Opening Our Hearts Before God

Everyday Prayer with John Calvin
Scripture: Isaiah 63:15-19

This entire section of the sixty-third chapter is a prayer of lament and penitence. Some commentators believe this prayer continues through the next chapter. In these verses, what is important to note is that the prophet is addressing God, and he is pouring out his heart before him. The reason is simple: the people of God have turned from the ways they were commanded to go. They had fled from their God and are reaping the effects of it (63:17). The prophet pleads on behalf of the people, and he does so as one who addresses God as "Father." Twice in this passage (63:16), God is addressed in this manner. The point of the address is that Jehovah is to be seen and approached as a child would come to their earthly father -- pouring out their hearts and emotions before him. We have witnessed this many times, I'm sure, with our children. Something happens, and they come rushing to their father with great emotion, saying whatever comes to mind. That is the idea here. The prophet is pleading with the Father of heaven (63:15) on behalf of his soul, his people, and God's people.

McKim writes, "]S]omething very basic about prayer emerges in a prayer of penitence in the book of Isaiah. Addressing God, the prophet says, "You, O Lord, are our father; our Redeemer from of old is your name." Calvin, commenting on the essential nature of prayer, said, "God permits us to reveal our hearts familiarly before him; for prayer is nothing else than opening up of our heart before God; as the greatest alleviation is, to pour our cares, distresses, and anxieties into his bosom. 'Roll thy cares on the Lord, says David (Ps. 37:5).'" (56). Indeed, this is prayer. Prayer of a child to a father, and not any farther, but our heavenly Father who is one of great mercy and kindness (Ex. 34:6-7) and who hears his children when they pour out their souls before him. McKim adds, "As we converse with God in prayer, we communicate with him not only in words but also from the depths of our hearts." Many times, the emotions of it all and the distresses we feel leave us without adequate words. Yet, the Spirit understands our weakness and fills in the words for us, knowing what is in the heart of the one praying. As we come to our Father, we come as children, and we come to plead and pour out our hearts to him.

We live in difficult days. We live in a nation that does not fear God or seeks to honor and keep his commandments. Perhaps we live in these times because our Father wants to teach us something (as he did in the days of Isaiah). Maybe that lesson is that we do not know how to pray as modeled by the prophet. We utter the words, but we fail to communicate our hearts and emotion. Perhaps we find ourselves in these trying times because God's people do not pray together as they should. It is one thing to pray alone. It is another thing to pray with the people of God, pouring out our hearts together to our Father in heaven. Sad as it is, many churches do not offer that opportunity. Perhaps we find ourselves where we are as a nation because God's people do not follow the example of those who have gone before us, running right back to the first-century church, and gather together to pray and plead and pour out our hearts together for our needs, concerns, distresses, and anxieties. What prevents you from taking advantage of this privilege each week? When God's people humble themselves, pray together for his glory and our good, pouring out their hearts before the Father's throne, then we will find the rest for our soul that flows from his throne, soothing us and easing our discomfort. Therefore, gather with God's people and pray together. Take advantage of the opportunity as given to you by your Father and Redeemer.