Prayer is the most important activity of our lives.  It is the main way in which we develop a relationship with our Father in heaven.  If we love someone we want to spend time in their presence communicating with them.  On one level, prayer is very simple, natural and enjoyable.  It is the sincere desire of our souls.  It is as natural and as vital as breathing is for the body. 

Like any relationship, communication can take many different forms.  Lancelot Andrewes (1555-1626), one of the great theologians and preachers of his day, in his Private Devotions wrote two lists.

First, he wrote a list of times of prayer in the Bible:
‘Always ...
Without ceasing ...
At all times ...
Three times a day ...
Evening, and morning, and at noon ...
Seven times a day ...
In the morning, a great while before day ...
At daybreak ...
The third hour of the day ...
About the sixth hour ...
The hour of prayer, the ninth ...
The evening ...
By night ...
At midnight ... ’

Next, he wrote a list of places of prayer in the Bible:
‘In the assembly ... and in the congregation ...
Your closet ...
An upper room ...
A housetop ...
The temple ...
On the shore ...
A garden ...
On their beds ...
A desert place ...
In every place ... ’

There is no limit to the times or places in which we can pray.  In the passages for today we see yet more times and places, as well as different ways in which we can pray.

1.  The word of God, song and prayer in the night

Prayer is two-way communication.  Prayer involves listening to God as well as speaking to him.  The main way in which we hear God today is through his word.  Jesus is the Word of God (John 1:1) and the Bible is all about him.  As we study the Bible we are praying that God will speak to us through it.

The psalmist says this gives us ‘hope’ (Psalm 119:49).  ‘These words held me up in bad times; yes your promises rejuvenate me’ (v.50, MSG). We find comfort in God’s words to us (v.52). 

These words also inspire our worship of God; ‘your decrees are the theme of my song’ (v.54).  So many of the greatest hymns and worship songs are based on the words of the Bible. 

The psalmist’s prayers are not confined to the day.  ‘In the night I remember your name, O Lord’ (v.55a).  This is one of the best ways to use times of wakefulness in the night.  It may even be a way to cure insomnia!

Lord, please speak to us today through your word and bring us hope and comfort.  Help us to worship you in songs inspired by your word.  Help us to use the moments of wakefulness to remember your name and to pray.

2.  Requests, prayers, intercession, thanksgiving and raising hands

What is your first priority?  Paul writes, ‘The first thing I want you to do is pray.  Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know’ (v.1, MSG).

Do you ever complain about the government or our politicians?  If we want good government we must pray for it.  Paul prioritises prayer ‘for kings and for those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness’ (v.2). 

If we live in countries with relatively stable governments we should thank God for this blessing of good government and pray for continued stability.  In much of the world people suffer due to unstable governments and tyranny.  The rule of law was a high priority in the prayers of the apostle Paul.

When there is good and peaceful government it makes it easier to spread the gospel and for as many people as possible to hear the message.  ‘This is good and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth’ (vv.3–4).  God loves every human being.  No one is destined by God to be lost.  He wants everyone to be saved. 

Jesus died for us all.  He ‘gave himself as a ransom for all’ (v.6).  This is a beautiful summary of the work of Jesus.  Through his mediation and the ransom he paid, it is possible for everyone to experience an intimate relationship with the Father. 

This is why Paul urges us to pray for everyone we know (v.1).  This will include our family, friends, neighbours and anyone for whom the Holy Spirit is prompting us to pray.

It is interesting to note in passing that there was an expectation that people would lift up their hands in prayer.  ‘Not shaking angry fists at enemies but raising holy hands to God’ (v.8, MSG).  To pray with raised hands was the common practice in the ancient world.  It was taken for granted that Christians, like Jews, would lift up their hands in prayer (v.8). 

This was the traditional form of prayer.  I often jest that ‘if you go into a church and see everyone with their hands in the air say, “this is a traditional church practicing ancient forms of worship.”  If they all have their hands down by their sides that is fine also.  Just say, “this is a modern, trendy church experimenting with new forms of worship!” ’

There is a difficult section to expound at the end of today’s passage (vv.9–15).  Many of the interpretations of this passage do not really fit with the rest of the New Testament where it is clear that women had roles of leadership within the church.  Paul speaks of women as apostles and deacons (Romans 16).  He expects them to be praying and prophesying in the assembly (1 Corinthians 11). 

Paul also writes that Christ has brought an end to disunity and prejudice on any basis, including gender – in Christ ‘there is neither ...  male nor female’ (Galatians 3:28).  In Jesus’ ministry we read of Mary of Bethany sitting at Jesus’ feet.  In other words, she joined the men in becoming a disciple and a learner (Luke 10:38–42). 

Paul’s basic point is to insist that women too must be allowed to learn (1 Timothy 2:11) and study as Christians.   In order to do that they needed to exercise humility, not try and dominate proceedings.  The word Paul uses here for ‘authority’ (authentein) is used elsewhere for brutal or domineering forms of leadership – so this probably refers to particular issues in this congregation, rather than being a more general comment on the leadership of women.

As Eugene Peterson translates, ‘I want women to get in there with the men in humility before God ... doing something beautiful for God and becoming beautiful doing it’ (vv.9–10, MSG).

Thank you, Lord, for the amazing privilege of being able to speak to you through the mediation of Jesus Christ and his ransom for us.  May we lift up holy hands in prayer.  Help us to pray especially for those in authority in our own country and around the world, that the rule of law may be established and that people will be able to live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

3.  Listening to God and praying for others

Do you ever get discouraged by the fact that many people do not seem to be interested in listening to God’s words and obeying them?

God spoke to Jeremiah.  Jeremiah said that God, ‘Began speaking to [him] in the reign of Josiah’ (36:2).  Jeremiah dictated to Baruch, ‘All the words the Lord had spoken to him’ (v.4). 

Over and over again in the book of Jeremiah we read that the word came to Jeremiah from the Lord (for example in today’s passage 35:1,12; 36:1,27; 37:6).  Presumably, Jeremiah heard the word of the Lord as he was praying.

Jeremiah urged the people to listen to God.  God had spoken ‘again and again’ (35:14).  He said, ‘Listen! ...  I spoke to them and they did not listen’ (v.17).

In spite of the fact that the Lord was speaking through his prophet Jeremiah, King Jehoiakim refused to listen to his advisers’ warnings (Jeremiah 36:25).  Jeremiah had had the words of God painstakingly written on a scroll with quill and ink.  But Jehoiakim sitting in front of a charcoal fire warming himself cut up the entire scroll and burned it piece by piece (v.23). 

Jeremiah must have been devastated to hear what the King had done with all his hard work.  God tells Jeremiah ‘do it all over again’ (v.28, MSG).  He was not put off by personal rejection.  Like Jeremiah, we must be willing to keep going even if our message is rejected: ‘do it all over again.’

Disaster came, ‘Because they have not listened’ (v.31).  When Zedekiah was made king, ‘Neither he nor his attendants nor the people of the land paid any attention to the words the Lord had spoken through Jeremiah the prophet’ (37:2).  They ill-treated Jeremiah and rejected his word.  Yet despite this refusal to listen, the authorities recognised the power of Jeremiah’s prayers.  King Zedekiah sent a message to Jeremiah the prophet: ‘Please pray to the Lord our God for us’ (v.3). 

Later he was arrested, beaten and imprisoned (vv.14–15).  He ‘was put into a vaulted cell in a dungeon, where he remained a long time’ (v.16).  Yet when he was taken from his high security cell in a dungeon to see the king and asked, ‘Is there any word from the Lord?’ (v.17), he had the courage to speak out again.  He was at the king’s mercy and yet he was completely fearless.

Lord, thank you for the example of Jeremiah.  Help us to listen attentively to your words.  Thank you that, as Jesus said, we cannot ‘live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’ (Matthew 4:4).  Help us in our prayers to hear your words and have the courage to speak them regardless of the consequences.

Jeremiah 37:15

‘They were angry with Jeremiah and had him beaten and imprisoned in the house of Jonathan the secretary, which they had made into a prison.’

Jeremiah didn’t have an easy job – he was called to warn the Jewish nation of the coming destruction.  It was not popular.  It is not easy to go against the tide.  Jeremiah is an encouragement to keep going even when things are tough.