Care Prayer 关怀祷告

[Dexu Xia]

Far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. 1 Samuel 12:23

Today's Scripture    1 Samuel 12:23

Today's Insights   Despite Samuel’s excellent character as a judge and prophet, his sons “accepted bribes and perverted justice” (1 Samuel 8:3). This prompted “the elders of Israel” to request a king (v. 4). Samuel disapproved and consulted God in prayer. He told Samuel, “It is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king” (v. 7).

Five hundred years before the time of Samuel, God had told Israel, “[When] you say, ‘Let us set a king over us like all the nations around us,’ be sure to appoint over you a king the Lord your God chooses” (Deuteronomy 17:14-15). But this didn’t mean that God approved of them choosing a king. 

Samuel outlined the problems a human king would create for them (1 Samuel 8:9-18), but they “refused to listen” (v. 19). Still, he continued to serve God by shepherding Israel and praying for them (12:19). We too honor God when we pray for the needs of others.

Today's Devotional    A woman was unusually nervous as she sat in the dentist’s chair. Family burdens troubled her greatly, and it was noticeable. Her dentist sensed her anxiety and asked her about it. Her story led him to ask, “Can I pray for you?” When the dental hygienist came into the room, she also prayed for the woman. Two prayers and one completed dentist’s visit later, the woman left the office knowing that she’d truly been cared for.

Praying for others is one of the best ways for us to show that we care because it calls on the greatest resource we know—our heavenly Father—to be actively involved in the lives of others. In 1 Samuel 12, the prophet Samuel was faced with the concerns of a very nervous group of people (v. 19). The Israelites had erroneously asked for a king, and they were afraid of how it was going to go for themselves. The prophet told them to “not be afraid” (v. 20) and assured them of God’s goodness as seen in these words: “Far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you” (v. 23).

We also have the privilege and calling to pray for others. Silently sometimes and out loud at other times, we honor God when we petition Him for assistance on behalf of others in need.

Reflect & Pray  

 How can you provide caring prayer right now? What will it mean for people to know you’re praying for them?

Thank you, dear God, for telling us that “the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16). Please help me to be that kind of person.

By Dave Branon

我断不敢得罪耶和华，停止为你们祷告。撒母耳记上 12:23 

今日经文 撒母耳记上 12章17-25节

今日洞见 尽管撒母耳是一位品格高尚的士师和先知，但他的儿子们却“收受贿赂，屈枉正直”（撒母耳记上 8:3）。这使得“以色列的长老”前来，要求立一位王（第4节）。撒母耳不赞同，便祷告求问神。神告诉撒母耳：“他们不是厌弃你，乃是厌弃我，不要我作他们的王”（第7节）。

  在撒母耳作以色列士师前五百年，神就曾告诉以色列人：“你们若说：‘我们要立王治理我们，像周围的列国一样’，你们务要立耶和华你们的上帝所拣选的人为王”（申命记 17:14-15）。但这并不意味着神赞同他们选择立  王。

  撒母耳列举了人类君王会给他们带来的问题（撒母耳记上 8:9-18），但以色列人“不肯听从”（19节）。尽管如此，他仍然继续服侍神，牧养以色列人，并为他们祷告（12:19）。当我们为他人的需要祷告时，我们也荣耀了神。

今日灵修 一位女士坐在牙科诊椅上，显得异常紧张。家庭的重担让她忧心忡忡，这一点显而易见。她的牙医察觉到她的焦虑便询问她。她的故事让牙医问她：“我可以为你祷告吗？”当牙科助理走进房间时，她也为这位女士祷告。两次祷告之后，牙科诊疗也结束了，这位女士离开诊所时，知道自己真正得到了关怀。

  为他人祷告是我们表达关怀的最好方式之一，因为它呼唤我们所知的最伟大的资源，我们的天父，积极参与到他人的生活中。在撒母耳记上第12章，先知撒母耳面对着一群非常焦虑的人（19节）。以色列人错误地要求立王，撒母耳藉着打雷降雨让百姓知道他们求立王之事是犯大罪了。百姓就害怕，求撒母耳为他们祷告，免得他们死亡。先知告诉他们“不要害怕”（20节），并以这些话语向他们保证上帝的良善：“我断不会停止为你们祷告，以致得罪耶和华，我必以善道正路指教你们，只要你们敬畏上帝，诚诚实实地尽心侍奉祂，想念祂的作为何等大，你们若是仍然作恶，你们和你们的王必一同灭亡”（23-25节）。

  我们也有为他人祷告的特权和使命。有时默默祷告，有时大声祷告，当我们为有需要的人向上帝祈求帮助时，我们就是在荣耀上帝。

  反思与祷告 你现在可以如何以充满爱心的祷告来帮助他人？让人们知道你在为他们祷告，这对他们意味着什么？ 亲爱的上帝，感谢您告诉我们“义人的祈祷大有功效”（雅各书 5:16）。求您帮助我成为这样的人。 作者：戴夫·布拉农