Isaiah 37:4

Lift up thy prayer for the remnant that is left

Efficacious prayer

I. THE PERSON WHO WAS TO ENGAGE IN THE WORK OF INTERCESSION Was one of great eminence in the Church and commonwealth, a great and good man, a prophet of the Lord, and one who was indulged with peculiar nearness to Him. Persons of eminent piety will not be contented with ordinary applications to the throne of grace; they will seek till they find, and wrestle till they prevail. This was a day of trouble, as Hezekiah calls it; and therefore, it ought to be a day of prayer. Intercession is the duty of all saints. But herein ministers should take the lead. They are the Church’s watchmen, and God’s remembrancers. Zedekiah, who at one time cast Jeremiah the prophet into a dungeon, at another time desired an interest in his supplications, and sent messengers to him, saying, “Pray now unto the Lord our God for us.” And God often spares the wicked for the sake of the righteous, and in answer to their requests, even as the intercession of Abraham was accepted for the inhabitants of Sodom.

II. THOSE FOR WHOM THE PROPHET WAS REQUESTED TO PRAY were “the remnant that was left”; a certain number known unto God, and who remained after the rest were scattered or destroyed. This should teach us, that though in our prayers we should be forgetful of none, yet we are to be particularly mindful of our fellow-Christians, especially when in a state of adversity. It becomes us also to be attentive to public and national calamities, as well as to those which are personal and private, and to spread them before the Lord in prayer and supplication.

III. There is something observable as to THE MANNER IN WHICH THE PROPHET’S INTERCESSION IS REQUESTED. “Lift up thy prayer.” This expressive form of speech may teach us to remember--

1. That the glorious object of prayer is infinitely exalted.

2. The low and mean condition of the worshipper.

3. The secrecy of prayer, according to our Lord’s direction, “When thou prayest, enter into thy closet,” &c. Lifting up a prayer may denote the same thing as David expresses by the lifting up of the soul to God, in mental and silent ejaculation.

4. The importunity and ardour of prayer. In lifting up our prayer to God, our affections should rise high, though our voice may be low and feeble.

5. The spirituality and heavenly-mindedness of the person engaged.

6. Boldness and confidence, accompanied with the hope of being heard and answered.

7. The proper end of prayer, which is not to draw the Divine Being near to us, but ourselves to Him. (B. Beddome, M. A.)