"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with

thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."

-Philippians 4:6 (KJV)

 

"May my supplication come before you; deliver me according to your promise."

-Psalm 119:170 (NIV)

 

We often find the word "supplication" in scripture. And in finding the word "supplication", it is often accompanied by the word "prayer", distinguishing it as a separate element. We also find "supplication" accompanied by the word "weeping". Many view and define supplication as a synonym of prayer, but is it much more?

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Supplication is defined as:

• (a) sort of a prayer, a request for help from a deity,

• (b) the act of asking a god or someone who is in a position of power for something in a humble way,

• (c) an act or instance of supplicating; humble prayer, entreaty, or petition,

• (d) an act of asking for something in a respectful way.

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In Philippians 4:6, Paul instructs the church to neither stress nor worry, but in everything by prayer and "supplication" with thanksgiving to make their requests known to God.​ Within our blogs we have discussed prayer in different facets. We have also expounded on the importance of being thankful amid our circumstances as well as explored the importance and transformative power of thanks and gratitude. We know that prayer is important, but what role does supplication play in our seeking God and making our request known unto Him?

 

Within this series, we are going to begin an exploration into SUPPLICATION, but before we journey too far, we'll start off by spending some time exploring the idea of supplication and what it embodies. We will use the above definitions of supplication and find biblical examples that reflect these definitions to paint a picture of what supplication means and how it is applied into our prayer lives.

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Philippians 4:6                     

(c) an act or instance of supplicating; humble prayer, entreaty, or petition

 

If we use Philippians 4:6 as a starting point to explore supplication, the context in which this word appears is of significance. Philippians 4 is written by Paul while he is imprisoned.

 

If we start from the first book of Philippians, Philippians 1:7 reads:

 

"It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me" (NIV). 

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Philippians 1:12-13 then reads as follows:

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"Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ " (NIV).

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We discussed Paul and Silas' imprisonment in last week's blog "Secure The Tomb". We explored how God delivered Paul and Silas by causing an earthquake to occur that in turn shook the foundation of the prison causing the doors to open and the chains that bound Paul, Silas, and all those who were imprisoned to become loosened. And if we were to continue to read the book of Acts all the way up to the book of Philippians, we will find that Paul's imprisonment that we read about in Philippians is far from his first prison experience. Paul is no stranger to the divine power and authority of God. This is perhaps why within the book of Philippians, Paul could speak with such boldness, strength, and encouragement amid his confinement. Paul already knew what God could do.

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Paul is behind bars,  yet he is encouraging the church to give thanks in every situation that they face. He is instructing the church not to lose heart or put much thought into their trials or circumstances but to instead turn their focus toward God, both seeking and reverencing God for who He is. Paul is encouraging the church to make known to God whatever they stand in the need of. Paul had no doubt that God could free him from physical bondage. Paul counted his being imprisoned as part of his assignment in spreading the gospel. Much like Job, Paul never stopped seeing the God amidst his circumstances.

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Paul is the epitome of what it means to "practice what you preach". Paul was not just instructing the church to let go of their worries. Paul was not just instructing the church to make their requests known to God through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, but Paul was acting out the very instructions that he was urging the church to act upon.

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What did Paul mean when he instructed the church to use supplication as we make our requests known to God? Supplication is often hard to define because it is not going to look the same for all of us. Supplication at its core is a plea. Supplication is a request to God that is rooted in a humble surrender to Him and acknowledgement of His sovereignty and omnipotence. Supplication is almost like a bat signal, an "HERE I AM LORD", a "GOD ONLY YOU CAN DO IT" type of prayer. Supplication is a plea rooted in worship. It is a full release of ourselves in which our full dependence is poured into God. It's almost like pouring oneself upon the mercy of the court. Supplication is an honest and wholehearted plea for God to rescue, fulfill, deliver, or answer one's call. Supplication is a petition unto God.

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What is interesting about Paul is that many of his prayers were not simply rooted in self, but they were asking for the spiritual strengthening of fellow believers so that as believers, they could stand firm in their boldness and reverence for Christ, resist temptations, fight their spiritual battles, stand firm when faced with attacks from the enemy, and spread the gospel while being of support to one another. Many of Paul's prayers were also focused on the advancement of the kingdom. And if we were to explore these prayers, we will find that they are all from a place of humility and reverence for God. Paul's prayers were not necessarily about who Paul was, what Paul naturally needed, or what Paul could do, but they were all focused on who God was and what God could do.

 

Throughout Paul's prayers, there was an acknowledgement that what was being requested could only be brought about by God and God alone. In all of Paul's prayers, he is both surrendering and diminishing himself, his flesh, so that he could be edified by the Spirit who knows best. Paul did not just seek God for guidance concerning the trials, tribulations, and occurrences of his life, but he even looked to God to guide him in his prayers and as he prayed.

 

If we reflect on the Apostle Paul, we see supplication in his reverence for God as he prayed. We see supplication in his humility and gratitude as he prayed. We see supplication in Paul's ability to worship, praise, and give thanks to God within his prayers regardless of what he might have been facing or how urgent his request might have been. Paul always acknowledged God as being "BIGGER" than his problems which is something that we all might struggle to do when faced with those things that appear both bigger and stronger than we are. Paul often looked beyond his natural circumstances and prayed for spiritual strength.

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In Ephesians 3:14-21, Paul's prayer is centered on spiritual growth, fullness, and maturity for believers and reads as follows:

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            For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that                out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may                  dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together              with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know                        this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who                is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be              glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen (NIV).

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In Ephesians 1:15-23, Paul's prayer is centered around spiritual wisdom and revelation for believers and reads as follows:

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            For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not                    stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ,                  the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the                eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of                his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the                    same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the                heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the              present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over              everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way (NIV).

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If we explore the books of the bible that are written by Paul, within these books we will find that the majority of Paul's prayers are rooted in thanksgiving just as he instructs the church to do in Philippians 4:6. Paul's prayers embody a spiritual yearning for the power of God to be glorified and for believers to have a deeply rooted understanding of who Christ is. Paul longed for all believers to truly embody and feel what it meant for Christ to dwell within them and for them to pour out this same Spirit unto others. Paul's prayers were often rooted in the same supplication that he instructed us as believers to include in our personal requests to God.

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Daniel: Supplication through Worship in Prayer                    

(a) sort of a prayer, a request for help from a deity

 

"Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God." -Daniel 6:11 (KJV)

                         Praying and asking God for help (NIV)     Making petition and plea before his God (ESV)

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Upon finding out about the decree that anyone who was found praying to any other man or god besides the king within the 30-day timespan that was issued would be thrown into the lions' den, Daniel 6:11 states that Daniel was found praying and making supplication. The New International Version (NIV) replaces the word supplication with "asking God for help" and the English Standard Version (ESV) replaces supplication with "plea".

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One thing that we know about Daniel is that he was a habitual prayer and worshipper. Daniel prayed and gave thanks to God three times a day. Daniel's prayers were rooted in worship and thanks to God. Daniel had a reverence for God and an assurance in God's ability to perform as needed. Daniel understood Philippians 4:6 " to-a- T". Daniel did not exhaust himself with worry, but he took his concerns directly to God in prayer and supplication.

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Even when King Darius went to the lions' den to check on Daniel, Daniel's demeanor did not reflect someone sitting in a den of lions. Daniel was as calm and assured as could be. Daniel was resting assured, waiting for God to do what God does. He was both trusting and waiting for God to deliver him. Daniel was beyond content. It is profound that Daniel did not tell the king that God shut the mouth of the lions' because he was innocent and then plead with King Darius to let him out of the den, but Daniel told the king that God had shut the mouth of the lions' because God found him to be innocent and he left it at that. Daniel was still depending on God to deliver him. Although Daniel from the very beginning knew that he was innocent, even after God confirmed his innocence by shutting the lions' mouths, Daniel did not take this confirmation and try to use it as leverage, but he sat in that den and waited! He did not yell to the guards requesting that the king come and vindicate him, but Daniel waited until the king came to him and inquired how he was doing before he confirmed his innocence. Daniel did not make prayer and supplication to God and then place his trust in man, but he made prayer and supplication to God and kept it right there. He KEPT IT ON GOD, letting God have His way! Daniel's supplication was rooted in a plea and worship of God. Daniel's supplication was rooted in his reverence of God as a just and unfailing God.

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Manasseh: Supplication through Repentance and Humility in Prayer                 

(c) an act or instance of supplicating; humble prayer, entreaty, or petition

 

"And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to

Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord he was God." -2 Chronicles 33:13 (KJV)

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Manasseh's story is an interesting one. We won't fully expound on Manasseh's story, but as a means of providing you with some insight into why this verse is such a profound example of the power of supplication, there are a few facts about Manasseh that will be highlighted.

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Manasseh was one of the kings of Judah. And not only was Manasseh one of the kings of Judah, but he was a wicked king. Of all the wrongs that the other kings of Judah had done, Manasseh's wickedness greatly angered God. Manasseh was far from his father Hezekiah. Manasseh was so evil and acted so wickedly toward God that he led the people of both Judah and Jerusalem astray causing them to do "more evil" than all the nations that God had destroyed before the Israelites.

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Even in God speaking to Manasseh, Judah, and Jerusalem, giving them warnings and an opportunity to turn from their wicked ways, they would not relent. It was for this reason that God allowed Manasseh to be taken prisoner by the commanders of the king of Assyria and taken to Babylon. Upon finding himself bound and realizing that God was his "only way out", Manasseh prayed in supplication to God and 2 Chronicles 33:13 tells us that God was moved by Manasseh's plea, heard his supplication, and acted on his behalf. Manasseh humbled himself and acknowledged God for who He was and God delivered him, bringing him back to his own kingdom.

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Manasseh was as wicked as they come. Manasseh angered God so much so that although King Josiah came along and followed God wholeheartedly without wavering and never had a king before nor after him to follow God as wholeheartedly and completely as he did, obeying all the laws of Moses, God would not relent His anger toward Judah. Yet, prior to Josiah taking the throne, because Manasseh did humble himself in prayer and supplication to God, God did not allow Manasseh's cry to go unnoticed. Even in His anger, God delivered Manasseh. And although Manasseh did make a turnaround, it was not enough to turn God's anger away from Judah and Jerusalem although it did move God in compassion toward Manasseh.

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Manasseh's supplication was one of humility, reverence, and repentance. He acted wickedly but poured his heart into God in a plea for mercy. Supplication that is rooted in humility, reverence, and repentance can redeem us from all our shortcomings. Manasseh refused to bow to or acknowledge God until he needed God to bring him out of physical bondage. He spent the majority of his reign in mental and spiritual bondage, committing idolatry, worshipping false gods, and turning the people astray causing them to reject the commands and instructions of God, yet it was the very God that he turned his back on that he had to turn to in order to be brought out of the captivity that God allowed the commanders of the king of Assyria to place him in.

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Manasseh's story is also one that teaches us the detriment of following and being led by the wrong person. Manasseh led all of Judah and Jerusalem astray which is part of the reason that God allowed them to be taken into exile, yet Manasseh finally decided to turn to God and redeem himself while all the people that followed him still had to suffer the consequence of following a wicked leader.

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Psalm 119:170                             

(b) the act of asking a god or someone who is in a position of power for something in a humble way

 

"May my supplication come before you;  deliver me according to your promise." (NIV)

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Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the bible, containing 176 verses. Psalm 119 is an example of supplication and not because of its length but if we explore this chapter, it is a plea for deliverance.

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We are not told who the writer of this psalm is nor is it clear the exact issues that the psalmist is dealing with, but we can infer that the psalmist is encountering or has encountered persecution, slander, or oppression of some type from their enemies and in realizing what they stand against, the psalmist recognizes God as their only way out. The psalmist acknowledges God as the only one capable of delivering them.

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The psalmist's plea is one of humility as a servant of God. The psalmist is sincere and honest and has an awareness of their own acts. They are aware of their behavior and the paths that they have taken. The psalmist has a reverence for God that longs to completely follow the commands of God. The psalmist acknowledges that they are subject to flaw and therefore is depending on God to lead them on the right path and in the right direction. The psalmist realizes that they cannot stay on the right path unless God both guides and strengthens them to do so. The writer of this psalm recognizes that they cannot journey life without God.

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Even amidst facing opposition, the psalmist in Psalm 119 has a yearning and will to do what's right and to respond to what they are facing in a way that is pleasing to God. They are placing their battle in God's hands and trusting God and God alone to vindicate and deliver them. The psalmist is trusting God to fight on their behalf.

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Although facing persecution, the psalmist does not count it as a flaw toward the faithfulness of God but still reverences and holds God as a just and faithful God although their situation may appear that God has not yet responded to their call. The writer is holding fast to who they know God to be and has hope and assurance that God's faithfulness will prove trustworthy. Although facing opposition, the writer refuses to turn away from God and is making a plea to God to help them to persevere. The psalmist in Psalm 119 is recounting to God who they know Him to be and seeking God to show them this truth by delivering them out of their despair. Although the psalmist may be enduring something of a great magnitude, they have not abandoned their reverence and praise of God.

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If we reflect on Philippians 4:6, in which Paul instructs the church to "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let [their] requests be made known unto God.", we find the essence of this within this psalm. This psalmist is praying, crying out to God, and seeking God to deliver them while at the same time praising God and meditating on the awe and wonder of God. The psalmist is crying out to God for help but still able to not allow their need to be rescued to be greater than their praise, worship, and reverence of God.

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Prayer or Supplication?                 

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There are no rules to prayer. Prayer does not have an instruction manual attached to it. In Matthew 6:5-8, Jesus instructs us saying:

            And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street                corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your                  room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will                  reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of

            their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him (NIV).

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In James 5:15, James expounds saying:

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"And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven" (NIV).

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While we do have instances in the Word of God that clearly tell us what prayer should not be, and while Jesus gives us an example of how we should pray in providing us with "The Lord's Prayer" (Matthew 6:9-13, KJV), there are no prerequisites or criteria that we are commanded to follow. The Word of God has many examples of elements that make for effective prayer however, there is still no one size fits all. Our prayers, what we are praying for, and how we go about praying will look different. Whether naturally or spiritually, our prayer life and prayer language will look and be acted out differently. Supplication is no different.

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While we will all act out the idea of supplication differently, if we were to attempt to differentiate the difference between prayer and supplication, one of the major differences that we will find between prayer and supplication is that supplication is less about who we are and more focused on who God is. Supplication is not focused solely on what we are facing as much as it is focused on our acknowledgement that God CAN bring us out of it. Supplication is not about what we can GET from God as much as it is about what we can SPIRITUALLY GAIN. Supplication is not about what God hasn't done but it is a plea that rests in the assurance of what God CAN and WILL DO. Supplication is not simply about looking at ourselves and where we are but about our ability to LOOK TO GOD with praise and confidence in WHERE HE IS and WHO and WHAT HE IS TO US!

 

Supplication is a cry and plea rooted in our awareness of the sovereignty, dominion, and power of God that flows from a place of humility, vulnerability, and surrender of our flesh unto God's Spirit. Supplication is almost like our love letter to God written by a broken heart through our tears. If your supplication to God could be painted, what would it look like?