By Jeffery M. Leonard, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Religion, Samford University
Praying for Others
Matthew 6:11; John 17:11–23
The period of the judges was a dark and difficult time in Israel’s history. With each transition from one judge to the next, the nation’s leadership grew less effective and the prospects for the nation’s future grew less hopeful. In the minds of most of the people the problem seemed to be one of politics.
With a king the nation would surely be more successful. However, Samuel, Israel’s last and greatest judge, knew that political change would only scratch the surface of the challenges facing the nation. Israel’s problems were not political but religious.
A king could marshal an army and defend the borders, but only genuine fidelity to God could bring lasting stability to the nation.
Sadly Israel opted not to follow Samuel’s warnings about establishing a monarchy. Although God had warned the people that their choosing a human king was tantamount to rejecting Him as King, the people pressed on and got the king they had demanded. And yet Samuel did not abandon his people. What he did instead was pray for them.
In his farewell address the aged judge and prophet did not mince words. He charged the people, “You have done all this evil” (1 Sam. 12:20).
And yet he did not stop with this accusation. He also told them not to be afraid; he urged them to serve the Lord with all their hearts and to take confidence in the fact that God would never cast away His people. And as for himself, Samuel said this: “Far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you” (v. 23). Although the people had sinned grievously, Samuel remained convinced that it was his duty to pray for them.
Pray for the protection of others. (Matt. 6:11; John 17:11–16)
In the so-called “High Priestly Prayer” of Jesus in John 17, we see Jesus similarly committed to pray for the welfare of those under his charge. The disciples had certainly given Jesus reason to leave them behind. They rarely understood the heart of Jesus’ message. Indeed they often acted in ways that were directly contrary to His teaching. They were often selfish and self-centered.
When Jesus’ most trying moments would arrive, they would sleep rather than pray, run away rather than defend and finally even deny that they had ever known the One who was their master. Rather than reject these broken men, Jesus chose instead to pray for them. He urged the Father to protect them.
Pray for the spiritual growth of others. (John 17:17–19)
Jesus also asked the Father to help His disciples grow. What they had not learned under His own teaching, Jesus asked the Father to give them. Jesus asked the Father to carry on the disciplines of spiritual growth that He had begun with them. Jesus knew what the disciples really needed was not punishment and abandonment but discipline, the kind of discipline that results in long-term spiritual growth.
Pray for the unity of believers, a unity that points to Christ. (John 17:20–23)
As the final aspect of His prayer for the disciples Jesus asked the Father to give them unity. The result of this unity, Jesus knew, was that the world would come to understand Him better as they saw His life and message vividly lived out in His followers. Jesus had every reason to turn away from His disciples and leave them to their own devices. Instead, He chose not to give up on them, not to cast them aside as He might have done. Because of His great love for them, even when they were unlovable, Jesus chose to pray for His disciples.
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