September 2

I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain. - Isaiah 45:19.

HERE is an intimation, and more than an intimation, a gracious assurance, that God is the hearer and answerer of prayer. According to some, the success of prayer is confined entirely to its exercise and influence. That there is an influence derivable from the exercise of prayer cannot be doubted. But though this is truth, it is not the whole truth, nor the principal truth. Prayer benefits us by its very operation, because it brings us into a proper state and frame of mind, and because if we pray sincerely we shall act correspondingly. But if we look into the Scriptures, we shall find many cases where the blessing could not have resulted from the operation of the prayer, but from the interposition of God as manifested in answer to prayer.

Jacob’s prayer did not soften Esau’s heart by its exercise, for Esau knew not that he was praying for him, but it was softened by the answers of God. The same with Hezekiah. The addition of fifteen years to his life was not the result of the sanative operation of his prayer, like the application of the bunch of figs to the boil, but it was the answer of God to it. And if there be any meaning in the Scriptures, there is something to be done, something to be communicated by God himself as a God hearing and answering prayer.

The husbandman’s labour does benefit him, for it aids his harvest; but he wants a crop: and he manures, and ploughs, and sows with this view and expectation, and he obtains one. And if a man prays aright and according to the Scriptures, he will believe in this, and be affected by it: that God does something, that God conveys something in the course of his providence and grace in answer to prayer. The answer to prayer should be always regarded, but there are many persons who pay no regard to their prayers. Nothing can be such a mockery of the majesty of God as appearing to draw forth his attention when there is no intention of noticing his benefits. In reference to answers to prayer it must, however, be allowed there is some difficulty in explaining and understanding the subject.

God does not always answer by granting the same things we implore, but he acts like a wise and kind father who gives not according to the child’s desire, but according to the child’s necessities; not according to what he asks, but according to what he requires; not according to his wishes, therefore, but according to his wants. The child may wish for a holiday, but he wants school; he may wish for sweetmeats, but he wants medicine. The goodness and wisdom of the Father must appear in giving him not what he asks or wishes for, but what would be really good for him. So it is with God; many of these answers to prayer come in the way of great troubles and huge afflictions, and so they are not recognised, they are the last things in the world we should suppose to be answers to prayer.

God is the Lord of all, and without going out of his ordinary course of nature and providence, he can answer prayer; and thus many answers escape our notice, because we look for something too particular and too remarkable. After all, if we do find a difficulty in the case, if we cannot easily determine what is an answer to prayer, let us adhere to the language of Scripture, and remember that we cannot pray in vain, for he hath not said unto the seed of Jacob, “Seek ye me in vain.” Here we may rest, here we may have a full persuasion that “it is good for us to draw near unto God.”