Interceding for others is a high and holy calling. In fact, to stop praying to the Lord on behalf of others is considered a sin in the Bible. This seems ludicrous to the world. When someone is in trouble, they expect others to respond in practical ways. Offering to pray isn’t “practical” in their view – especially for those who are skeptical of God’s existence. But for those of us who believe in the God who is and who was and is to come [Revelation 1:4, 8], the Scriptures reinforce prayer as the greatest ministry we can have. This is due to our confidence that God is near, that He loves us, and that He is active in our lives. Therefore, praying for others is powerful. It does not preclude practical help for those in need. But tangible help energized by prayer invites God’s helpful intervention on their behalf.
Do we see this clearly illustrated in the Bible? In 1 Samuel 12:23, the prophet Samuel spoke these words to the people of Israel, “Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you…” The story that gave rise to this comment was significant. The people observed the surrounding nations had kings to mobilize them for war and to lead them into battle. So, they demanded a king “that we may be like all the nations” [1 Samuel 8:5, 20]. God instructed Samuel to anoint Saul as their king even though it revealed they were rejecting the LORD [1 Samuel 8:7]. Then, a formidable foe appeared to threaten some of the Israelites [1 Samuel 11:1-4]. Saul arose, mustered Israel for war, and led them into battle, scoring a resounding victory.
This was a decisive moment in Israel’s history. Were they going to put their faith in a very flawed, fallible man – Saul – or would they remain faithful to the LORD? Samuel recognized this and called an assembly of the people to renew the kingdom under God’s ultimate leadership [1 Samuel 11:14-15].
Next, Samuel invited anyone to accuse him of a lack of integrity in his service as a prophet. No one came forward [1 Samuel 12:1-5]. He then proceeded to recount the LORD’s deliverance of His people through history, from the Exodus through the days of the judges, right up to their last victory [12:6-13]. He challenged the people to fear the LORD alone and to serve Him obediently but warned them of the dire consequences of disobedience [12:14-15]. He continued by pointing out the great evil the people had committed in demanding a king [12:16-18]. The people responded appropriately by acknowledging their sin and asking him to pray for them [12:19]. Samuel, as a good and godly spiritual leader, promised to pray for them [12:20-25]. And it is in this context that he stated, “far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you.”
My takeaway from this story is that despite the straying of God’s people from His good ways, they can be restored and returned through the intercession of others. In this story of a foolish, evil decision, God’s grace, love, and help were clearly evident. The Sovereign Lord was able to change a bad choice into a good conclusion. And intercessory prayer played a pivotal role. James 5:16 is a fitting summary, “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”