Daily Thought

Seeing the miracle of the thunder and rain, the people of Israel realized the power of God and the great danger they were in because of their sin, especially now that they had asked for a king, v. 19. They implored Samuel to intercede because they feared for their lives.

‘Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart’, v. 20: nothing short of true repentance was called for.

Then Samuel explained to them that the reason why the Lord was prepared, so far, to bear with them and not forsake them was ‘for his great name’s sake: because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people’, v. 22.

Although Samuel considered it a sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for them, he tells them that the onus thereafter was on them to fear and obey the Lord, otherwise they would perish as a nation in the land.

Promises of, and requests for, prayer abound in the scriptures when people had sinned or where there was weakness, failure or need. In the Old Testament, among those praying, or being asked to pray for others were Abraham who prayed for Abimelech, Gen. 20. 7; Moses for Israel, Num. 21. 7; Moses for Aaron, Deut. 9. 20; Samuel for the people, 1 Sam. 7. 5; a man of God for Jeroboam, 1 Kgs. 13. 6; Isaiah for the remnant, 2 Kgs. 19. 4; Isa. 37. 4; the remnant for Cyrus, Ezra 6. 10; Job for his friends, Job 42. 8, 10; Jeremiah for Israel, Jer. 42. 2, 20; and Hezekiah for Israel, 2 Chr. 30. 18, ‘The good Lord pardon every one’.

We too have a ministry of prayer for others, first for unbelievers who cannot, and usually will not, pray for themselves: we pray for their salvation, especially those whom the Lord places on our hearts. Then we should be ‘praying always with all prayer with all perseverance and supplication for all saints’, Eph. 6. 18, and especially those serving the Lord, see v. 19; 2 Cor. 1. 11; Col. 4. 3; 1 Thess. 5. 25; 2 Thess. 3. 1.

We have a suitable example in the Apostle Paul who was always praying for such, Rom. 1. 9; Phil. 1. 4; Col. 1. 3; 1 Thess. 1. 2; 2 Thess. 1. 11; Philem. 4.