Intercession

Nature of intercession: Christ on high -Rom. 8:34 Intercession: work of the mediator, the daysman (Job 9:33) -for those who are accepted in the Beloved

• Priestly work (Heb. 2, 4, 7) -for the redeemed ones
• Advocacy (1 Jn. 2:1) -for family members

Character of intercession: immediate response to a recognised need: “Go quickly” and “Aaron”… “ran…” (Num. 17:46). “The King’s business required haste” (1 Sam. 21:8). “Drive and go forward; slack not thy riding for me, except I bid thee” (2Ki. 2:24).

Circumstances facing the person(s) in need are

1. The attractions/hostility of the world -Gen. 14. The result of the choices we make. Result of the intercession made: the rescue of Lot by Abram and his army.
2. The attacks of the flesh -Ex. 17. The result of uncontrolled desires. Result of the intercession: Joshua broke the power of Amalek.
3. The attacks of Satan -Lk. 22.The result of pride and self-confidence. Result of the intercession: Simon will be converted and commissioned to “strengthen his brethren”.

Who needs intercession? We the saints of God need intercession of Divine persons -Rom. 8: 26, 34 OF other saints -Eph. 6:18; Col. 4:2-4; 1 Thess.5:25; 2 Thess. 3:1, 2; Philemon v. 22; Heb. 13:18; Jas. 5:16; 1 Jn. 5:16

Gen. 18:16-33

Abraham intercedes for righteous ones in Sodom.

Condition of cities of Sodom and Gomorrah: Gen. 13:10-13; 18:20; cf. Gen. 19:4-9; Ezek: 16:49. The cities were marked out for destruction. Cf. ch. 18:19

• Did Abraham think that Lot had a positive influence on some in Sodom?

Nature of intercession: (Gen. 18:23) approaching God on the part of righteous persons associated with evil

Character of intercession: intense, comprehensive
No giving up after a few pleas: 50, 45, 40, 30, 20 or even 10 persons -vv. 24-32

• Was it weakness that made Abraham stop at 10 persons?

Cf. Mt. 10:29-31; Lk. 12:6, 7: “Ye are of more value than many sparrows.”

Gen. 44:14-34

Judah pleads for his brother and his father

Circumstances: the brother was threatened with slavery in Egypt; the father faced with unspeakable grief because of the envy of 10 brothers.

v. 16. Piety of Judah: the envy of the flesh exposed and God is brought in.

v. 18. The suppliant “drew near”: The manner in which he shares his heart; “with an olive branch”

• The truth of their home situation (vv. 19-20)
• How Benjamin was allowed to be in Egypt (vv. 21-26)
• The father’s sorrow and fears (vv. 27-29)
• Judah’s assessment: without Benjamin, our father will die (vv. 30, 31)

The Substitute: Great love for his brother and for his father (vv. 32-34)
Cf. Moses who offered himself as an alternate to be excluded (Ex. 32:32) and Paul who could wish himself accursed (Rom. 9:1-3)
Christlikeness: The Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me (Gal. 2:20)

Ex. 32:7-13

Moses beseeches on behalf of the children of Israel.

Circumstances of the people: under Satan’s delusion: 32:1-6; naked: 32:25
Nature and character of his intercession: the daysman -Job 9:33

• Pleads Jehovah’s name; His promise to the patriarchs -32: 12, 13
• Pleads for Jehovah’s presence -33:12-16

• Grace offered to Moses is therefore extended to the people -33:17-23; 34:1, 9, 10

  2. Moses speaks with the people: everything for Jehovah; nothing for himself

  • Idol destroyed; incident investigated -32:20-24
  • Known sin not ignored, therefore judgement executed -32:26-30

  NB: Only the sons of Levi: not everyone will submit fully to the Word of God (vv. 26, 27).

  Result: Grace and mercy (34:1-7, 9-10) to go into the land
  Reflection of the glory of Jehovah (34:29); cf. 2 Cor. 3:17, 18 Read Romans 8:35-39
  NB: “the gifts and calling of God are without repentance (Rom. 11:29).
  He made it another vessel as seemed good to the potter (Jer. 8:1-6).

Dan. 9:1-19

Daniel intercedes on behalf of “his” people.

Conditions of the people: under the chastisement of Jehovah (in captivity)

vv.1, 2

Daniel read and meditated on the Word of God (“by books”), “comparing scriptural things with scriptural” (1 Cor. 2:13). See also 1 Ki. 25:1 and Jer. 25:11, 12.

It drove him to his knees. Where does my study (meditation) of the Word of God drive me? Is it to speak? Is it to pray?

v. 3.

Prayer: what he said to Jehovah

v. 3.

v. 3.: how he said it “with an olive branch”; humbly

v. 3.

Fastings: abstinence from food; cf. Job. 23:12

v. 3.

Sackcloth and ashes: external manifestation of an internal condition: humility and humiliation (cf. Abraham: Gen. 18:27).

vv. 4-15

Confession: He identified himself with the condition of the people

• the condition of the people and what brought them there
• the righteousness of God in His chastisement of the people

vv. 16-19

Petition:He sought for the glory of Jehovah

• Hear, forgive, restore His people for His great name’s sake
• Hear, forgive, restore His people for the sake of His Place

vv. 20-27

Result:

• “Given skill and understanding”
• Approved: “greatly beloved”
• Given the secrets of Jehovah: Ps. 25:14; Prov. 3:32b; Amos 3:7

Jn. 17:4-26

The Lord Jesus pleads on behalf His disciples and those who follow

Circumstances: “I am no more in the world but these are in the world and I come to Thee” (Jn. 17:11)

Petition for them:

• to be kept as one (v. 11)
• His joy fulfilled in them (v. 13).
• To be kept from evil (v. 15)
• To be sanctified by the Truth (v. 17).
• As sent out by the Son (v. 18)
• For the fruit of their work (v. 20)
• Their oneness (vv. 21, 22)
• To be brought to be with Him (v. 24)
• To behold His glory (v. 24)