MY HEART’S DESIRE AND PRAYER TO GOD

These words reveal Paul’s great longing for the salvation of his fellow-nationals.

Earlier in the Epistle he shows the intensity of that longing, ‘I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh’, 9. 2, 3. So distressed was he by the unbelief of Israel, that he felt ready to forfeit his salvation if only they would receive it. He knew this was impossible, of course, having just unfolded the truth of the believer’s security, 8. 35-39. But he meant what he said. He never indulged in exaggeration, and he never mouthed empty claims. Christ had indeed died for Israel, and Paul felt ready to do the same if only it would bring them to Christ. But he knew that only the sacrifice of Christ had atoning value. If that sacrifice failed to awaken them, nothing else could.

How did Paul find relief from the burden of Israel’s unbelief? Chiefly by prayer, as our text shows. His prayer flowed from his desire. His desire drove him to prayer. He agonized over Israel and wrestled with God on their behalf. He could not ease himself of his constant concern at their plight. He often turned away from them in order to preach the gospel to the Gentiles, as his missionary journeys make clear. But his heart constantly went out to them.

But what of us? How does our concern for our fellow nationals compare with Paul’s? It is tempting to complain about the appalling evils in our land. It is tempting to denounce the wickedness of those around us. But we need to remember our own pre-conversion misconduct. We may have been hedged about by Christian families and so restrained from the excesses of our pagan contemporaries. But our actions, thoughts and motives could never have borne close inspection in our unregenerate days.

And how many praying Christians pleaded for us at the throne of grace until we were saved? They deserve our undying gratitude, and we should cultivate their example. Our nation desperately needs such intercession today.