The Prayer of Supplication

The Lutheran Ambassador - October 21, 1986

                In the life of our Lord, we note various kinds of prayer expressed. This teaches us that as a vital means of communication between the soul and God, our prayers may not always be the same. In his classic book on prayer, O. Hallesby lists several types of prater. These types are all evident in the prayer-life of our Lord.
                Supplication is "request prayer", the turning to God to receive something. In our earlier consideration of the meaning of prayer in this series, we noted that kind of prayer was urged by our Lord upon His followers. Repeatedly, He exhorted the disciples to ask in prayer.
                In our Lord's own life, His supplication is described in vivid terms. "Who in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save Him from death, and was heard in that He feared" (Hebrews 5:7). Certainly this must have reference at least in part to that agony in the Garden of Gethsemane when our Lord sweats drops of blood, crying out, "O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me" (Matthew 26:39), and then resigning Himself into the Father's hands, He said "Nevertheless, not my will, but Thine, be done" (Luke 22:42).
                Do we see much earnest supplication in our prayer meetings and in our own lives? An example of the prayer of supplication is noted in the life of Martin Luther when he learned that his coworker and good friend in the days of the Reformation, Philip Melanchthon, was dying. Hurrying to his bedside, he bent over his friend with great sorrow. Melanchthon was roused from his stupor by Luther's sobbing and sighing and he said, "O Luther, is this you? Why don't you let me depart in peace?" Luther replied, "We can't spare you yet, Philip." Turning around, Luther went down on his knees and earnestly prayed for an hour for Melanchthon's recovery. Getting up from his knees, he took his friend by the hand. Again Melanchthon said, "Dear Luther, why don't you let me depart in peace?" "We can't spare you yet from the field of labor,' was his reply. He then ordered some soup for Melanchthon, but Melanchthon refused it, saying, "Dear Luther, why will you not let me go home, and be at rest?" "We cannot spare you yet, Philip" was the answer. Then he added: "Philip, take this soup, or I will excommunicate you!" He took the soup and soon began to get better. He regained his health and labored for years in the Reformation. When Luther returned home he said to his wife, "God gave me back my brother Melanchthon in direct answer to prayer."
                The great revivals of church history have invariably been connected with strong supplicatory prayers. Among the factors noted in the "Great Awakening" which took place under the ministry of Jonathan Edwards was earnest prayer. The night before Edwards preached the sermon that was the catalyst for revival, "Sinners in the Hands of An Angry God", there had been an all-night prayer meeting attended by many Christians in the community. It is reported that people spent the whole night in agonizing prayer.
                The vital relation between supplication prayer and revivals has often been illustrated in schools. In the year 1823, a number of people united together to pray for revival in the colleges and seminaries of New England. What were the results? In the years 1824 and 1825 revivals were experiences in five different schools; in 1826, in six schools, in 1831, in 19 and so on. In our prayers for revival, let us remember our own AFLC schools as well as others across the land.
                Oh, how much we have to learn from our Lord about prayer! Let us learn over again, with the teachableness of little children, what is believing, and persevering, and consistent prayer of supplication.