The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 428

inward entreaty. We must seek "with all the heart" (Pea. cxix. 2; Jer. xxiv. 7). Seeking earvy (Prov. i. 28; viii. 17; Pso.. lxiii. 1 ; lnvili. 84 ; lea. xxvi. 9) does not mean seeking in youth, but seeking eagerly, intently. Compare the expression, "rising up early," &c. (J er. vii 13; xxv. 8, 4; xxvi. 5; xxxv. 15, &c.) Some one has ea.id that there are not many persons who really and truly p-ray half a dozen times in their lives. We offer up formal or lukewarm petitions, and then marvel that we receive no answers. Prayer must be u:revfi,; (Luke xxii. 44). It is not that God is hard to persuade; it is that He will have us mean what we say. There is no difficulty with Him. We are straitened in ourselves. 4. It waa pe-rsevering. He was not daunted by the ~onic "nothing" (Heb. not aught) of his servant. "Go again seven times.'' It is not enough to pray; we must "pray and not faint" (Luke xviii. 1; Eph. vi. 18; Col. iv. 2). We must '' diligently seek him" (Heb. xi. 6). St. Paul besought the Lord thrice (2 Cor. xii. B), after the example, it is probable, of our Blessed Lord (Matt. xxvi. 44). Compare the examplo of Abraham (Gen. xviii. 28 sqq.) Daniel prayed three times a day (Dan. vi. 10). The "seven times'' of Elijah means that he will pray until the covenant God hears hie petitions (cf. Levit. iv. 6, 17; viii. 11; xiv.16). 6. It was touching God's kingdom. Thie is the proper subject for our prayers (Matt. vi. 83). We may have doubts whether some of the blessings we would fain crave are good for us, but we always ask "according to his will" when we pray, " Thy kingdom come.'' Our prayers for rain or :fine weather are often selfish. Elijah only desired the drought, only supplicated for rain, as a means of influencing Israel and advancing God's work. It is partly the selfishness of our prayers which bas led men to question the efficacy of all prayer. If men want to have their own way with the elements, or to make God's power further their private ends, is it strange if He declines to hear them ? If we are to "obtain our petitions," we must " ask those things that please him." 6. It was believing. He never doubts the promise of eh. xviii. 1. He has al.ready announced the rain to Ahab, before he pro.ye for it. Similarly our Lord gave thanks at the grave of Lazarus: "I thank thee that thou hast he1u-d me " (J obn xi. 41), just as if the dead me.n had already come to life again. We must ask in faith (Ja.mes i 6, 7; Matt. xxi. 21, 22; Mark ix. 23). No wonder if God does not hear the petitions of the me.n who doubts whether God is, or is the rewnrder of these who seek Him. Before we pray we should at least be clear that there is One who hears and can help us. Unbelief makes God a liar. 7. It iuaa humble. "Ce.st himself down upon the earth." 'What self-abasement before God I And he was heard in that he feared (Heh. v. 7). God has respect unto the lowly, and giveth grace to the humble (Ja.mes iv. 6 ; 1 Peter v. 6; Psa. i:i:. 12; x. 17). B. It waa in tlte Holy Ghost (Jude 20). Thie prayer wo.11 first inspired. Elijah would never presume to ask either for drought or rain, unless the prayer had been put into his heart. As he mused in the wilds of Gilead over the apostasy of Israel, nnd vexed his righteous soul with the news of the Ba.nl-worship, he felt constrained to cry to God, as we :find His saints constantly doing, to awake, to make bare His arm, to vindicate His outraged honour. And what could he pray for, except that ~od would enforce the penalties He had Himself denounced? His prayer for drought 1s the ontcome of his zeal for God's law, with which God had Himself inspired him. And we, too, are promised supernatural help and guide.nee in our prayers (Rom. viii. 26, 27; Jude 20). 9. It availed muc7i. It op£lned the windows of heaven. "There was a great 1·o.in.'' It gave life to those who were sitting in the shadow of death. "The earth brought forth her fruit." The desolate land became as Eden. Ma.n and beast drank and lived. 10. It availed immediately. While he was yet speaking, God heard (Isa.. hv. 24). If that word is ever true, Bis dat qui cito dat, it was true of this occasion. Indeed, the answer almost anticipate,;!. the prayer (eh. xviii. 1, 41). God is more ready to give than we to pray. 438 THE FIRST BOOlt OF RINGS. [cH. XVIII, 1-46.