James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

2 Thessalonians 3:1-2

A MINISTERIAL REQUEST

‘Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men.’

2 Thessalonians 3:1

As at the close of the First Epistle, so now, as St. Paul hastens to the close of the Second, he thinks of himself and his companions in labour and tribulation.

I. Yet he is thinking most of others’ spiritual welfare.—In the petition which he entreats his converts to present on behalf of himself and associates, his desire is that the Word of God may have free course, and be glorified. The language was possibly suggested by Psalms 147:15, ‘His word runneth very swiftly’; for ‘run’ is a more literal rendering than ‘have free course.’ Its course was beset by many hindrances. He desires his friends, therefore, to pray that whatever these obstacles may be, however numerous and formidable, the gospel might have no slow and uncertain course, but might bear down all opposition, and be glorified into proving itself to be ‘the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.’

II. The Word of the Lord is glorified when it grows and multiplies, and mightily prevails. It grows, for there is life in it. It is the good seed of the Word. It multiplies, for it becomes a new seed in all who receive it into their hearts—each believer becoming himself a new ‘word of the Lord.’ It mightily prevails, for it exerts an ever-growing power, an ever-extending influence over the hearts and lives of men.

III. Another object of prayer was that they might be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men. There is more of the personal element in this than in that which precedes it; and yet here, too, his desire is not for self-preservation so much as for the prosperity and success of his ministry.

(SECOND OUTLINE)

THE MAN AND HIS MESSAGE

Prayer is the first thing with any one who believes in a personal God. What are we to pray for: ‘That the Word of the Lord may have free course and be glorified.

I. What is the underlying thought?—Thinking of the message the man has to deliver, asking only the power that he may minister rightly in the sight of God. What a deal of trouble, what a deal of misconception, what a deal of loss to ourselves it would save if we could only look upon the clergy in that light, as mere channels and mouthpieces, as mere organs by which God chooses to work, and then we shall see that the clergy and the laity would drop so much better into their respective positions. ‘Brethren, pray for us.’ Why? Simply because we are your brethren.

II. Prayer before criticism.—Pray for us—do not criticise us so much; not that we are on any pedestal, nor that there is any reason why we should not be subject, just as any other is, to comment in regard to the performance of duty; but criticism in itself puts you in a wrong attitude towards us, and when we hear it given behind our backs it puts us in a wrong attitude towards you. We clergy have this much to ask—do not criticise us until you pray for us. If you want something improved, altered—if you see some way in which the clergy are wrong, or if you see something they do which may be done better—if you have not courage to come and speak of it, at least tell God. Criticise your clergy to God, and ask God to help them to do better. We rejoice when the criticisms come straight from a friendly heart to help us. ‘Brethren, pray for us!’ You do see when we are wrong—of course, a man can see where his brother is wrong—God give us grace to see when we are wrong ourselves.

III. Reflex benefit of prayer.—There is just one other reason why you should pray for us: your self-interest. The more you pray for us the more good we shall be to you. Perhaps some of you do not know quite how hard it is to preach a sermon: we all know how easy it is to pick it to pieces. Just kneel down and lift up your hearts to God and say, ‘Help that poor shrinking man to do his best.’

—Rev. Canon J. Hasloch Potter.

Illustration

‘I remember one day in the University Church, a man preaching was so painfully nervous. We were pretty near, and we could see his pitiful state of nervousness. A student seated next to me said, “Pray for that man!” Very much the same thing happened in a suburban church one Easter Day. A stranger was taking the service. He seemed to be very weak and overcome—he was in a very low state of health at the time. Several of the men there (they were working-men, there were a great many of them in the congregation) were afraid he would not be able to get through the service, and they went out to the back of the church and knelt down on the grass in the sunlight, and each prayed in his own heart, heartily and fervently, that that poor man might be able to get through the service. Was not that far better in God’s sight than going out and saying, “What a poor broken reed we have had to-day!” And the prayer of those working-men helped to uphold the reed, and helped it to stand upright.’

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James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

2 Thessalonians 3:1-2

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