Dare to Draw Near
This is going to have the feel of a glorified book report. One of the very influential books I read during my early Christian life was first published in 1977 by John White entitled, Daring to Draw Near. I read the book at just the right time, and God used it in many ways in my life. While my prayer life has been shaped by examples from godly men and women, as well as from the writings of various authors, this book started me along the path of seeing the link between prayer and the Bible.
What the author does in this book is to write about ten different prayers recorded in the Bible—prayers by David, Hannah, Paul, Jesus, and others. White tells the reader in the Preface to the work that he is not intending to write a book about prayer—this is not a "how to" discussion on prayer but an examination of the prayers and attitude of biblical pray-ers. As such, I was struck, not only by the prayers themselves, but also by the author's handling of Scripture.
White has examined in this book only a few of the many prayers written out in the Bible. Like many people, I didn't really think of the Bible as recording prayers until I saw the list White generated. Suddenly, I realized just how often in Scripture God's people interact with Him in what can only be called "prayer." Biblical prayers happen in song, in praise, in joy, in lament. They are recorded during times of special celebration, as part of significant events, and flowing from everyday life. But what stands out in all the differences is that the Bible takes the time to record these prayers.
Of course, part of what White uncovers in his book are great and abiding insights into the nature and practice of prayer itself. There have been a great number of discipleship books which can help us develop an active and vibrant prayer life. Daring to Draw Near certainly helps the reader learn about this important spiritual practice. However, for me it did more—it helped open for me the breadth of the Scripture as a whole. Woven into God's Book are these wonderful examples of prayer by men and women who were, for the most part, moving through life just like I am.
The first prayer White examines in his book is the prayer of Abraham recorded in the last verses of Genesis 18. It is a prayer of fear, doubt, and confusion. It is also a prayer of intimacy, pleading, and maturing. Studying this text led White (and his readers) to confront many typical challenges in prayer. But overall, the prayer is a study of God and salvation—it is included in the Bible, not to teach us how to pray, but to teach us why we pray.
This week in worship we will be looking at Abraham's interaction with our God, seeing not only the prayer of a faithful man, but also the why behind his prayer... and our prayers.
Read Genesis 18:16-33.
1. In verses 17-19, God explains why he is taking Abraham into his confidences. List out the reasons God gives here. How many of them would apply to God's interactions with you?
2. Verses 17-18 are phrased as a question—it seems like a rhetorical one: God is stating that He will not hide from Abraham. But, why is the question rhetorical? How else might it be understood?
3. In verse 19, God bases a lot of His thinking on the fact that He has "chosen" Abraham. What all might that mean? Note the footnote that "chosen" here might also mean "loved." How would these two meanings (and others) connect?
4. Where does the "outcry" against Sodom come from? It reaches God's ears, but from where? And, what does it say about our God that He hears this in any case?
5. Why does Abraham seem to challenge God in verse 23? What are his motivations? How does this speak to the practice of prayer?
6. Why does Abraham "count down" from 50? What is he getting at? And, what is God teaching Abraham in how He responds? What implications does this mean for our prayers?
7. Why does Abraham stop at 10? What lesson has he learned? What has Abraham's prayer "accomplished"? What was the reason for this interaction between God and Abraham? How might that speak to your own prayer life?
