Conditional Prayers (1)
If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. Psalm 66:18 ESV
If – David’s words are harsh. “If I had any serious engagement in my heart about sin, God would not listen to me.” But when is this ever not the case? We are constantly besieged by temptations. Just being alive in a broken world plummets us into countless opportunities to consider choices other than those that God desires. Just today I thought to myself, “Why don’t I ever get a break? Why am I the one who has so much responsibility? I just want some time off, Lord. Just some time to not have so much to do. I am tempted, Lord, to just seek a day of pleasures, to escape from all of this, just to not think about the pressures that surround me.” I even imagined what the day would be like and thought to myself, “I could make that happen.”
Is that cherishing iniquity? Is that why I am so frustrated in prayer? Or is it just the Abraham syndrome—thirteen years between conversations with YHWH?
“If” is the Hebrew ‘im. Of course, like most Hebrew conjunctives, it can have a wide range of meanings depending on the context. It is often found in conditional clauses, as it is here, especially with regard to oaths. It can also mean “when,” “whether” or “since.” Perhaps we can grasp a different application of David’s declaration if we read, “When I cherished . . .” because certainly at the time when I am actively considering iniquity, God is not listening to my excuses or justifications. “When” helps to remove the assumption that a moment of temptation instantly removes us from God’s concern. But the threat is still there. How we long for the day when the cares and sorrows of the world no longer push us toward selfish concern! How blessed we will be when all those trials are but distant and impotent memories.
That problem is that the day of our longing isn’t today. Today we must battle the possibility of cherishing iniquity. What does that mean? The Hebrew verb is ra’a, “to see, to look at, to inspect.” It is more than a glance, more than a billboard for sin swiftly passing by on the freeway. Cognates of the verb include “the seer,” “prophetic vision,” and “mirror.” Note the comment in TWOT:
“But this word has extended and metaphorical meanings. Some of these appear in the definitions above. Five, however, are of special importance. (1) rāʾâ designates the saving, understanding, believing acceptance of the Word of God as delivered by his accredited messengers. In Isa 6:10 to see with the eyes is to hear God’s Word, to understand it, and to turn to him. On the other hand, in the same passage to harden the heart against God’s message is to shut the eyes (Isa 6:10). In the previous verse, nevertheless to ‘see indeed’ rĕʾû rāʾô (Qal imperative masculine plural, followed by infinitive absolute) is used of the bare act of intellectual perception of the message of God’s prophet. . . . . (2) rāʾâ has the sense of the act of acceptance, especially on the part of God. God says to Noah, ‘Thee have I seen righteous’ (Gen 7:1). . . (3) Another sense is ‘to provide,’ usually of God’s provision . . . (4) ‘To have respect to’ is another, especially of God in acting with mercy (Isa 38:5; Ps 138:6). . . (5) Of special importance is that rāʾâ is employed far more than any other word for the act of an authentic prophet in receiving oracles from God.” [1]
In a word, this is about consideration of the possibility. Rolling it over in the mind. Imagining the scenario. Constructing (even if never executed) a plan. As Oswald Chambers says, “once yield and though you may hate yourself for having yielded, you are a bondslave of that thing.”[2]
You become what you consider. Some of those things prevent God from listening.
Topical Index: ‘im, if, ra’a, to see, Psalm 66:18
Ouch!
Several years ago I was so hopeless and frustrated in an abusive marriage that for months there were some high maintenance folks in my life who also sucked the very life from me. At that time I spent hours a day seeking the face of Yaweh. So desperately seeking relief but so unattainable by standards of the church I attended. During this time I felt so close to the Father and yet disillusioned by why there wasn’t any relief. Long story short, there came a man who began wooing me, he was so smooth and appeared to be the kind of man I desperately desired to be married to. There was a very intense emotional affair that resulted and I nearly lost my life because of it.
I am sharing this to give an example of what I think is meant by Today’s Word. After I walked away from the affair six weeks later there was a battle to coddle and excuse the fact of unfaithfulness first of all to the Father, and secondly to the family I had. There were excuses and pointing the finger of if you hadn’t done this or that I wouldn’t have been involved, if I had received love and care I wouldn’t have………..but bottom line, I would take the memories and feelings of the supposed love and kindness and stroke them and love them as if they were mine to possess. I would grieve as though a death had taken place, which it had within me. That coddling and loving the memories were the hardest to truly repent from because there also contained blame upon the Father who had allowed me to walk in this area. Did He hear my prayers? Not those of begging for what I wanted, not those aching for my own desires. The ones He heard were the ones when I confessed loving someone more than the life and truth of His word.
That’s my story and at this time even though it was the darkest valley I ever walked through it did become a door of hope. He introduced Himself to me as my Ishi, my Husband, and gave me hope in the Valley of Achor. He became truth just like the book of Hosea.
Thank you, Babs, for putting skin on that verse for me! I totally get what Skip is trying to say when I see what you relate. So glad you got through it and got out of the river on the right bank!
IF.
My favorite “IF” scripture is John 15:7.
It, too, is about answered prayer.
“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you,
you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”
God’s gift to us of ONENESS with Him is transformational.
IF . . .
Skip, what is TWOT , LXX ?
Thanks,
Sara
Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament
“LXX” is the Septuagint (OT translated into Greek) and is the Roman numeral for seventy, referring to the number of Jewish scholars who made the translation.
My Scriptures read: ” If I have seen wickedness in my heart, YAH would not hear”. Would you not agree if David could “see” then it would have been known sin? But since he does not see, he says in the next sentence: “Truly, Elohim has heard me; He has given heed to the voice of my prayer. Blessed by Elohim,”
Jas 1:14 But every man is tempted by his own lust; and he covets and is enticed.
Jas 1:15 Then when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin: and sin when it has matured, brings forth death.
Temptation is not sin. We know that Yahshua was tempted in all points as we are but was without sin. The antidote to temptation then is the Word.
Psa_119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
The clincher is as Oswald Chambers wrote.. once yield.. We do not have to yield to temptation. We can resist as did Yahshua.
Mat_4:4 But He answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of Yahweh.
As we prepare for Passover/Unleavened Bread, let us search our hearts and “see” if there be any wickedness there that would keep us from receiving the blessings of our Abba and of His Son, Yahshua, that they are longing to pour out upon us.
“We need never feel that we are alone. Angels are our companions. The Comforter that Yahshua promised to send in His Name, abides with us. In the way that leads to the city of YAH there are no difficulties which those who trust in Him may not overcome. There are no dangers which we may not escape. There is not a sorrow, nor a grievance, not a human weakness, for which He has not provided a remedy.”
Shalom