Great Prayers of the Old Testament

 

It is not uncommon to hear people, speaking of the Bible, saying, “I like the New Testament better than the Old Testament.”  One of the reasons given for this statement is the belief that the Old Testament is about Law and Judgment, while the New Testament is about Grace and Love.  This feeling could be understandable – what with Jesus’ saving presence in the side of the Bible that tells His story.  But, it cannot go without notice the numerous times Jesus judged, yea even condemned in the gospels, as well as “upping the ante” for the laws given in the Hebrew codes.  Yes, Law and Judgment are in the world of Jesus, but Grace and Love are also present in the world of our Hebrew ancestors.  Within the pages of the Old Testament are numerous accounts of God’s extending great grace and tremendous mercy.  In fact, we have the story of the New Testament BECAUSE of the offers of relationship and new life found in the bedrock pages in the Hebrew Bible. 

Nowhere is this merciful relationship more evident than in the prayers of patriarchs, judges, prophets, kings, and other ancestors of faith. Over these summer months, we will look at these prayers of faith.  We will remember how that relationship, begun in the God of the Hebrew nation, revealed in the salvation of Christ, and extended through the Holy Spirit and the church – now comes to us – each of us – where we are. 

Let us rediscover this summer the Great Prayers of the Old Testament.

 

June 5-6       Abraham - A Prayer From Wrath (Genesis 18:22-33)

June 12-13   Moses - Prayer for God’s Glory (Numbers 14:13-23)

June 19-20   Hannah – A Prayer of Thanksgiving (I Samuel 2:1-10)

June 26-27   David – Giving Thanks for Serendipity (2 Samuel 7:18-19)

July 3-4       Solomon - A Prayer for Wisdom (I Kings 3:5-15)

July 10-11   Jonah - Conviction and Deliverance (Jonah 2:2-9)

July 17-18   Jeremiah - Prayer for God’s Purposes (Jeremiah 32:16-25)

July 24-25   VBS weekend/theme

Jul 3-Aug 1 Hezekiah - Prayer for Deliverance (2 Kings 19:15-19)

Aug 7-8       Ezra - Prayer of Penitence (Ezra 9:6-15)

Aug 14-15   Nehemiah - Prayer for Promised Blessing (Nehemiah 1:4-11)

Aug 21-22   Daniel - Prayer for Mercy (Daniel 9:3-19)

Aug 28-29   Job - Prayer of Understanding (Job 42:1-6)