PRIVILEGE AND BENEFITS OF PRAYER.
By E. Hilliard
PRAYER is close communion of the soul with its Creator and Saviour. When one has great financial results at stake, which depend on very careful and judicious movements, that no loss be suffered, he is very grateful for advice. He considers it a privilege to go to a financier of skill and receive his counsel. But how many when thrown into perplexity respecting spiritual things neglect to go to their closets, and there in solitude commune with the God of all wisdom for the needed help; and yet he has promised to guide the meek in judgment, to give wisdom to the ignorant, strength to the weak, courage to the faint, and peaceful rest to the weary soul! Whoever neglects his closet, must go his way destitute of all these heavenly gifts. The answer to our prayers is sometimes delayed, and often the petitioner under such circumstances chafes, begins to doubt, and is finally led to disbelieve. But to doubt and disbelieve God because of delay, is to declare our wisdom sufficient to determine the time for response. Not one thing asked for will be withheld, if the words of Holy Scripture abide in us. If they do, we will not knowingly ask for anything that the Bible prohibits. Said the Saviour: “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” John 15:7. The answer may be delayed, to test and try us, but if our faith does not fail, it will surely come. When it does come, it will be far beyond our expectations. Eph. 3:20. Job prayed long and earnestly, and was, doubtless, tempted to think that God had forsaken him. In all of his distress he did not forget his friends who had so unjustly accused him. It was when he remembered them in prayer that God answered him. We read in Job 42:10: “And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends; also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.” His prayer at last was answered. Then it was he received twice as much as he previously had. Through delay in answer to Job’s prayer, confidence, faith, and patience have been inspired in many a heart that has waited long for a reply to its petitions. The sick sometimes are, and always should be, prayed for. In some cases they are healed immediately; in other cases the work is gradual, and sometimes they are not healed at all. But, whatever the circumstances, when faith is exercised, it is all done according to the divine will. The petitioner knows that he loves and trusts God, and he knows that God knows it and loves him. He also knows that, however the matter goes, no matter what it is, it works for good. Rom. 8:28. The servant of God may be faithful in prayer for months and even years, and receive answers to his petitions, and then be put to a severe test. He may and may not fail. It depends upon his spiritual tenacity. Jonah was a devout, praying man, or God would not have called him to warn Nineveh. He was not prepared to go on such an errand, and yet the time had come for him to be called, that he might be prepared for the work. The Lord knew the course he would take, and also knew what to do to make complete his servant. The Lord knew that when he told him to go to Nineveh, he would pay his fare to Tarshish, and also that he would not reach his desired port. Had the Lord allowed the natural course of things, Jonah would probably have reached Tarshish. He who controls the elements, sent a tempest, and all on board were afraid, and prayed every man unto his god. They finally cast lots that they might determine who was the cause of the evil. The guilty Jonah was discovered, and cast into the sea. He was swallowed up by the waters. He paid his fare to Tarshish, to flee from the presence of the Lord, but went to the bottom of the sea, and it was there, with the depths closed around him, and weeds wrapped about his head, that he found the presence of the Lord most precious. He could not flee from the Lord. The Lord in his kindness prepared a great fish to swallow him up. In anguish of soul he prayed to God from within the fish. He prayed most earnestly, too. The distressing circumstances pressed from his lips a most heart-felt prayer. He said, “When my soul fainted within me I remembered the Lord.” From experience he made the expression, “They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.” It was when his strength failed that he remembered the Lord, and found that he had forsaken his opportunity of mercy. But in his deplorable condition he did not despair, as many do to-day. He said: “I will look again toward thy holy temple. . . . I will pay that I have vowed.” God heard and delivered him. Altho God’s children are sometimes self-willed and disobedient, the Lord does not forsake them, but in his infinite wisdom brings them into places where they will yield their will and gladly obey. Let us see if Jonah was ready to obey God after passing through his bitter experience. We read in Jonah, third chapter, verses 1 and 2: “And the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the second time, saying, Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee. So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord.” He had no desire to pay his fare to Tarshish or any other seaport, but was willing to go straight to Nineveh. He was prepared for his work. He knew what it was to pray and be answered. He knew also how to sympathize with and pray for the lost, and he could properly warn the Ninevites. His labors were successful. They repented, and were saved from the impending judgments of God. O, what a wonderful God is our God! He is a God of mercy; for he saves the lost. He is a God of wisdom; for he knows how to take stubbornness from the hearts of his children. He is a God of power; for he knows how to answer prayer at the bottom of the sea, and deliver the petitioner. It is true that after Jonah’s work of warning Nineveh, the Lord took him through another experience, as stated in the last chapter of his book. The result of the trial will be known only in the coming judgment. Dear reader, let us trust the mighty God of Jonah; for he still lives, and by his side stands the risen Saviour, pleading for us. Tonga, South Pacific Ocean.