Pray in the day of trouble.

[Online Message]

1 Kings 8:37~40

Pray in the day of trouble.

 

[ESV]

37  If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence or blight or mildew or locust or caterpillar, if their enemy besieges them in the land at their gates, whatever plague, whatever sickness there is,

38  whatever prayer, whatever plea is made by any man or by all your people Israel, each knowing the affliction of his own heart and stretching out his hands toward this house,

39  then hear in heaven your dwelling place and forgive and act and render to each whose heart you know, according to all his ways (for you, you only, know the hearts of all the children of mankind),

40  that they may fear you all the days that they live in the land that you gave to our fathers.

 

[MESSAGE]

Today’s text indicates that we shall first pray in the day of trouble.

 

Famine, pestilence, war... refers to times of trouble or hardship.

"Each knowing the affliction..."

In times of trouble, we believers must pray and intercession(Tefilah) even if we have no problem. And we must confess that we cannot solve that by ourselves and ask God's favor and mercy(Tehinnah).

 

"Each knowing the affliction" means that we should know the will of God in the affliction.

The affliction does not happen accidentally.

Covid pandemic situation also does not occur in accident.

 

Of course, we must keep on wearing a mask and doing social distance.

But it's not enough. We believer must pray more and discern the will of God in the midst of the affliction.

 

So what attitude should we pray?

Verse 38, "Stretching out his hands toward this house."

In here, "Toward house" means important is the direction of repentance.

 

"Toward house" indicates the temple-centered life. And the temple-centered life is God's Word-centered life.

"Your eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which you have said, ‘My name shall be there,’ that you may listen to the prayer that your servant offers toward this place."(29)

 

Repentance is to change direction to the temple-centered life.

The Lord said, "Repent. for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 4:17)

Living according to the kingdom of God is the fruit of repentance.

 

That the Covid pandemic situation happened is not accidentally.

There is the will of God for me, for us, and the Churches.

Specially we Churches should repent our fake faith like shamanism and mammonism.

 

"If you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God."(Deuteronomy 28:1~2)

 

The purpose of God's call for us to be in fear and obedient.

If we obey the Word of God, we will be blessed.

"Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray."(James 5:13)

Then God will help you, God will save you.