John Dick
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). Let me request you to notice the following observations on this part of the subject:
(1.) God sometimes returns an immediate answer to the prayers of His people. In proof of this, many instances might be collected from the Scriptures. When the Israelites, in their flight from Egypt, were entangled by the Red Sea in front, the mountains on either hand, and the host of Pharaoh behind them, Moses in 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 opened a passage to the opposite shore. When Elijah entreated God to interpose visibly, in order to determine 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 concerning his people: “They shall not labour
1An extract, slightly edited, from Dick’s Lectures on Theology, vol 4.
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 upon their lips and before that they have had time to express all that they had conceived in their hearts, He will send down from heaven the blessing which they desire.
The apostles prayed that the Lord would grant that they might speak His word with all boldness. No sooner had they done so 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 returns 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 our Lord, He said, “This voice came not because of Me, but for your sakes” (John 12:30).
(2.) 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 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. . . . 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 (vv 2,5,6), 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 or the benighted traveller waits for the morning light, and 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 always grants full liberty to His people to address Him, and promises that all their needs shall be supplied, He does not permit them to dictate to Him the times and seasons of His interposition. His own wisdom, and not their anxiety, is the rule of His procedure. They are incompetent judges, as they know little more than their own feelings and are unable to take a comprehensive view of the relations and consequences of God’s dispensations. It is enough to be assured that God never turns away His ear from the prayer of faith and that nothing truly good will 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 and to feel all that warmth of gratitude which would lead 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, to support themselves by 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 earnest and importunate. And such is the constitution of human nature 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 the answer, but none of those who wait upon 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 hath forgotten me”. And when the proper season has arrived, a testimony of God’s favour is given to convince them that blessed are they who wait upon the Lord.
(3.) The prayer of faith is heard even when the blessing sought is withheld but another, more expedient, is bestowed. When the disciples, at their last meeting with our Saviour, said to Him: “Lord, wilt Thou, at this time, restore the kingdom to Israel?” He did not return an answer, for a reason which is assigned 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 will return to the prayers of His people, and it is a power in which they should cheerfully acquiesce, as it will be always exercised for their best interests. From their imperfect knowledge they may be mistaken about the object of 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 conducive to their good, and they afterwards perceive that it is preferable to that which they themselves selected.
(4.) God hears the prayers of His people even when He does not return any direct answer to them. A Christian may pray, as is his duty, for the recovery of a friend who is sick, and yet his friend may die; or he may pray for the conversion of particular persons 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 the obtaining of an answer, yet they are acceptable to God as proceeding from a holy heart and being conformable to the general rule of Scripture. The exercise of grace may be pleasing to God, although the occasion of its exercise be a mistake.
The love which a saint bears to a hypocrite, whom in charity he supposes to be a saint, is the fulfilment of the law, and receives God’s approbation as much as any other duty. The unworthiness of the object does not destroy its value, because his real character is unknown and the saint is acting on the basis of a profession of piety. 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, in particular circumstances, 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 as 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; and although no direct answer should be returned, it is still a sacrifice pleasing to God, through Jesus Christ. “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help us in time of need” (Heb 4:16).
What is death, to the assured believer, but a speedy conveyance to the possession of that glory which divine love has entitled him to from everlasting?
How do you treat the blessed Jesus? Where do you lay Him? In the inn, or in the out-house? I mean thus: do you receive Him into your hearts and affections, or do you take Him only into the out-house of an empty profession? Truly a lifeless, graceless profession of Christ is only a laying Him in the out-house; but a hearty embracing of, and a holy affection to, Christ, this is taking Him into the inn.
Matthew Mead