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2) Examples of Prayer Towards Jerusalem
Elijah on Mt Carme1 Kings 18: 42-44
Elijah had gone to Mount Carmel to pray for the rain that would end the long drought in Israel, following Elijah’s sign to determine and thereby glorify the true God against the prophets of Baal. “Elijah went up to the top of Mount Carmel, and he cast himself down upon the earth.” (1 Kings 18: 42) Elijah sent his servant seven times to “look towards the sea.” On the seventh occasion, the servant saw a little cloud rising out of the sea.
The following is an observation made by a visitor to Mt Carmel.
“Elijah, when praying for rain could not see the sea. When I was on Mt Carmel, I realised that it is on a peninsula jutting out into the sea. To the North, West and South you can see the sea. The slope of the mountain is such that at the top in these directions the vision is unimpeded. I realised there is only one place on the top of Mt Carmel where you cannot see the sea! The hair stood up on my scalp. Elijah to not be able to see the sea had to on the section with a slight slope to the South-East and therefore he was facing towards Jerusalem when he prayed.” (Janet Henriksen)
This observation reveals that there is “only one place” on Mt Carmel where you cannot see the sea. If Elijah had been able to see the sea , why would he have sent his servant seven times to “look towards the sea”? To the perceptive reader, the record of this event in Israel’s history, would make it obvious that Elijah could not see the sea and was therefore facing Jerusalem as he prayed. Undoubtedly this is a reflection of Elijah’s faith in Yahweh and the promises to Israel and his understanding of Solomon’s prayer.
The result of Elijah’s prayer is impressive
Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.(Jam 5:17-18 KJV)
Jonah’s Prayer (Jonah 2)
Jonah, whilst in the whale, prayed to Yahweh and spoke of the temple of Yahweh. “Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet ‘I will look again’ toward thy holy temple…When my soul fainted within me I remembered Yahweh; and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.” (Jonah 2: 4,7)
These words of Jonah’s prayer are an application and acknowledgment of Solomon’s prayer. Jonah was in great difficulty and perplexity and his hope of salvation came from Yahweh’s promises and Jerusalem was the focal point of the fulfilment of these.
Daniel And Prayer (Daniel 6)
Daniel was a man of great faith. His prayers and faith were recognised and acknowledged by Yahweh. “O Daniel, a man greatly beloved understand the words that I speak unto thee…from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand and chasten ( Heb. To make thyself small) thyself before thy God, thy words were heard and I am come for thy words.” (Daniel 10: 11-12) To understand this we need to look more closely at one of the most outstanding events in the life of Daniel.
Daniel in the lion’s den is probably one of the most well known of the records of faith. Every child who has any knowledge of the Bible, can relate this event in the life of Daniel.It has become one the most popular “stories” in the Bible. The emphasis is always placed on the miraculous survival of Daniel. Perhaps more important than this, as far as we are concerned, as students of the scriptures, is the reason why Daniel was thrown into the lions’ den.
“Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber towards Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God as he did aforetime.”
This verse contains three important things:
Daniel prayed towards Jerusalem three times daily.
He knelt upon his knees.
He gave thanks and supplication before his God.
Daniel would no doubt have been concerned about his people and nation and longed to see their return from captivity. He would have petitioned on their behalf. Emphasis is always placed on the physical dangers that Daniel faced at this time: the ferocity of the lions, the pain, the suffering that he could endure. Daniel knew that there was a conspiracy against him, to topple him from power and toss him to the lions. Despite this, he must have felt great compulsion to continue to pray in this way.
Daniel understood the workings of man’s mind, but his faith was grounded in the restoration of Israel and the distant future destiny of Jerusalem as the world capital. He openly acknowledged this when he prayed towards Jerusalem humbly, on his knees, in the spirit of Solomon’s prayer, before the Creator of all.
Jehoshaphat (2 Chron. 20)
At a time when Jehoshaphat faced invasion from his enemies, in the spirit of Solomon’s prayer he turned to Yahweh. He prayed in the midst of the congregation,
when evil comes upon us, as the sword, judgement, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help.”…”And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before Yahweh, worshipping Yahweh. (2 Chron. 20: 9, 18)
Again there are the elements of Solomon’s prayer displayed here by the people.
They prayed towards the temple.
They fell down before Yahweh.
Following the victory against their enemies in a battle, in the VALLEY OF JEHOSHAPHAT, (see volume 1) in which they were not required to fight, “they assembled in the valley of Berechah; for there they blessed Yahweh.” (2 Chron 20: 26) Here we have the prayers of Jehoshaphat answered visibly and with power and their enemies vanquished.
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