard. It brings down, sooner or later, the specific blessing, or another of equal value. Even if no direct answer is given, it is still a sacrifice pleasing to God, through Jesus Christ. “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb 4:16).
When Christ left the world, He made His will. His soul He bequeathed to His Father and His body to Joseph. His clothes fell to the soldiers. His mother He left to the care of John. But what should He leave to His poor disciples, who had left all for Him? Silver and gold He had none; but He left them what was far better, His peace.
Matthew Henry