2S2-1: Modern Myths About Prayer – What The Bible Really Teaches

Today we begin 2nd Samuel Chapter Two.

For the Complete Jewish Bible, click HERE.

For the King James version, click HERE.

“After this, David consulted Adonai; he asked, ‘Should I go up into any of the cities of Y’hudah?‘ Adonai said to him, ‘Go up.’ David asked, ‘Where should I go up?’ He said, ‘To Hevron.’  So David went up there with his two wives Achino‘am from Yizre‘el and Avigayil the widow of Naval from Karmel.”-2 Samuel 2:1-2

I gotta question for you.

When I say the word “prayer”, what comes to mind?

I betcha this image of you sitting in a quiet place with your hands folded, your head bowed and your eyes closed pops into your mind.

But here’s the thing.

The way most folks think of prayer is based more on tradition than what the Bible says about it.

Biblically speaking, to pray is to seek direction from a superior being with an attitude of humbleness.

For example, if a common man approached a king or nobleman to ask for something, that was considered a prayer.

Only in our day is prayer considered a religious activity.

This difference is demonstrated in the opening verses of 2 Samuel Chapter Two.

In verse 1, right off the bat, David asks God where he should go.

That right there was a form of prayer.

The time for mourning had ended, and David’s men didn’t need to stay in exile anymore.

At this point, David and his men were still residing in Philistine territory and under the rule of King Achish of Gath.

Now that Saul was dead and their village, Ziklag, was destroyed, David wondered what to do next – especially with his men and their families urging him to move.

So David asks God if he should return to Judah, and God says yes.

Then he asks where in Judah, and God tells him to go to Hebron.

Here, David is praying to God, using something called the Urim and Thummim.

We know this because of the binary nature of the answers to his questions.

When David asked the Lord if he should go to Judah, God said yes.

Then David asked if Hebron was the place to go, and God said yes again.

What’s important to note here is that David did NOT hesitate once he got his answers.

After God spoke, David packed up his two wives, Achinoam and Avigayil, and headed for Hebron.

His family in Ziklag also immediately packed up their families and went with him.

So the takeaway for today is to note the difference between what we’ve been taught about prayer and the true Biblical definition.

In our day and age, prayer is considered a special religious activity that is reserved for only a special place and time…

And it’s usually treated as a last resort, a product of our desperation after we’ve tried all fleshly avenues without success.

In the Bible, however, prayer is simply to inquire of God about anything we’re concerned about.

It could be about our work, our relationships, or where best to vacation next summer.

Our Father in Heaven cares about every aspect of our lives.

Another difference is that in the Bible, prayer is a precursor to action and not a last-resort activity.

Once David asked God a question and felt he got his answer, he moved.

See ya all next time.