Proverbs 15:29

Jesus4Ever · Jun 29, 2017

Proverbs 15:29

The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayers of the righteous.

Is that to mean those who are righteous or prayers that are righteous?

In that case, does He not hear us if we're sinners?

Solomons Porch · Jun 29, 2017

Jesus4Ever said:
Proverbs 15:29

The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayers of the righteous.

Is that to mean those who are righteous or prayers that are righteous?

In that case, does He not hear us if we're sinners?

I believe HE hears everything and everyone. If a sparrow hits the ground HE knows it, so yes, IMO He hears us all.

Serving Zion · Jun 29, 2017

Jesus4Ever said:
Proverbs 15:29

The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayers of the righteous.

Is that to mean those who are righteous or prayers that are righteous?

In that case, does He not hear us if we're sinners?

That's right sister. We need to keep pleasing God, in order that He is pleased with us when we approach Him. Although if we are obstinate He can still hear our prayer, His heart is not inclined toward us because our refusal to please Him is causing Him grief.

So it is both, really. We need to be confident in our conscience that we are living the right way, so that we can pray with faith (Mark 11:24-25). Our prayers also need to be righteous, so that God is glorified in them (John 14:12-21). Many people pray with judgement from the wickedness in their heart - God is not glorified that way.

Jesus4Ever · Jun 29, 2017

Serving Zion said:
That's right sister. We need to keep pleasing God, in order that He is pleased with us when we approach Him. Although if we are obstinate He can still hear our prayer, His heart is not inclined toward us because our refusal to please Him is causing Him grief.

So it is both, really. We need to be confident in our conscience that we are living the right way, so that we can pray with faith (Mark 11:24-25). Our prayers also need to be righteous, so that God is glorified in them (John 14:12-21). Many people pray with judgement from the wickedness in their heart - God is not glorified that way.

So should we be praying if we're not following all His Commandments? Or no?

Serving Zion · Jun 29, 2017

Jesus4Ever said:
So should we be praying if we're not following all His Commandments? Or no?

Which commandments are you not following, and why? Yes, we should never not pray. But when you pray, is it only a one-way message, or is it more like a meeting?

Jesus4Ever · Jun 29, 2017

Serving Zion said:
Which commandments are you not following, and why? Yes, we should never not pray. But when you pray, is it only a one-way message, or is it more like a meeting?

One way message.

Serving Zion · Jun 29, 2017

Jesus4Ever said:
One way message.

Awww, The Lord loves you very dearly and He wishes for you to pursue a deeper relationship with Him. Will you consider Psalms 25:14.

benelchi · Jun 30, 2017

Jesus4Ever said:
Proverbs 15:29

The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayers of the righteous.

Is that to mean those who are righteous or prayers that are righteous?

In that case, does He not hear us if we're sinners?

It means those who are righteous. However, it is important to recognize the type of literature i.e. this is Hebrew proverbs, and Hebrew proverbs communicate general principles of truth in a poetic form; for the most part they are not giving answers that are applied the same way to every unique situation, but rather describe how these truths are generally applied to most situations. Additionally, in this verse we are not talking about either a physical distance or God's inability to hear. What is being described, in poetic form, is an relational distance that makes communication (prayer) nearly impossible.

Imagine the situation of a child who has rebelled against his father and is making self destructive choices in life that break his father's heart. Although this child refuses to have a conversation with his father, he sends him a letter demanding that his father send money to a dealership to pay for a car he wants; the only answer he wants is a call from the dealership confirming the payment has been made. Do you think the father should send the money, or wait until his child is willing to come back into relationship with him? What response is in the best interest of his child? Is it more important that the child have a car or a loving relationship with the father?

Jesus4Ever · Jun 30, 2017

benelchi said:
It means those who are righteous. However, it is important to recognize the type of literature i.e. this is Hebrew proverbs, and Hebrew proverbs communicate general principles in a poetic form. In this verse we are not talking about either a physical distance or God's inability to hear, what is described, in poetic form, is an relational distance that makes communication (prayer) impossible. Imagine the situation of a child who has rebelled against his father and is making self destructive choices in life that grieve his father's heart. Although this child refuses to have a conversation with his father, he is willing to send him a letter demanding that his father send money to a dealership to buy him a car. Do you think the father should send the money, or wait until his child is willing to come back into relationship with his father? What response is in the best interest of his child?

But the only thing I ask for is to be cleansed of sins and the Holy Spirit. In fact, I have been told to pray for that. But now I'm wondering if God even hears me.

benelchi · Jun 30, 2017

Jesus4Ever said:
But the only thing I ask for is to be cleansed of sins and the Holy Spirit. In fact, I have been told to pray for that. But now I'm wondering if God even hears me.

That is a prayer God always hears; it is a repentant heart that demonstrates righteousness. Consider David's prayer in Psalms 51, prayed by David after he had committed both adultery and murder.

David's prayer:

Be gracious to me, God, according to Your faithful love; according to Your abundant compassion, blot out my rebellion. Wash away my guilt, and cleanse me from my sin.

For I am conscious of my rebellion, and my sin is always before me. Against You-- You alone-- I have sinned and done this evil in Your sight. So You are right when You pass sentence; You are blameless when You judge.

Indeed, I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me. Surely You desire integrity in the inner self, and You teach me wisdom deep within.

Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones You have crushed rejoice.

Turn Your face away from my sins and blot out all my guilt. God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not banish me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore the joy of Your salvation to me, and give me a willing spirit.

Then I will teach the rebellious Your ways, and sinners will return to You. Save me from the guilt of bloodshed, God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing of Your righteousness. Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise.

You do not want a sacrifice, or I would give it; You are not pleased with a burnt offering.The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. God, You will not despise a broken and humbled heart.

In Your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper; build the walls of Jerusalem. Then You will delight in righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on Your altar.

If God heard David's prayer, he certainly has heard yours (and mine).

Daniel_ · Jun 30, 2017

Jesus4Ever said:
So should we be praying if we're not following all His Commandments? Or no?

We live under grace not the law. Part of living under grace is that our sin is grievous to us and we seek to live right before God, not out of fear but because God has given us a desire for his ways and has brought us into grace by the Holy Spirit, where we now stand. So we can pray to the Father and he does hear us, but if we are willfully sinning and not being repentant, God will not so much be answering our prayers as he will be getting us to repent.

Jesus4Ever said:
But the only thing I ask for is to be cleansed of sins and the Holy Spirit. In fact, I have been told to pray for that. But now I'm wondering if God even hears me.

We're not going to be perfect in this life, but we are made right with God by the blood of Christ, his blood covers over our sins, then in eternity the Lord will make us sinless. Consider Romans 6:1 to 8:5 & Jude 24.

Jesus4Ever · Jul 1, 2017

benelchi said:
That is a prayer God always hears; it is a repentant heart that demonstrates righteousness. Consider David's prayer in Psalms 51, prayed by David after he had committed both adultery and murder.

David's prayer:

Be gracious to me, God, according to Your faithful love; according to Your abundant compassion, blot out my rebellion. Wash away my guilt, and cleanse me from my sin.

For I am conscious of my rebellion, and my sin is always before me. Against You-- You alone-- I have sinned and done this evil in Your sight. So You are right when You pass sentence; You are blameless when You judge.

Indeed, I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me. Surely You desire integrity in the inner self, and You teach me wisdom deep within.

Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones You have crushed rejoice.

Turn Your face away from my sins and blot out all my guilt. God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not banish me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore the joy of Your salvation to me, and give me a willing spirit.

Then I will teach the rebellious Your ways, and sinners will return to You. Save me from the guilt of bloodshed, God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing of Your righteousness. Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise.

You do not want a sacrifice, or I would give it; You are not pleased with a burnt offering.The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. God, You will not despise a broken and humbled heart.

In Your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper; build the walls of Jerusalem. Then You will delight in righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on Your altar.

If God heard David's prayer, he certainly has heard yours (and mine).

But if you recall, God punished David by bringing a plague over his people.

pescador · Jul 1, 2017

benelchi said:
It means those who are righteous. However, it is important to recognize the type of literature i.e. this is Hebrew proverbs, and Hebrew proverbs communicate general principles of truth in a poetic form; for the most part they are not giving answers that are applied the same way to every unique situation, but rather describe how these truths are generally applied to most situations. Additionally, in this verse we are not talking about either a physical distance or God's inability to hear. What is being described, in poetic form, is an relational distance that makes communication (prayer) nearly impossible.

Imagine the situation of a child who has rebelled against his father and is making self destructive choices in life that break his father's heart. Although this child refuses to have a conversation with his father, he sends him a letter demanding that his father send money to a dealership to pay for a car he wants; the only answer he wants is a call from the dealership confirming the payment has been made. Do you think the father should send the money, or wait until his child is willing to come back into relationship with him? What response is in the best interest of his child? Is it more important that the child have a car or a loving relationship with the father?

The parable of the prodigal son clearly answers this question.

benelchi · Jul 3, 2017

Jesus4Ever said:
But if you recall, God punished David by bringing a plague over his people.

I think you have got your stories mixed up but, yes, David did receive consequences for his sin.

(Prov. 13:24) Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.
(Heb. 12:6) For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives."

It was a demonstration of God's love.

benelchi · Jul 3, 2017

pescador said:
The parable of the prodigal son clearly answers this question.

While I would agree, I am wondering what answer you think this parable provides?

Let's go · Jul 4, 2017

My righteousness is as filthy rags

1 cor 1:30

But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

So even if I'm rubbish....I am not because I'm in him so he gives me what I can't give myself

Ahermit · Jul 8, 2017

Jesus4Ever said:
Proverbs 15:29
The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayers of the righteous.
Is that to mean those who are righteous or prayers that are righteous?
In that case, does He not hear us if we're sinners?

It is like this. God is Truth and only recognizes truth. The wicked, or sinners are so because they are not behaving out of truth. The prayers of the righteous speak their truth and therefore are recognized. A sinner can become honest and pray from their truth and also be recognized. But as soon as one sins they put themselves far from the Lord (unrecognized). See Matthew 7:23

Mark51 · Jan 16, 2018

There is much misconception among professed Christians as to who may pray. In fact, most of them think that anyone may pray regarding any matter with the prospect of being heard. Compare: Psalms 11:7; 66:18, 19; Hebrews 13:18; James. 4:3; 1 Peter 3:7. “He that approaches God must believe that he is and that he becomes the rewarder of those earnestly seeking him.” (Hebrews 11:6) That is why God told the unfaithful Israelites that he was not hearing their prayers.-Isaiah 1:15; Matthew 6:5-8; Luke 18:11-14.

Furthermore, prayers must be made in the right manner: “No one comes to the Father except through me,” said Jesus. (John 14:6) Included in right manner are also sincerity, faith and perseverance. And, for prayer to be answered it must be regarding right matters, those in harmony with God’s will. Compare Matthew 6:10; 1 Kings 8:41-43.

BrotherDave · Feb 5, 2018

Jesus4Ever said:
Proverbs 15:29

The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayers of the righteous.

Is that to mean those who are righteous or prayers that are righteous?

In that case, does He not hear us if we're sinners?

God wants every person to pray often (I Thess 5:17), to worship Him and seek salvation. But as we know there are non righteous (Ro 3:10), none who truly seeks Him because we are all wicked from the womb (Ps 58:3) . Our hearts are wicked (Jer 17:9) and as stone. We are dead in sin (Col 2:13). Everyone is unrighteous (1 John 5:17).

So, who then are the righteous He hears? The righteous are the elect of God, those He saves (Matt 13:43, 25:46, Has 14:9).

God saved David but he still fell into sin by giving into the earthly desires of his unsaved physical body (Ro 8:10). God was testing David as He tests the unrighteous ((Psalm 11:5) David’s response to his sin, his acknowledgement and extreme sadness is how a saved individual should react if he falls. Pleading God for forgiveness and help. As a loving father God corrected David, but it was at great cost. However, David was never in danger of losing his salvation (John 6:37).

Now this does not mean only the saved should pray. No one knows if they are elect or not. Sincere praying from the heart and a real desire to live for God may be an indication He is drawing an individual to Himself for salvation to happen.

Anyone can go to the Lord in prayer with any request or concerns, He already knows everything about you so he cannot be “surprised”, this in itself can be comforting. But when praying we have to remember that God is not concerned with things of this world (so don't ask for riches and perfect health, world peace..). He is concerned with spiritual matters (2 Th 1:11) , most importantly the salvation of people and the advancement of His Gospel. These are prayers he answers.

The tax collector in Luke 18 is a good example of how to pray. He does not even look up but begs God in complete humility for mercy while acknowledging that he is a sinner. We also have to be patient. God has an exact timeline for everything. We must never be anxious, demanding or expecting things of God.

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