Futile Exercises

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” Luke 11:1  NIV

To pray – Perhaps it would help a bit to know the etymology of proseuchomai, the usual word for “to pray” in the Greek texts.  The verb comes from the root eúchomai which “In nonbiblical Greek these are the most comprehensive terms for invocation of the deity.”^[1]  “The cultic connection weakens with time and eúchomai can thus take on the more general sense of ‘to wish’ or ‘to ask.’”^[2]  Just a bit more background is needed before we ask the all-important question, “Does this Greek term really describe the biblical idea of prayer?”

The Homeric prayers, though often stylistic devices, express this clearly. Homer’s heroes are conscious of their dependence on the gods, ascribe to them human impulses and emotions, and come to them in need, e.g., before battle. The favors sought show that humans have some control of life, and even in areas where the gods rule they may be swayed by prayers and offerings that impose an obligation on them, or by promises of future offerings if the prayers are answered. Cultic and moral demands are made, however, in the approach to the gods, though the approach itself is one of intimacy rather than fear.^[3]

So, we discover that a non-Jewish audience would interpret the request of this disciple as solicitation for religious instruction in asking the deity for something, or an attempt to placate the deity.  That’s why we think prayer is about supplication.  We’re being Greek.  We pray and expect God to respond, favorably or unfavorably.

Is this what the Hebrew vocabulary suggests?  Well, first we should realize that Hebrew has many words for the action of praying.  What’s immediately apparent is that the official word for “to pray” in Hebrew is very rarely used.  There are occasions when it is appropriate (e.g., when Solomon dedicates the Temple), but generally prayer in Hebrew is expressed by a host of other terms that include asking, sighing, groaning, roaring, weeping, confessing, magnifying, reflecting, laughing, meditating, murmuring, singing, making music, merry-making, and respectful greetings.  Not what we usually think of as prayer, right?  What is common to all these?  Can I suggest “being fully alive”?  That’s why Heschel, marching with Martin Luther King, Jr., could say, “I’m praying with my feet.”

How does this help?  Well, maybe my mistaken fixation on prayer as communication between God and Man causes me to feel as if I just can’t pray.  But if I can weep, sing, groan, confess, reflect, shout for joy, and magnify Him, then prayer isn’t such a foreign experience.  I can do all those things and never expect God to answer back.  And it’s still prayer.  Maybe that helps.

Topical Index: prayer, proseuchomai, Luke 11:1

^[1] Kittel, G., Friedrich, G., & Bromiley, G. W. (1985). Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Abridged in One Volume (p. 279). Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans.

^[2] Ibid.

^[3] Ibid, p. 280.