Pray Earnestly

PRAY EARNESTLY

(Lamentations 2:19)

“. . . Pour out your heart like water Before the presence of the Lord . . .”

“When you go to mercy’s gate, let me give you a little advice. Do not go and give a gentle

tap, like a lady; do not give a single knock, like a beggar; but take the knocker and wrap hard, till the very door seems to shake. Wrap with all your might! and recollect that God loveth those who knock hard at mercy’s gate. “Knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” I picture that scene at midnight, which our Savior mentioned in the parable, and it will suit the present occasion. A certain man wanted some bread; a friend of his on a journey had come to his house and was very faint, and needed bread to eat. So off he went to his next door neighbor and rapped at his door, but no one came. He stood beneath the window and called out his friend’s name. His friend answered from the top of the house, where he had been lying asleep, “My wife and children are with me in bed, and I cannot rise and give thee.” But the man did not care about that. His poor friend wanted bread; so he called out aloud-”It is bread I want, and bread I must have!” I fancy I see the man lying and sleeping there. He says, “I shan’t get up; it is very cold to-night. How can you expect me to rise and go down stairs to get bread for you? I won’t; I can’t; I shan’t.” So he wraps himself very comfortably again and lays down to sleep once more. What does the man down below do? Oh! I hear him still. “Awake, sir! I must have it! I will have it! my friend is starving.” “Go home, you fellow! Don’t disturb me this time of night.” “I must have bread! why don’t you come and let me have it!” says the other; but the friend vexed and angry lies down again on his bed. Still at the door there comes a heavier and a heavier rap, and the man still shouts-”Bread, sir, bread! you will not sleep all night till you come down and give it me! And verily I say unto you, though he will not rise and give it to him because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will arise and give him as much as he needs.”

[Spurgeon, MTP, Vol. 2, p. 83-84]