And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. (Luke 6:12)
There are two focal points in this Bible text. If you read just this verse it is about Jesus praying all night. If you read the verses that follow, it is about Jesus choosing his twelve disciples. We need to look at both points.
The Jews had places prayer called "oratories." These were more than bare spots of earth. There was an abundance of rocks so they gathered rough stones and built an enclosure on a level spot of ground, big enough for a small number people; not necessarily with a roof. They were built outside their communities where they could get away from people and pray without interruption.
Consider Acts 16:13: And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither. In Korea there are caves or grottos for prayer. Charles Finney in New York retired to the woods and would find a fallen tree or where two or three trees had fallen to make somewhat of a closure and would pray for many hours.
Almost all hospitals contain a prayer chapel and I have observed that they are used frequently. The rooms of patients are small and private and yet there is a universal need for a private place to pray. Even the NC Legislative Building has a chapel with a few nice pews in it and people did go in there to pray. Perhaps other legislative buildings have chapels including the Senate and House in Washington. I know less about those.
Many people in America say a few sentences of prayer in their cars on their way to work—not ideal but better than nothing. It's hard to concentrate on prayer while you're dodging traffic but some people are wired in such a way as to make their driving a time a private time with the Lord. Years ago I would at times drive a long time and pray. If I found a secluded spot by the road I would pull over and pray there. Sometimes prayer can be made in the living room after everyone has gone to bed or before the others get up. You can make a good chapel out of your car if it's parked in an out-of-the-way place.
Jesus gave a short but descriptive word about private prayer: But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly (Matthew 6:6). This was in contrast of what some of the religious leaders did in parading their spirituality in public (Matthew 6:5).
Jesus appears to have simply found a lonely spot on a mountain away from houses and people and poured out His heart to the Father. He did not spend every night in prayer and neither was this an unusual thing for Him.
JESUS CHOOSES THE TWELVE
Jesus prayed all night to His Father, because He was going to choose twelve men to be His apostles. Even after praying all night, one of the apostles he appointed turned out to be a traitor. Another apostle denied Him but later repented. God's men were always chosen. There are many candidates but John 15:16 says: "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you."
Now here is an humbling ray of light for preachers who think they are a hot number. But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence (1Co 1:27-29).
Sometimes preachers get too big for their britches and run Judas down just before they fall on their own faces. Preachers are made out of mud just like everyone else and if he gets too high and mighty, he may have a moral failure to match Peter who denied the Lord and even like Judas who betrayed him. It is summarized by the Apostle Paul: Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall (1Corinthians 10:12).
We are also reminded by Jesus' example that we would do well before choosing partners in business and marriage. How many marriages could have been avoided altogether if people would have prayer earnestly before launching a marriage? And how many troubled marriages could be saved if both partners would lay down their selfish wills and humble themselves before God, even all night in prayer asking for God's help? How many divorces do you think were preceded by an all—night prayer vigil by the husband and wife? I can't think of any.
It's harder to get two people to pray all night than for one to decide to pray all night. That's the problem. One can pray all night and the other one remains a devil. That's what happened when Jesus prayed all night and Judas decided to follow the devil. Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? (John 6:70) The Bible talks a lot about Jesus praying but never mentions that Judas prayed.
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