In the biblical narrative, the concept of pleading in prayer is deeply intertwined with the covenant relationship between God and His people. The act of pleading is not merely a request but an earnest, heartfelt appeal to God, often invoking His promises and faithfulness as outlined in His covenants.

Biblical Foundation

The practice of pleading in prayer is rooted in the understanding of God's covenants with humanity. These covenants, such as those with Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David, establish a framework within which believers can approach God with confidence. The covenant is a divine promise, and pleading in prayer often involves reminding God of these promises, seeking His intervention based on His unchanging nature and His commitment to His word.

Examples in Scripture

1. Moses' Intercession: One of the most profound examples of pleading in prayer is found in the life of Moses. After the Israelites sinned by worshiping the golden calf, God expressed His intention to destroy them. Moses, however, pleaded with God to remember His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In Exodus 32:13 , Moses implores, "Remember Your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, to whom You swore by Your very self: ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, and I will give your descendants all this land I promised, and it will be their inheritance forever.’" Moses' appeal to God's covenant promises led to God relenting from the disaster He had planned.

2. Daniel's Prayer: Daniel provides another example of pleading in prayer. In Daniel 9, he prays for the restoration of Jerusalem, acknowledging the sins of Israel and appealing to God's mercy. Daniel 9:4 records his prayer: "I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed: 'O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of loving devotion to those who love Him and keep His commandments.'" Daniel's prayer is a model of pleading based on God's covenant faithfulness.

3. Nehemiah's Petition: Nehemiah, upon hearing of Jerusalem's desolation, pleads with God to remember His covenant. In Nehemiah 1:5 , he prays, "I said: 'O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps His covenant of loving devotion with those who love Him and keep His commandments.'" Nehemiah's prayer is a heartfelt plea for God to act in accordance with His covenant promises.

Theological Implications

Pleading in prayer is an expression of faith in God's character and His covenantal promises. It reflects a deep trust in God's faithfulness and a recognition of the believer's dependence on His grace. This form of prayer acknowledges human frailty and the need for divine intervention, while also affirming God's sovereignty and His commitment to His people.

Practical Application

For believers today, pleading in prayer involves approaching God with humility and confidence, grounded in the assurance of His promises. It is an invitation to engage with God on the basis of His revealed will and His covenantal relationship with His people. By invoking God's promises, believers align their prayers with His purposes, seeking His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.

In summary, the act of pleading in prayer is a vital aspect of the covenant relationship between God and His people, demonstrating a reliance on His faithfulness and a commitment to His divine promises.Psalm 74:20
Have respect to the covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Jeremiah 14:21
Do not abhor us, for your name's sake, do not disgrace the throne of your glory: remember, break not your covenant with us.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Ark of his Covenant
... Brethren, we get, perhaps. the best sight of the covenant when by prayer
we plead it. In that hour of our wrestling, in the time ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 41 1895/the ark of his covenant.htm

The Covenant of Grace
... and they shall say, The Lord is my God.' Zechariah 13:3. Only it must be an importunate
prayer; come as ... (3.) You may upon all occasions plead the covenant. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/1 the covenant of grace.htm

The Covenant Promise of the Spirit
... In that covenant every sentence is more precious than heaven and ... Lift up your heart
in prayer to God, and ask ... Plead with the Lord, saying, "Let thy good Spirit ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/the covenant promise of the.htm

The Prayer of Faith.
... children's children, to such as keep his covenant, and to ... things"precious promises,
which you may plead in faith. ... need to want for objects of prayer, if you ...
/.../finney/lectures on revivals of religion/lecture v the prayer of.htm

The Blood of the Covenant
... Our prayer is that we may be made meet to do ... I might even plead that it is not an
hyperbole, for ... sweetest note of all our music,"the covenant, "the covenant ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 20 1874/the blood of the covenant.htm

What Use Heavenly Contemplation Makes of Consideration, the ...
... by the blood of his covenant, God will ... Though we remain unaffected while we plead
the case ... meditations, to intermix soliloquy and prayer, sometimes speaking to ...
/.../baxter/the saints everlasting rest/chapter xiv what use heavenly.htm

Christ in the Covenant
... is not thine; there is not a prayer he ever ... that is thine, those precious drops plead
and claim ... thee to be one article in the eternal covenant"thy possession ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/christ in the covenant.htm

The Prayer of Stephen.
... was a stranger in the land of the covenant people, one ... are able in the same pure
way to plead with God ... the more we have occasion to use this prayer, the less ...
/.../selected sermons of schleiermacher/xxiii the prayer of stephen.htm

Prayer Perfumed with Praise
... is the Lord himself in his covenant capacity, receiving ... Do not pump up unwilling
and formal prayer, my brethren ... You will be encouraged to plead with the Lord ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 25 1879/prayer perfumed with praise.htm

Twenty-Seventh Lesson. Father, I Will;'
... A holy covenant had been concluded between the Father and the Son in ... As the Son began
His prayer by making clear His relation to the ... Plead His finished work. ...
/.../with christ in the school of prayer/twenty-seventh lesson father i will.htm

What is the Edenic covenant? | GotQuestions.org

What is the Abrahamic Covenant? | GotQuestions.org

What is a covenant? | GotQuestions.org

Covenant: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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