Topical Encyclopedia
Prayer, in the Christian tradition, is a fundamental practice that involves communicating with God. One of the key aspects of prayer is making supplication, which refers to the act of earnestly and humbly asking God for specific needs or desires. This form of prayer is characterized by a deep sense of dependence on God and a recognition of His sovereignty and grace.
The concept of supplication is deeply rooted in the Bible, where numerous passages illustrate the practice of bringing requests before God. In
Philippians 4:6 , the Apostle Paul exhorts believers, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Here, the term "petition" is synonymous with supplication, emphasizing the importance of bringing one's needs before the Lord with a heart of gratitude.
The Old Testament also provides examples of supplication. In
1 Kings 8:28 , Solomon, during the dedication of the temple, prays, "Yet regard the prayer of Your servant and his supplication, O LORD my God, so that You may hear the cry and the prayer that Your servant is praying before You today." Solomon's prayer highlights the earnestness and humility that accompany supplication, as he seeks God's attention and favor.
The Psalms frequently depict supplication as a vital component of prayer.
Psalm 28:2 states, "Hear my cry for mercy when I call to You for help, when I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary." This verse captures the essence of supplication as a heartfelt plea for divine intervention and mercy.
In the New Testament, Jesus Himself models supplication in the Garden of Gethsemane. In
Matthew 26:39 , He prays, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will." Jesus' prayer demonstrates the balance between making requests and submitting to God's will, a crucial aspect of supplication.
The practice of supplication is not limited to personal needs but extends to intercession for others. In
1 Timothy 2:1 , Paul urges, "First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone." This instruction underscores the communal aspect of supplication, where believers are encouraged to pray for the needs of others as well as their own.
Supplication is also linked to the concept of persistence in prayer. In
Luke 18:1-8, Jesus shares the parable of the persistent widow to teach the importance of continual supplication. The widow's relentless pursuit of justice from an unjust judge serves as an illustration of the need to persist in prayer, trusting that God, who is just and loving, will respond in His perfect timing.
Throughout Scripture, making supplication is portrayed as an act of faith and trust in God's character and promises. It is a recognition of human limitation and a declaration of reliance on God's power and provision. As believers engage in supplication, they align their hearts with God's purposes, seeking His guidance, provision, and intervention in their lives and the lives of others.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Job 8:5If you would seek to God betimes, and make your supplication to the Almighty;
Torrey's Topical TextbookJeremiah 36:7
It may be they will present their supplication before the LORD, and will return every one from his evil way: for great is the anger and the fury that the LORD has pronounced against this people.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Library
The Content of Prayer: Its Four Moods
... symbolical and typical things may be described as little ... offers with supplication
for its attainment; prayer, that which ... account in Exodus of the making of the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/origen/origen on prayer/chapter ix the content of.htm
Prayer Perfumed with Praise
... with a peradventure, as if we were making a doubtful ... calm, that divine serenity,
which is described as the peace of God, is not produced by prayer alone, but ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 25 1879/prayer perfumed with praise.htm
Mental Prayer.
... How is religious obedience described in Scripture ... Or supposing he has to repeat the
same prayer for a ... to prepare for eternity in, without your making it shorter ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol vii/sermon xv mental prayer.htm
Letter ccvii. To the Clergy of Neoc??sarea.
... [2760] Gregory did not cover his head at prayer. ... [2756] Basil is described as the
earliest authority for making Sabellius an African by birth. (DCB iv. ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/letter ccvii to the clergy.htm
Chapter xxxii
... The explanation that he gives while making the division ... aware of the fact that the
prayer described involved a ... prevailed; he wept and made supplication unto Him ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxxii.htm
The Last Discourses of Christ - the Prayer of Consecration.
... profession of Christ could scarcely be described as a ... be no need of their making
further inquiry of ... Canon Westcott beautifully observes: Their prayer is only ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xi the last discourses.htm
Of Prayer --A Perpetual Exercise of Faith. The Daily Benefits ...
... Answer, from the nature of God, as described by an ... teach us that no time ought to
be without prayer. ... will temptation give us a truce, making it unnecessary to ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 20 of prayera perpetual.htm
The Worship of the Church. The Religion of the Primitive ...
... of the third century, the house of prayer occasionally resounded ... of the second century,
he is described, at the ... Now, the making of images was forbidden, and no ...
//christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/chapter i the worship of.htm
Introduction.
... awarded to right-heartedness in making and fulfilling ... observance, under various phases,
is described in Scripture ... thou what thou readest?" prayer for heavenly ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/introduction.htm
Correspondence of St. Chrysostom with the Bishop of Rome.
... from the outset in the manner described, and severed ... from the Church, from communion,
and from prayer, and was ... were by a clear conscience, from making the same ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/correspondence of st chrysostom with 2.htm
Resources
What is fervent prayer (James 5:16)? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is listening prayer? Are listening prayers biblical? | GotQuestions.orgIs there evidence that God answers prayer? | GotQuestions.orgPrayer: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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