KingdomView, Vol. IV, Issue 27 Scripture: 1 Samuel 7:1-15
Series: The Spirit of the Ministry and Prayer (Part 8 of 9)
The ministry of intercession is a vital artery that facilitates the flow of prayer to the heart of hope within Christendom. This hope is not wishful thinking, but reliance on the ability of God to bring to pass what He has promised through His Word. In the foyer of our church, there is an inscription on the wall that says, “Watchmen on the walls.” It is a phrase lifted from Isaiah 62:6-9. The Bible Knowledge Commentary provides us with this explanation of the passage:
62:6-9 . In the ancient world watchmen were stationed on city walls (often in towers) to watch for any approaching enemy. While on guard they were never to sleep. Righteous Israelites, like watchmen, were to be alert on Jerusalem‘ s behalf. They were to give themselves and God (Him) no rest till He establishes Jerusalem, that is, they were constantly to ask God that the city become the praise of the earth, so blessed by God that people everywhere would extol her (cf. 60:15; 61:11).
The “watchmen” were to hold God to His promises, knowing that is what He desires. God’s people should pray for things even when they know God has promised them. Jesus made this clear when He taught His disciples to pray that the kingdom will come (Matt. 6:10). When Jerusalem is restored, it will never again fall to its enemies (Isa. 62:8-9). God has assured it by oath (sworn by His right hand) and by His power (arm; see comments on 40:10).
Likewise, God is looking for believers who will serve as “watchmen on the spiritual walls” of intercessory prayer. We need intercessors who will stand in the gap and become the repairers of breached lives―in our homes, cities, and nations of the world (Ezekiel 22:30). Jesus Christ is our greatest example for dutiful intercession. The writer of Hebrews declares that He is standing in interposition on our behalf (Hebrew 7:25). Therefore, in today’s lesson, we will see how God uses His servants “as instruments of deliverance through intercessory prayer.” Here are five truths taught in today’s passage concerning intercession:
1. Intercessors will enjoin themselves in prayer on behalf of others. The Bible describes Samuel not only as a prophet and as judge, but he was also a man of prayer (1 Samuel 3:20; 7:15; 8:6; 12:19, 23; 15:11). As a man of prayer, he interceded on behalf of the nation Israel (7:8, 9). He would encourage the nation to repent of its sin of idolatry and turn to God at Mizpah, one of three sacred sites, which included Bethel and Gilgal that he would visit to conduct ministry (1 Samuel 7:3-5, 16). Just as Samuel did, believers should make it a point to intercede for others through prayer regularly.
2. Intercessors are needed to facilitate the repair of breached spiritual walls in the lives of others through counsel and prayer. As mentioned above, Samuel stood in interposition on behalf Israel (1 Samuel 7:5). He not only prayed, but he also gave clear biblical counsel for the people to help them right the offense rendered to God (v.3) Since corporate intercessory prayer is an important ministry for all believers, but is often only enjoined by a few, the church loses out on the tangible benefit of powerful fellowship in prayer. This fellowship in prayer can witness a tremendous move of God for deliverance (Acts 12:5-19). When God’s people pray corporately, mighty things can happen (2 Chronicles 20:1-25). This spiritual discipline and weapon is most effective when properly understood and engaged. Abraham demonstrated the power of intercession when he stood in the gap on behalf of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 18. Because of his willingness to stand in interposition for the righteous in those cities, God would honor his prayer for the sake of the righteous number chosen by Abraham. However, God would eventually destroy those cities because He could not find ten righteous people in them as requested by His servant Abraham (Genesis 18:16-33; 19:23-25).
3. Intercessors help lead the way of spiritual renewal for God’s people. Samuel would lead Israel in spiritual renewal and facilitate their gesture of purification and consecration before the Lord (1 Samuel 7:6). Likewise, as intercessors, we are to consecrate our hearts before the Lord as we pray for others. Moreover, fasting tempers our flesh and allows us to be more sensitive to the Lord’s presence in prayer as He speaks to our hearts. Thus, fasting is another spiritual weapon that we use to engage the kingdom of darkness (Isaiah 58:6).
4. Intercessors will stay the course of prayer for God’s people during tough times. The people of Israel found themselves facing their enemy who was preparing to attack and they pled with Samuel to present their cause before God (1 Samuel 7:7-8). Samuel, the man of prayer and great intercessor would not abandon the people in their time of crisis. Yet, he would not abandon the people in the midst of potential peril, but he would stand firm and worship as well as intercede on the behalf of the nation. The Lord would hear and answer his prayer (v.9). Samuel knew how to worship and pray his way through a crisis. What an example for us to emulate!
5. Intercessors understand the source of their strength and help in prayer. Samuel understood that his strength was in the Lord, his deliverer. The Lord would thunder from heaven, confusing the enemy and enabling Israel to route them in battle. Likewise, let our praise and worship and intercession raise before our God that He may thunder at the dark spiritual forces that seek to cause non-sanctioned adversities in our lives (Job 1:6-12).
Samuel illustrates for us the importance of the ministry of intercession, for God hears and responds to the prayers of His people. I pray that the people of God will pray more often together and watch their joint efforts in prayer impact their world for the glory God.
Reflection
1. How often do you participate in corporate intercessory prayer?
2. Are you relentless in prayer or do you faint easily?
3. What are some of the things that you pray about? Are your prayers all about your wants and desires?
4. Do you pray for our nation and its political leaders; similarly, do you pray for those leaders in political office who do not share your views?
Go Deeper
Additional Reading:
1. Wiley Bumgarner, Knowing God Through Prayer
2. Judson Cornwall, Praying the Scriptures
3. Lloyd J. Ogilvie, Conversation With God: Experience Intimacy With God Through Prayer
4. Lloyd J. Ogilvie, Praying with Power
5. Tom White, City-Wide Prayer Movements: One Church, Many Congregations
