How to Pray for America
I Timothy 2:1, 2
A. The Exhortation of Prayer– vs. 1 “I exhort…that first of all…prayers…”
B. The Expectation of Prayer – vs. 2 “…that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life…”
C. The Examination of Prayer – vs. 3 “…this is good and acceptable in the sight of God…”
This passage deals specifically with praying for our leaders.
However, I want to broaden the subject to praying for our country.
The Bible is filled with examples of people that prayed for their nation.
1. Moses prayed prayers of COMPASSION – Exodus 32:10-14
- 10 Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.
- 11 And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand?
- 12 Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people.
- 13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever.
- 14 And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.
2. Joshua prayed prayers of CONFUSION – Joshua 7:6-11
- 6 And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads.
- 7 And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord GOD, wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan!
- 8 O Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies!
- 9 For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it, and shall environ us round, and cut off our name from the earth: and what wilt thou do unto thy great name?
- 10 And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face?
- 11 Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff.
3. Elijah prayed a prayer of CONDEMNATION
- 1 Kings 17:1 And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.
4. Elijah prayed a prayer for CONFIRMATION – I Kings 18:36-37
- 36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.
- 37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.
But the example I want to look at tonight was the one Solomon prayed in II Chronicles 6.
His prayer was specific in its relation to the nation of Israel.
A. It was a Public Prayer – vs. 12 “he stood…in the presence of all the congregation…”
B. It was a Prepared Prayer – vs. 13 “Solomon had made a scaffold…”
C. It was a Passionate Prayer – vs. 12, 13 – “he spread forth his hands toward heaven…”
D. It was a Prolonged Prayer – from verse 14 until verse 41.
E. It was Prayer Prayer – Solomon’s prayer was actually a prayer about prayer.
He mentioned the word PRAY or PRAYER or PRAYETH no less than 15 times.
He used the word SUPPLICATION 6 times.
HEAR or HEARKEN is mentioned 11 times.
CONFESS is mentioned 2 times.
That’s at least 34 references to prayer in 28 verses.
D. It was a Powerful Prayer – 7:1
- 2 Chronicles 7:1 Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house.
This prayer was detailed.
Solomon prayed for very specific things.
I’d say from God’s response in 7:1 that Solomon did something right.
I also believe that the very things that Solomon prayed for Israel, we can pray for America.
Let’s examine his prayer.
I. A Prayer for Recognition – vs. 17-20
Solomon begged God to open His eyes and look at them.
He prayed for God to hear their prayer and to bless His house with His divine presence.
II. A Prayer for Revenge – vs. 21-23
Solomon prayed for the enemies to be requited and recompensed according to their ways.
III. A Prayer for Repentance – vs. 24, 25
Solomon prayed for his people to be forgiven when they acknowledge their sin.
IV. A Prayer for Restoration – vs. 26-31
Solomon prayed for the land to be restored from pestilence and drought.
V. A Prayer for Revelation – vs. 32,33
Solomon prayed that God would reveal Himself that all the people of the earth would know God.
VI. A Prayer for Reinforcement – vs. 34, 35
Solomon prayed for God to aid them in their military endeavors and in time of war.
VII. A Prayer for Recovery – vs. 36-39
Solomon prayed that if the people are taken away captive that they would repent and be returned.
VIII. A Prayer for Remembrance – vs. 40-42
He begged God to remember the mercies of his father David, and to let God’s people rejoice.