Question: what role do spiritual leaders play in the prayers of others?
Began the year yesterday reading the first half of 1Sam1. Hannah prays to the Lord in the temple, with Eli the sole (earthly) audience. v10 says she is weeping bitterly and quite distressed -- enough for Eli to think she was loaded. I can imagine the scene of Hannah wrestling with the Lord in prayer and not feeling like she's getting anywhere, she has been struggling with the same prayer for so many years, so many trips to the temple, so long has she lifted up the same petition. In v17, Eli calms her by sending her off in peace and offering his own complementary prayer: "may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of Him." Eli's intercession has Hannah leaving happy.
Does Eli's intercession make the difference between Samuel and not-Samuel? Does Eli's prayer aid Hannah's so much that the Lord answers hers? Is the Lord waiting on Eli's participation in this greater plan of His?
Questions there aren't earthly answers to. But it makes me wonder if I'm paying enough attention to the prayers of the flock I lift up. Perhaps someone is suffering because I'm not interceding enough. Perhaps it's my faith that's the issue not theirs.
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2 comments:
I've been worrying about this same issue, considering some who have asked for prayer for healing and (apparently) haven't (yet) received it.
"And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up."
Whose faith? Are these people not being healed because of a lack (faith? righteousness?) in the elders who are praying for them?
I think it was much clearer in Eli's time -- Eli was the high priest, and the only way for the people's sin to be atoned was through his ministry. I suspect that God intended to bring Samuel onto the scene and He used obedience on the part of Hannah and Eli to make it happen. I doubt God has to 'wait' on people -- without eliminating our 'free will', He can step back a thousand years and begin a sequence of events that will mature at just the right time.
You're obviously right that the Lord doesn't "wait" on anyone. But if He chooses to wait for our participation that doesn't affect our will or His sovereignty.
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