Exodus 32:31-32 And Moses returned to the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold.… Never think lightly of this matter of intercession. There is a very light way in which people say, "Pray for me," and a very light way in which people answer, "Yes, I will." Be careful as to asking the favour, or promising to grant it. You may find it a good rule to promise, indeed, whenever you are asked by any one to pray for them, but to promise with this limitation — "I will do it once, I will do it the next time that I am on my knees before God, I will remember to pray for you." That you will be able to do. But to undertake always to pray for all who ask it is a burden of the conscience — a thing impossible. You will have those for whom, doubtless, you do pray continually, and many; but as respects the ordinary request that you will pray, I would suggest to you not to withhold the promise, but with the limitation that you will pray once. For it is a blessed thing to have intercessors. And how blessed a thing it is God seems to teach us in that He has revealed to us that we have the Holy Ghost an intercessor, and the Lord Jesus Christ an intercessor. We have an intercessor always within us, and one always above us. "The Spirit maketh intercession for us [and in us] with groanings which cannot be uttered." And here is the comfort — that "He that searcheth the heart," God in heaven, "knows the mind of the Spirit" in the man. The Holy Ghost in the man asks everything that is according to the will of God. (J. Vaughan, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. |
    |