1678. A Pretense of Long Prayer

A Pretense of Long Prayer

"And for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater condemnation" (Mat_23:14, \1911 Bible).

It is very necessary to get back of all long prayers and drawn-out petitions, made in public. We must examine the private walk, to rightly estimate the public prayer.

Outward postures do not suffice with God; man may look at these, God looks at the heart.

There are plenty of people who appear before the Lord; they come "as the people cometh, and they sit before Thee as my people, and they hear Thy words, but they will not do them" (Eze_33:31).

There are plenty of people who, "with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their unlawful gains" (Eze_33:31, \1911 Bible).

There are plenty of people to whom the Lord is, as "a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear Thy words, but they do them not" (Eze_33:32, \1911 Bible).

In speaking of the Pharisees, the Lord Jesus told a parable of a certain man who had two sons. Unto one of them he said: "Go work to day in my vineyard." "And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not" (Mat_21:28, Mat_21:30).

Thus, the Pharisees promised great things, but they did them not. Their lip service was all right, but their heart was all wrong.

The Pharisees drew nigh unto God with their mouth, and they honored Him with their lips; but their heart was far from Him.

There is nothing that can displease God more than long prayers from lifeless lips.

When Israel turned away from God in her heart, she still continued her sacrifices, then the Lord remonstrated thus:

"To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats" (Isa_1:11).

God did, as a rule, delight in the blood of the sacrifices. The offering of Abel's was a sweet incense unto Him; many of the Old Testament sacrifices pleased Him. However, He despised a sacrifice that was a mere formality, with a corrupt heart behind it.

The Word continues:

"When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me" (Isa_1:12-13).

The feasts of Israel and her new moons God hated; they were a trouble unto Him, He was weary to bear them.

When they spread forth their hands toward God, He hid His eyes from them.

When they made many prayers, He did not hear.

The reason for all of this is expressed in one short sentence:

"Your hands are full of blood" (Isa_1:15).

God cried:

"Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow" (Isa_1:16-17).

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR