WEEK 2:  DEVOTIONAL ON PRAYER

“These I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.” Isaiah 56:7

BACKGROUND
Isaiah gives a word of hope and encouragement to the foreigners and non-Israelites who have committed themselves to serve, love, and worship the Lord and to keep the Sabbath without polluting it. When foreigners are converted and join in the common worship of God in the Temple, there is to be absolutely no segregation whatsoever.

THE PLACE OF HIS PRESENCE
The Holy Mountain is the place of His presence. It was Mount Moriah, where the Temple was located. All faithful followers were invited to experience the joy of being in His presence. There is a joy known in the place of prayer that can be found in no other place. To not spend time in His house of prayer is to miss out on the joy that comes from being in His presence.  Prayer brings me into a fresh awareness of His presence.

THE PLACE TO SPEAK TO GOD
The place of His presence was a place to communicate with God. We are invited to have a speaking relationship with Him. I can talk to God and God can talk to me. Because of Jesus, there is a place of faith I can go to anytime, regardless of where I am, to communicate to my Father. He is always accessible. He loves to hear my voice.

A PLACE OF ACCEPTANCE
God would not turn a deaf ear to their burnt offerings and sacrifices. It was a place of guaranteed acceptance and atonement. The house of prayer is the place where God will always receive us into His presence. God accepts the prayers of His followers. Every prayer I pray is received by Him.

A PLACE OF PRAYER FOR ALL
All are to join joyfully in the services, for the Temple shall be called a House of Prayer for all peoples. Yahweh is fulfilling His promises to restore blessing to all people through their association with the descendants of Abraham, as well as promises made to Israel. Prayer is a privilege God intends for all. Prayer is not the privilege of a few. It is a privilege for every faithful child of God.

It is a fulfillment of what His House was always intended to be. Jesus quoted this description of what it should be in Matt. 21:13, Mark 11:17, and Luke 19:46 and He also quoted from Jeremiah 7:11 what the people had made of His temple. May we never make it less than God intended it to be.