Old Testament
Genesis 18:20-19:38
New Testament Matthew 6:25-7:14
Psalm 8:1-9
Proverb 2:6-15
Will You Stand?
Genesis 18 and 19 is the unfortunate story of judgment on the infamous cities Sodom and Gomorrah. In 18:20 the Lord describes their sin as “very grave.” Their obvious sin was homosexuality. Their hearts were full of pride and lust. The Lord revealed to Abraham the judgment that was about to be poured out upon the cities and Abraham’s response was prayer. It is likely that these cities had a reputation for the evil and vile practices that took place under the cover of darkness. To what extent did Abraham know about the evil is unknown, but he knew he had extended family living in the area and therefore he “stood before the Lord.”
This is one of the most extraordinary prayers of intercession in all of scripture. Abraham’s request is for the Lord to stay his judgment if there are fifty righteous people in the city. The Lord obliges. Abraham, with full awareness, knows that he has no right to request anything further for he is “but dust and ashes” asks for more. Abraham is unwilling to be content with fifty righteous persons and moves his request down to forty-five people. The Lord obliges again. With great respect, fear, and, trepidation Abraham continues his reduction all the way down to just ten people. The Lord obliges a final time and leaves Abraham. Abraham must have left feeling hopeful and optimistic about the odds.
When we turn to chapter 19 we read about the absolute corruption that encompassed the city. There were not even 10 righteous in the entire city. The Judge of all the earth does what is just (Gen 18:25). The Judge has mercy on Abraham’s kin, which was Lot, his wife, and his two daughters. His mighty mercy is evident when the angels escort them out of the city even when their inclination was to stay. Early the next morning Abraham returned to the place where he “stood before the Lord” and saw the smoke billowing upwards and the cities leveled to a residue. Abraham must have swallowed hard and grieved over his family members and many precious souls.
Will you stand before the Lord for a family member, a neighbor, or possibly a nation? You may not know the extent of unrighteous living, but someone needs your prayers today. Our nation is in desperate need of Abrahamic intercessory prayer. Let’s join together to pray and plead like Abraham did to the Judge of all the earth who has abundant mercy. Let us not pray for fires of judgment, but unquenchable fires of revival. The good Lord knows we need it… will we ask?
To get started here is a prayer for mercy from Alexander Muir who was a Canadian Scotsman.
Lord Have Mercy
Lord, have mercy on our country
Turn our hearts to You again,
Though we’ve grieved Your Holy Spirit
By our deeds of sin and shame:
Though our sins rise like a dark cloud
May our prayers rise even higher,
Pleading for divine forgiveness
Pleading for the heavenly fire.
Bold Reformers, Covenanters
Interceded with their blood,
For the land they loved so dearly
For the freedom of Your word:
May the heart cries of our fathers
Now be mingled with our own,
As we intercede for Scotland (America)
As we bow before Your throne.
May Your Spirit move in power
Until all the land is blessed,
From the North Isles to the Borders,
From Kinnaird Head (Maine) to the West:
Bring the day for which we’re waiting
And to which our hearts aspire,
Visit Scotland (America) with revival
Send the fire, Lord, send the fire!
Alexander Muir (1830-1906)
Further Resources
America Is Too Young to Die: A Call to Revival by Leonard Ravenhill. Written in 1979 this book is a bit dated in some of its material like the threat of communist Russian during the Cold War, but what it has to say is all the more needed today considering how far we have wondered in the last 37 years.
“At what point, then, is the approach of danger to be expected? If it ever reaches us, it must spring up among us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher; as a nation of freemen, we must live through all time or die by suicide.” – Abraham Lincoln
The things that destroy America “are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, and love of soft living and the get-rich-quick theory of life.” – Theodore Roosevelt
Check out this 3:00 minute video by Lenoard’s son David. America is Too Young to Die
“If Americans don’t concentrate in prayer they will pray in concentrations camps.” – Lenoard Ravenhill