Who is Prayer For?

Scripture Verse that Caught my Attention Today: Nehemiah 9:9 “And you saw the distress of our ancestors in Egypt and heard their cry at the Red Sea.

Observation: Almost all of chapter 9 in Nehemiah is a recounting of the relationship between the Israelites and God. But it’s offered in the form of a prayer. Which brings to mind a simple question: To whom in prayer for?

Application. It’s nice to occasionally find a chapter in the Bible that sort of sums up what has been happening thus far. Certainly chapter nine of Ezekiel is one such example. Another is Acts chapter 7. In Acts 7 (which was not part of today’s readings but will obviously be coming up in about five days) it is Stephen recounting the history as part of his defense. But in Nehemiah the recounting is offered as part of a prayer.

Surely God knows all of this. So why did Ezra include it in his prayer? Was it to make sure that God knew that he knew? Hardly. More likely it was a way of making sure that the people knew full well about the movement of which they were a part…that they knew that they had been at fault—throughout history. And that they also knew that the Lord had been gracious and merciful throughout history.

That’s what my most authentic, most personal prayers are like too. They are times when I simply repeat what God already well knows. The prayers are more of a reminder to myself of what God had done, how God’s hand has provided, what current ponderings come to mind, and the like. It’s more or less a time of thinking aloud with the One being that I have the audacity to believe actually hears and enjoys my personal musings, however redundant and mundane.

Yes, in many ways the prayer is for me and, often, about me. But then again, it is also something more…much, much more. For as we tap into ourselves, we also tap in to our common humanity…the points of our common existence…and even calling. And that, of course, often reminds us of our common need for the One who, for a time was human, but has always been divine. It’s in his name that we pray.

Prayer: Lord, what can be said that you do not already know? Answer: nothing? But what are you willing, nevertheless, to hear? Answer: everything. Thank you! In Jesus’ name. Amen..

(Scripture Readings Today included: Nehemiah 9-10, Acts 2)