The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 430

inwa~d entrenty. W~ must ~~_ek "with all__ ~he heart'.'..(Psa. cxix. 2; _Jer. xxiv. 7). Beekmg earl;y (Prov. 1. 28; vw. 17; Pea. lxm. 1 ; lnvw. 84 ; lea. XXVI. 9) does not mea.n seeking in youth, but seeking eagerly, intently. Compare the expression, "rising up early," &c. (Jer. vii 13; xxv. 3, 4; xxvi. 5; xxxv. 16, &o.) Some one has said that there are not ma.ny persona who really and truly pray 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 lxr-eiA·" (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 was per&eve'Ting. He we.a not daunted by the IMonic "nothing" (Heb. not aught) of bis servant. "Go age.in 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. 8), after the example, it is probable, of our Blessed Lord (Matt. xxvi 44). Compare the example of Abraham (Gen. xviii. 23 sqq.) Daniel prayed three times a. day (Dan. vi. 10). The "seven times'' of Elijah means that be will pray until the covenant God hears his petitions (cf. Levit. iv. 6, 17; viii. 11; xiv.16). 5. It was touching God's kingdom. This 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 has 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 bear them l' If we a.re 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 already announced the rain to Ahab, before he prays for it. Similarly our Lord gave thanks at the grave of Lazarus: "I thank thee that thou bast heo.rd me " (John xi. 41), just as if the dead man bad already come to life again. We must ask in faith (Jo.mes i. 6, 7; Matt. xxi. 21, 22; Mark ix. 23). No wonder if God does not bear the petitions of the man who doubts whether God is, or is the rewnrder of those who seek Him. Before we pray we should at least be clear that there is One who bears and can help us. Unbelief makes God a liar. 7. It toaa humble. "Cast himself down upon the enrlh." What self-abasement before God I And be 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; Paa. ix. 12; x. 17). B. It was in the Holy Ghost (Jude 20). This prayer wns first inspired. Elijah would never presume to ask either for drought or rain, unless the prayer bad been put into his heart. As he mused in the wilds of Gilead over the apostasy of Israel, and vexed his righteous soul with the news of the Baal-worship, he felt constrained to cry to God, as we find Hie saints constantly doing, to awake, to make bare His arm, to vindicate His outraged honour. And what could he pray for, except tbe.t ~od would enforce tbe penalties He had Himself denounced? His prayer for drought Ja the outcome 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 mucTi. It oponed the windows of heaven. "There was a great ro.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. Man and beast drank and lived. 10. It availed immediately. While he was yet speaking, God beard (Isa. lxv. 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 (oh. xviii. 1, 41). God is more ready to give than we to pray. 4(0 THE F1RST BOOK OF KINGS. [as, x.mt. 1-46,