16. Intercession
Intercession Abraham’s intercession for Sodom:Genesis 18:23-31
Wilt Thou consume the righteous with the wicked? Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city; wilt Thou consume and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? That be far from Thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked, that so the righteous should be as the wicked; that be far from Thee. Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?
Behold now. I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, who am but dust and ashes: peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt Thou destroy all the city for lack of five?
Peradventure there shall be forty found there.
Oh, let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: peradventure there shall thirty be found there.
Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord; peradventure there shall be twenty found there.
Oh, let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: peradventure ten shall be found there.
Jacob’s prayer for Ephraim and Manasseh:Genesis 48:15-16 The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God who hath shepherded me all my life long unto this day, the angel who hath redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.
Moses’prayer for mercy upon the people:Exodus 32:11-13; cf.Deuteronomy 9:26-29
O Jehovah, why doth Thy wrath wax hot against Thy people, which Thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt, with great power and with a mighty hand? Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, saying, “For evil did He bring them out to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth?” Turn from Thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against Thy people. Remember Abraham, Isaac and Israel, Thy servants, to whom Thou sparest by Thine own self, and saidst unto them, “I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever.”
Moses’prayer that the guilty people be forgiven:Exodus 32:31-32
Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if Thou wilt forgive their sin—; and if not, blot me, I pray Thee, out of Thy book which Thou hast written.
Another prayer of Moses that the people be forgiven:Exodus 34:9
If now I have found favor in Thy sight, O my Lord, let my Lord, I pray Thee, go in the midst of us, for it is a stiff-necked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for Thine inheritance.
Moses’prayer for the leprous Miriam:Numbers 12:13 Heal her, O God, I beseech Thee.
Moses’prayer that the murmuring people be spared:Numbers 14:17-19
Now, I pray thee, let the power of the Lord be great, according as Thou hast spoken, saying, “Jehovah is slow to anger and rich in love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, although He does not leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, upon the third and upon the fourth generation.” Pardon, I beseech Thee, the iniquity of this people, according to Thy great loving kindness, and according as Thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt until now.
Prayer for the reunion of Judah with Israel:Deuteronomy 33:7 Hear, O Jehovah, the voice of Judah, And bring him unto his people. With his hands he hath contended for it, And be Thou a help from his adversaries.
David’s prayer for the people who were smitten by the pestilence:2 Samuel 24:17;1 Chronicles 21:17
Lo, it is I that have sinned, and it is I that have done perversely; but these sheep, what have they done? let Thine hand, I pray Thee, be against me and against my father’s house.
Hezekiatis prayer for those who were ceremonially unclean at the celebration of the Passover:2 Chronicles 30:18-19 May Jehovah the good pardon every one that setteth his heart to seek God, Jehovah, the God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary.
Elijah’s prayer for the dead child of the widow of Zarephath:1 Kings 17:21 O Jehovah, my God, I pray Thee, let this child’s soul come into him again.
Elisha’s prayer for his servant,who is terrified by the sight of the hosts that beleaguer the city:2 Kings 6:17 O Jehovah, I pray Thee, open his eyes that he may See.
Ezekiel’s prayer,when, in his vision,he sees the sinners in Jerusalem slain by supernatural executioners:Ezekiel 9:8 Oh, Lord Jehovah! wilt Thou destroy all the residue of Israel, in Thy pouring out of Thy wrath upon Jerusalem?
Ezekiel’s prayer,on the death of Pelatiah:Ezekiel 11:13 Oh, Lord Jehovah! wilt Thou make a full end of the remnant of Israel?
Amos’s prayer that the impending judgment may be stayed:Amos 7:2;Amos 7:5 O Lord Jehovah, forgive, I beseech Thee; how shall Jacob stand? for he is small.