The Lord Answered Not

We are often told that God always answers prayers, sometimes the answer is "yes", sometimes the answer is "no", and sometimes the immediate answer is "wait". Well, I was researching times when God said "no" to someone in the Bible (see two posts back) and I came across a curious thing. The verse said "the Lord answered him not". Not only did it plainly say that, but it continued to list the manners in which the Lord never answered. I was astounded, still am.

And when Saul enquired of the LORD,

the LORD answered him not,

neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

1 Samuel 28:6

I began to research how many other times the Lord did not give an answer. These were the verses I found.

Mic 3:7 "Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diviners confounded: yea, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer of God."

Joh 19:9 "And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer."

Mat 15:22-23 "And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word."

Now, these seem strange to me, but before worrying about whether God will answer, I decided to look at why the Bible indicated that God did not answer, with interesting results.

Matthew 15 is perhaps the most startling, but again we are reminded that context is so important. In verses 22-23, the poor woman cries out to the Lord and it seems that he refuses to answer, our hearts fail at the thought. Then the disciples are mean. But I love the following verse 28, it is so warm you can almost feel it. He did answer, and what an answer. I think perhaps this is one of the most powerful examples of "wait". It's not as suspenseful as Ruth's "wait".

"Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall" Ruth 3:18

Nor, is it as long as Israel's "wait".

"For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon

I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you,

in causing you to return to this place." Jer 29:10

But how heart rendering it must have been in those few minuets when the woman called out to the Lord and visibly saw him silent, and on top of it the disciples are mean. But, in the end her request is granted and the Lord commends her.

"Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith:

be it unto thee even as thou wilt." Matthew 15:28

Secondly, the verse in John 19, Pilate in the judgement hall demands an answer of Christ, and he answers him not a word. But the answer is very apparent, and the Lord answers the next question that Pilate asks.

And the in Micah 3:7, the seers and diviners can't give an answer from the Lord. But that is not so much the Lord being silent, but rather the seers and diviners are not able to proclaim God's words.

Then there is Saul. Why did the Lord not answer Saul? Saul was the king of Israel and the Lord had spoken to him before, but this time the Lord answered him not. Saul tried everything to get an answer and still nothing. Why? I think the answer is very simple. Saul refused to obey the Lord.

You see, previously in Saul's life there had been another time when the Lord did not answer Saul. Because of sin.

"And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines?

wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel?

But He answered him not that day.

And Saul said,

Draw ye near hither, all the chief of the people:

and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day"

1Sam 14:37-38

I am wondering what the significance of this was, and it seems Saul's sin very serious. Saul repeatedly disobeyed.

So back to 1 Samuel chapter 28, after not receiving an answer Saul went to a witch (yes, thats what it says) and called up Samuel the prophet, who was dead (yes, that is what it says).

"And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams...Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy? ...Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD...therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day. " Samuel 15:16-18

So, I think we can with confidence expect the Lord to answer our prayers, because it seems Saul had made the Lord his enemy. But, its a solemn thought of what sin can do in a persons life.

Anyways, a rather random post, but to leave on a nicer thought. There is another time when God did not answer and it was to our greatest benefit: the salvation of our souls.

"About the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying,

Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say,

My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"

Are you not glad that God did not answer Christ?

For in those three dark hours God's wrath was poured out upon His Son for us.

I am truly amazed.