Great Prayers of the Bible
Detailed Table of Contents

Preface

2

Table of Contents

4

Introduction to Great Prayers of the Bible

8

Copy Pricing Policy

10

Abbreviations and References

11

1. The Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:5-15)

13

 

Salutation: Our Father (6:9b)

14

 

Who Art in Heaven (6:9)

15

 

Petition 1: That His Name Be Reverenced (6:9c)

15

 

Petitions 2 and 3: For His Kingdom and Will (6:10)

16

 

Petition 4: For Daily Needs

17

 

Petition 5: Forgiveness (6:12, 14-15)

19

 

Petitions 6 and 7: Help When Tempted (6:13)

21

 

A Doxology (6:13c)

23

 

The Disciples' Prayer

23

2. Moses' Intercession for Israel (Exodus 32:9-14)

26

 

Setting the Scene

27

 

Embarrassment at an Angry God

27

 

God's Judgment on Israel (32:10)

28

 

Elements of Moses' Intercession (32:11-13)

28

 

Can Prayer Affect the Outcome of God's Actions?

30

 

Predestination and Prayer

30

 

Inviting Intercession (32:10)

32

 

Repenting or Relenting (32:14)

32

 

Immutability and the Will of God

33

 

Having the Family Business at Heart

34

3. Abraham's Prayer for Sodom (Genesis 18:16-33)

36

 

Setting the Stage

37

 

The Sins of Sodom and Gomorrah (18:20-21)

37

 

Will Not the Judge of All the Earth Do Right? (18:22-25)

38

 

Boldness Mixed with Humility

39

 

Why Does God Bargain with Abraham?

40

 

Persistence in Prayer

41

 

The Audacity of Prayer

41

 

Lessons from Abraham's Intercession

42

 

The Intercession of Jesus on Our Behalf

42

4. David's Prayer for Pardon and Confession of Sin (Psalm 51)

44

 

Setting the Scene (2 Samuel 11-12)

45

 

A Look at Psalm 51

46

 

1. Pleading for God's Mercy (51:1-2)

47

 

2. Confessing and Acknowledging Sin (51:3-5)

49

 

3. Hungering for a Pure Heart Once More (51:6-12)

50

 

4. Resolving to Declare God's Grace (51:13-15)

53

 

5. Offering the Sacrifice of a Contrite Heart (51:16-17)

54

 

6. Praying for Jerusalem's Prosperity (51:18-19)

55

 

Lessons from a Prayer for Pardon

56

5. David's Prayer of Praise at the End of Life (1 Chronicles 29:9-20)

59

 

Setting the Scene (1 Chronicles 28-29)

60

 

Giving toward the Future Temple (29:9)

60

 

Praise to Yahweh (29:10)

61

 

Power and Glory (29:11a)

62

 

Thine Is the Kingdom and the Power (29:11b)

63

 

Head over All (29:11b)

64

 

Exalted One (29:11b)

64

 

Wealth and Honor from Yahweh (29:12)

65

 

Thanks and Praise (29:13)

66

 

Everything Comes from You (29:14-16)

67

 

Giving Willingly and Honestly (29:17)

68

 

Prayer for Solomon and the People (29:18-19)

68

 

Praise and Worship (29:20)

68

6. David's Psalm of Surrender to the Searcher (Psalm 139)

72

 

Yahweh the Searcher (139:1-4)

74

 

Hemmed In by God (139:5-7)

74

 

The Omnipresent God (139:8-10)

75

 

The Strong and Tender Hand of God (139:10-12)

76

 

The Creator of My Inner Person (139:13-16)

77

 

God's Precious Thoughts (139:17-18)

79

 

Hating God's Enemies (139:19-22)

80

 

Petition: Search Me and Test Me (139:23-24)

80

 

The Path Leading into Eternity (139:24b)

81

7. Hezekiah's Petitions for Deliverance and Healing (2 Kings 19:14-19; 20:1-7)

85

 

Hezekiah the King

86

 

The Battle Is the Lord's (19:14-16)

88

 

Hezekiah's Vision of Yahweh (19:15)

89

 

A Prayer for Deliverance (19:15-19)

90

 

The Answer to Prayer (19:20, 35-37)

91

 

Hezekiah's Illness (2 Kings 20:1)

91

 

God's Word and Human Response (20:1b)

92

 

Hezekiah's Weeping (20:2-3)

92

 

Turning His Face to the Wall (20:2)

93

 

Hezekiah's Petition (20:2-3)

93

 

God's Immediate Answer (20:4-7)

94

 

Did Hezekiah Ask Wrongly?

95

 

Why Did God Grant Hezekiah's Prayer?

96

 

The Prayer of a Righteous Man or Woman

96

 

The Bottom Line

97

8. Daniel's Confession on Behalf of His People (Daniel :1-19)

99

 

Daniel's Life

100

 

70 Years Are Completed (9:1-3)

102

 

Confession of Israel's Sins (9:3-4a)

102

 

Acknowledgement of Sin (9:4b-6)

104

 

Daniel Confesses the Sin as His Own (9:5)

105

 

Israel's Shame (9:7-11a)

107

 

God's Punishment for Israel's Sins (9:11b-14)

108

 

A Plea for Mercy (9:15-18)

109

 

A Plea for Forgiveness (9:19)

110

 

The Return from Exile

110

 

What We Learn About Intercession

110

9. Nehemiah's Prayer for Success (Nehemiah 1:1-2:9)

113

 

Nehemiah (1:1, 11c)

116

 

Jerusalem in Disgrace (1:2-3)

116

 

Mourning and Fasting (1:4)

117

 

Great and Awesome God (1:5-6a)

117

 

Confession of Sins (1:6b-7)

119

 

Reciting God's Promise to Moses (1:8-9)

119

 

The Dwelling Place of Your Name (1:9b)

120

 

The Prayer of Your Servants (1:10-11)

121

 

Nehemiah's Two Petitions (1:11)

121

 

The Danger of Nehemiah's Request

122

 

In the Presence of the King (2:1-4)

123

 

An Arrow Prayer (2:4)

124

 

Request to Rebuild the City (2:5-6)

125

 

Request for Protection, Letters of Introduction, and Resources (2:7-9)

125

 

What Do We Learn from Nehemiah's Prayer?

126

10. Jesus' Prayer of Submission at Gethsemane (Luke 22:39-46)

129

 

Mount of Olives (22:39)

129

 

Pray that You Resist Temptation (22:40)

130

 

Kneeling in Prayer (22:41)

131

 

The Prayer of Submission (22:42)

131

 

Address: Father (22:42a)

131

 

Condition: If You Are Willing (22:42b)

132

 

Petition: Take This Cup from Me (22:42c)

133

 

The Destiny of the Sin-Bearer

134

 

Submission: Not My Will but Yours (22:42d)

136

 

Strengthened by an Angel (22:43)

137

 

Sweat Like Drops of Blood (22:44)

137

 

Why Are You Sleeping? (22:45-46)

138

11. Paul's Prayers for the Ephesian Believers (Ephesians 1:15-20; 3:14-21)

141

 

Remembering in Prayer with Thanksgiving (1:15-16)

144

 

Petition 1. For People to Know God Better (1:17)

144

 

Petition 2. A Prayer for Comprehension (1:18-19)

146

 

Hope to Which He Has Called You (1:18b)

146

 

His Glorious Inheritance in the Saints (1:18c)

147

 

His Incomparably Great Power (1:18d)

148

 

The Second Part of Paul's Prayer (3:14-21)

150

 

Kneeling before the Father of All (3:14-15)

151

 

Petition 3a. Strengthened in the Inner Being (3:16)

151

 

Petition 3b: Christ Dwelling in Your Hearts (3:17a)

152

 

Petition 4: Able to Comprehend the Fullest Extent of Love (3:17b-19a)

152

 

Filled with the Fullness of God (3:19b)

154

 

Doxology: His Power at Work in Us (3:20)

154

 

Doxology: Glory in the Church (3:21)

156

Appendix 1: Chronology of the End of the Monarchy, Exilic, Post-Exilic, and Intertestamental Periods

161

Appendix 2. Class Notes

165

 

1. The Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:5-15)

166

 

2. Moses' Intercession for Israel (Exodus 32:9-14)

167

 

3. Abraham's Prayer for Sodom (Genesis 18:16-33)

168

 

4. David's Prayer for Pardon and Confession of Sin (Psalm 51)

169

 

5. David's Prayer of Praise at the End of Life (1 Chronicles 29:9-20)

170

 

6. David's Psalm of Surrender to the Searcher (Psalm 139)

171

 

7. Hezekiah's Petitions for Deliverance and Healing (2 Kings 19:14-19; 20:1-7)

172

 

8. Daniel's Confession on Behalf of His People (Daniel :1-19)

173

 

9. Nehemiah's Prayer for Success (Nehemiah 1:1-2:9)

174

 

10. Jesus' Prayer of Submission at Gethsemane (Luke 22:39-46)

175

 

11. Paul's Prayers for the Ephesian Believers (Ephesians 1:15-20; 3:14-21)

176

About the Author

178

Other Bible Studies by Dr. Wilson

179

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