20141114 Friday, November 14 2014
Job 35: What Did The LORD Teach About How To Pray?

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"When thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are"

A "prayer" is a request for something that is made to someone who has the means or power to give it. In its simplest form, all living creatures "pray" to a greater power for what they want or need. Even animals "pray" e.g. baby animals crying to their parents, or their human owners, for food, with a sound that makes the parents, or the human, want to give it.

"13:8 And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren." (Genesis 13:8 KJV)

"25:8 Ask thy young men, and they will shew thee. Wherefore let the young men find favour in thine eyes: for we come in a good day: give, I pray thee, whatsoever cometh to thine hand unto thy servants, and to thy son David." (1 Samuel 25:8 KJV)

"1:13 And he sent again a captain of the third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight." (2 Kings 1:13 KJV)

But do responsible humans answer a prayer by giving something harmful? Even if what they ask for is harmful? Of course not.

"11:11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? 11:12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?" (Luke 11:11-12 KJV)

The Messiah taught people to pray for things that were good and righteous - in a way that is good and righteous. The famous "LORD's Prayer" is a summation of what and how people should pray (see the Fact Finder question below). Many people quote some of it, but vainly leave out the instructions for how to pray it.

"6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 6:8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread. 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." (Matthew 6:5-15 KJV)

Elihu was an especially wise young man (see Elihu's Answer, The Postponement Of Death and The Spirit Of Life). He understood many things - including righteous prayer.

35:1 Elihu spake moreover, and said,

35:2 Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God's? 35:3 For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? and, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin?

35:4 I will answer thee, and thy companions with thee. 35:5 Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds which are higher than thou. 35:6 If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him?

35:7 If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what receiveth he of thine hand? 35:8 Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and thy righteousness may profit the son of man.

35:9 By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to cry: they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty. 35:10 But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night; 35:11 Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven? 35:12 There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the pride of evil men.

35:13 Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it. 35:14 Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, yet judgment is before him; therefore trust thou in him. 35:15 But now, because it is not so, he hath visited in his anger; yet he knoweth it not in great extremity: 35:16 Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge." (Job 35:1-16 KJV)

Fact Finder: What did the LORD teach about how to pray?
See How To Pray: 12 Biblical Principles Of Personal Prayer