Solid Food, Part 3
Detail from Arch of Titus showing looted temple treasures, Author Dnalor 01 (CC BY-SA 3.0 Austria)
All of us have experienced prayers denied. How is this to be reconciled with Jesus’ promise, “ ‘[A]sk, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened for you’ ” (Luke 11: 9)?
Doesn’t belief in God guarantee us our legitimate desires? Well, not exactly.
- The first Jewish temple was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC. The Babylonian Captivity lasted 70 years, and began the Jewish diaspora.
- The second temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. The Arch of Titus still stands in Rome portraying the enslaved Jews and booty from the sack of the temple. Archaeological evidence supports a conclusion that temple treasure funded the building of the Roman Colosseum.
- Devout Christians throughout history have been persecuted and martyred.
- Injustice persists to the present day. Any attorney, anywhere, has come in contact with it.
On the surface, these events would appear to contradict the promise of answered prayer. Jesus, Himself, in the garden of Gethsemane asked that the cup be taken away.
“He …fell on His face, and prayed, saying, ‘O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will’ ” (Matt. 26: 39).
Those last eight words are key. God’s will is always paramount. That is not merely a reflection of His supreme power, but His supreme righteousness. And God’s purposes may not be our own.
We may, for instance, desire success – an entirely acceptable goal. But success for Christians is not measured in worldly terms, by readership or dollars in a bank.
We were created to know, love, and serve an all holy God. Success in that endeavor is measured by the quality of our faith, hope, and love (1 Cor. 13: 13) – in other words, by degree of sanctification.
Sanctification is the progressive maturation by which the Holy Spirit shapes us to become holier and more Christlike. Suffering is an essential tool in the process. It is not something God “inflicts”, but rather something He can and does use toward His good purposes (Rom. 8: 28) [1].
If we have a sense of justice, it is derived from God. His knowledge of past, present, and future allows for perfect justice on a scale we cannot imagine. In the near term, however, we battle injustice. Indeed, it is a part of His plan that those of us called to the law do that.
Of course, inequity is not limited to the courtroom. Some are born into poverty; some into wealth. Some endure lifelong disability; others are rarely ill in their lives. Some are exposed to the ravages of war at an early age; others are never called upon to defend their country. God alone knows each one’s heart.
Psalm 23 can be read as the author’s testament to answered prayer. It alludes to conditions beyond the control of the author, but not outside the control of God:
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures…He restores my soul…Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me…You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies…My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Ps. 23: 1-6).
We may long for pleasant lives, from time to time. But God knew before He made us the circumstances we would have to face. He equipped us with that in mind.
Let us pray that His will for our lives be fulfilled…one more morsel of what Paul would call solid food (Heb. 5: 13-14).
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[1] Christians differ about whether Satan must ask God’s permission to attack us. Job 1 and 2 show Satan requesting such permission. And Jesus said before Peter’s denials of Him, ” ‘Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to shift you as wheat’ ” (Luke 22: 31). However, Satan is, also, described in Scripture as prowling the earth “like a roaring lion” (1 Peter 5: 8).
Originally posted 5/23/12
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A Lawyer's Prayers 
Excellent post. A thought about your footnote: that the enemy roams the earth like a roaring lion [seeking whom he may devour] does not exclude the idea that he must have permission to do the devouring. See also 1 Cor 5:3-5.
Thank you for reading the post so carefully! Personally, I agree. Others, however, take the position that the image of a lion implies a certain amount of free rein. Permission can, also, be viewed as complicity by God in evil which is, of course, impossible. God’s nature is entirely holy and good.
Well, I would not get into a fight over the idea, although my personal belief is that God is in charge of everything, including the enemy and the lion. And I completely agree that God’s nature is entirely good. I also believe that his will and purposes are good, regardless of whether what is happening appears so in my limited perspective.
Again, I agree. But I’ve been roundly criticized for that. Since belief one way or the other does not jeopardize my Salvation, I try to avoid disputes about it. Like you, I think Christians have better things to do than fight with one another.
Anna and Louise,
One time I had a pastor who spoke of this “roaring lion” verse and said that he is “seeking those whom he may devour.” He does this by tempting us in an area that we are naturally weak in and then asks, “May I devour you?” We are the ones who have to give him consent and that is where sin (falling short of the will of God) enters in.
Love you both in Christ,
Michael
Thank you for that striking image, Michael! Love you, too, dear friend.
Yes, Michael, we must allow the devouring. Probably that is why we are told to resist the devil…
Excellent insights Anna.
Thanks, Nicodemas. Easier said than done, I admit. 🙂
Anna, thanks for this. You wrote about how Jesus said, “Ask and you shall receive…” He also said,
“Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” (John 14:13, ESV2011)
Then you wrote,
“God’s will is always paramount. That is not merely a reflection of His supreme power, but His supreme righteousness. And God’s purposes may not be our own.”
This is so true. This is why I believe that to ask in His name (Grk. anoma – authority and character) is to ask [not only] in Jesus’ name [but] to do so in the very essence of who Christ is, and His will is to do the will of the Father. When we are of THIS heart we WILL ask and we will surely receive.
Your friend in Christ,
Michael
I always gain from your spiritual insights, Michael.
Your sister in Christ,
A. ❤