Mutual Prayer is Essential

“Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel.” (Ps 20:4 AV)

Psalm twenty was written by David for the priests who would pray for him.  The words above are the desire of the Priests for their king.  There are two points to be made here.  Before that, it is important to know the statement above is not a blanket statement for all that David might desire.  The desires of his heart and the meditation of his mind are very specific and are according to God’s will.  Having said that, priests cannot pray for David unless David confides in them the details of the prayers requested.  He needs to let those who would pray for him exactly what he seeks.  Living alone is not good.  Unless we have no needs, ambitions, or purpose, living in a shell is not a good thing.  Maybe we don’t know exactly that for which we should pray.  At least we know we need it.  So, we must ask for it.  Second, praying for one another is essential.  So much goes undone or merely in one’s own ability because prayer is not offered.  We need the prayers of others.  And we need to be praying for others.

Some writers speculate these prayers are for David in light of his flight from Saul.  God called him to be king in the stead of Saul.  Yet Saul was chasing him around, seeking his life.  How could he fulfill God’s call on his life?  David could not be what he was created to be while being pursued by the man who he would eventually replace.  David needed prayer.  If the priests do not pray for him, he may not ascend the throne.  If the priests do not pray for him, he will have a harder time governing Israel.  If the priests do not pray, the enemies of the king might gain an advantage.  If the priests do not pray, the king may fall to the temptations of his own flesh.  A measure of humility in a person is knowing how desperately he or she needs the prayers of others.  The measure of humility in a person is the willingness to ask for prayer.  Asking for prayer is a cry of dependence.  Praise the LORD that the priests were willing to not only pray the prayer above, but they set it to music so the rest of the nation could pray for their king as well.

Recently, I was going through some very deep waters.  I understood the causes of the distress.  There was nothing that would make it any better or change the circumstances at hand.  Some of it I had to come to terms with, as it will never change.  It seemed like the crosses I was asked to bear were too many at one time.  There was another cause of which I didn’t know until a few weeks later.  I have been in situations where I needed prayer often times.  But never like this.  There were no verses that would help.  Whatever verse was quoted to me, I could finish.  There was no counsel that could be offered.  I already knew the answer.  This was one time when prayer was the only answer.  The prayers of the saints were the only remedy.  If the prayers of the saints was not offered, there was no coming out if this.  I learned afresh how much prayer is needed and how effective it could be.  In the past, I have prayed and God gave miracles.   I have been on the receiving end of those same prayers.  But this was the first time I realized how necessary prayer is and how dependent we are on the prayers of others.  We often take the prayers of others for granted.  In reality, it might be the prayers of others that keep our heads above water.  It could be the prayers of the saints that literally save our lives.  It could be the prayers of others are the power by which we rise one more day.  The priests prayed for David, and David was not ashamed to ask for it.  He wouldn’t survive any other way.