Prayer (2)

May 29

Prayer (2)
enteuxis, hiketēria, euchē

Continuing our meditation on seven Greek words that describe the aspects of prayer, we encounter enteuxis (G1783, 1Ti_2:1; 1Ti_4:5), which speaks of having access to someone, and even a certain amount of boldness (see January 5) in coming to them. What a humbling privilege!

Another aspect of prayer is hiketēria (G2428), which appears only in Heb_5:7, where the Lord Jesus in His humanity “offered up prayers [deēsis, see May 28] and supplications [hiketēria] with strong crying and tears.”

This word, along with the context, indicates humility and earnestness in prayer. Prayer is not something we do offhandedly, but rather, we practice it with all contriteness and solemnity.

This leads to one other aspect of prayer, euchē (G2171), the basic meaning of which is a wish or vow. As one Greek authority writes, “When we pray to God, we wish that He would intervene to permit something in our lives that we feel is proper and right. . . . A Christian’s wish is for God’s will to take place in his life, even if it’s suffering.”

This introduces us to perhaps the most ignored principle of prayer. Simply stated, the plan of prayer is that our will conforms to God’s will. What shameless arrogance to say that we can make demands of God, as some teach today, such as financial prosperity.

The Scripture clearly teaches that we are to pray according to God’s will. The idea in the “Model Prayer” (Mat_6:9-13) is, as Robert Young’s Literal Translation puts it, “Thy reign come: Thy will come to pass, as in heaven also on the earth.”

The bottom line is, “God, do what you want.” David prayed this way (Psa_40:8), as did Jesus in Gethsemane (Mat_26:39). Should we be any different?

Someone has wisely said: “Prayer is a mighty instrument, not for getting man’s will done in heaven, but for getting God’s will done on earth.” Is not 1Jn_5:14 clear? “If we ask any thing according to his will, He heareth us” (emphasis added).

What is God ultimately doing? He works things according to His will, for His ultimate glory and our utmost good. May we forever abandon arrogant prayer!

So, what is prayer? Prayer is communion with the one true God, before whom we come boldly and humbly to praise and thank and to whom we direct our petitions for others and ourselves according to His will.

Soli Deo Gloria! (To God alone be the glory!)
Scriptures for Study: Meditate on the “Model Prayer” found in Matthew 6.

Note first the word pray in Mat_6:9 (proseuchomai) and then the petitions that follow. Most scholars agree that “there are seven aitēmata, though some have regarded the first three as euchai and only the last four as aitēmata.”

 
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