December 2 Petition Mission

“O Lord God, do not destroy Your people and Your inheritance whom You have redeemed through Your greatness, whom You have brought out of Egypt…Remember Your servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; do not look on the stubbornness of this people,…lest the land from which You brought us should say, ‘Because the Lord was not able to bring them to the land which He promised them, and because He hated them, He has brought them out to kill them…’” (Deut 9:26-29).

This prayer of Moses is a great example of advocacy, pleading others’ case by putting them in the best light. He links them with the Lord: “Your people,” “Your inheritance,” and so on. He links them with the patriarchs: “Your servants.” Then he disconnects them from their stubborn sin and shows how their enemies will gloat if they are destroyed, finally repeating the sentiments of the first plea. And these were the people who wanted to stone him! What a beautiful ministry is the prayer of advocacy! See Christ’s for us in John 17.