Abraham's Intercession: A Model for Priestly Prayer

 

Summary

In Genesis 18:16-33, we witness a profound interaction between God and Abraham, where Abraham steps into a priestly role, interceding for the city of Sodom. This passage is not just about prayer; it is about Abraham being invited to act as a legal representative for Sodom before God. This is the first recorded instance of such priestly activity in the Bible, and it sets the stage for understanding the role of a priest as a bridge between God and humanity.

Abraham's intercession is remarkable for its universality, theology, and partiality. He doesn't just pray for his family but pleads for the entire city, including the Canaanites, showing a universal concern for all people. His prayer is deeply theological, as he explores the possibility of the righteousness of a few saving the many. Abraham's boldness in approaching God with this question reveals a profound understanding of God's justice and mercy.

However, Abraham's intercession is incomplete. He stops at ten righteous people, leaving the question of whether one righteous person could save the many unanswered. This unfinished symphony points to the need for a greater high priest, which is fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Unlike Abraham, Jesus is the perfect high priest who not only prays for those who harm him but also sacrifices his life for them. Jesus' righteousness is sufficient to cover the unrighteousness of the many, offering salvation to all who believe in him.

As believers, we are called to be a royal priesthood, bridging the gap between God and humanity. This priestly role involves both intimacy with God and deep sympathy for others. However, we cannot achieve this by our own efforts. It is only by resting in the high priesthood of Jesus Christ that we can develop the prayer life and servant heart exemplified by Abraham. By embracing Jesus as our high priest, we can become Priestly communities that bring redemption to our cities.

Key Takeaways:

- The Role of a Priest: Abraham's intercession for Sodom illustrates the priestly role as a bridge between God and humanity. A priest stands in the presence of God and advocates for others, demonstrating both intimacy with God and sympathy for people. This dual grounding is essential for effective intercession. [04:38]

- Universal Concern: Abraham's prayer is remarkable for its universality. He pleads not just for his family but for the entire city, including those who are not part of his people. This reflects a deep understanding of God's love for all humanity and challenges us to broaden our intercessory prayers. [13:11]

- Theological Exploration: Abraham's dialogue with God is a profound theological exploration of God's justice and mercy. He questions whether the righteousness of a few can save the many, pointing to the possibility of corporate righteousness. This foreshadows the ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. [15:58]

- The Need for a Greater High Priest: Abraham's intercession is incomplete, highlighting the need for a greater high priest. Jesus Christ fulfills this role perfectly, offering his righteousness to cover the unrighteousness of the many. His sacrifice provides the basis for our salvation. [27:15]

- Becoming a Priestly Community: As believers, we are called to be a royal priesthood, bridging the gap between God and humanity. This involves both intimacy with God and deep sympathy for others. By resting in the high priesthood of Jesus Christ, we can develop the prayer life and servant heart needed to bring redemption to our cities. [34:33]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:12] - Introduction to Genesis 18
- [00:54] - Abraham's Intercession Begins
- [02:37] - The Role of a Priest
- [04:38] - Abraham as the First Priest
- [05:59] - The Outcry Against Sodom
- [07:47] - God's Justice and Mercy
- [09:00] - God's Invitation to Abraham
- [11:45] - Abraham's Surprising Priesthood
- [13:11] - Universal Concern in Prayer
- [15:58] - Theological Exploration of Righteousness
- [21:42] - The Question of Corporate Righteousness
- [27:15] - Jesus as the Greater High Priest
- [34:33] - Becoming a Priestly Community
- [44:14] - Conclusion and Prayer

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- Genesis 18:16-33

#### Observation Questions
1. What role does Abraham take on in his interaction with God regarding Sodom, and how is this significant in the context of the Bible? [03:35]
2. How does Abraham's approach to God in Genesis 18 demonstrate both boldness and humility? [11:17]
3. What is the significance of Abraham stopping his intercession at ten righteous people? [24:48]
4. How does the sermon describe the nature of the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah? [06:13]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does Abraham's intercession for Sodom reflect a universal concern for humanity, and what does this suggest about the nature of intercessory prayer? [13:11]
2. In what ways does Abraham's dialogue with God explore the theological concepts of justice and mercy? [15:58]
3. How does the sermon illustrate the need for a greater high priest beyond Abraham, and how is this fulfilled in Jesus Christ? [27:15]
4. What does it mean for believers to be a "royal priesthood," and how does this role involve both intimacy with God and sympathy for others? [34:33]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own prayer life. How can you develop a deeper intimacy with God similar to Abraham's? What steps can you take this week to enhance your prayer life? [36:14]
2. Abraham showed a universal concern in his prayers. How can you broaden your intercessory prayers to include those outside your immediate circle or community? [13:11]
3. Consider the concept of corporate righteousness discussed in the sermon. How does this challenge your understanding of individual versus communal responsibility in your faith journey? [21:54]
4. The sermon emphasizes the importance of resting in the high priesthood of Jesus Christ. How can you practically rest in this truth in your daily life? [39:10]
5. Identify a specific area in your life where you struggle to show sympathy or understanding. How can embracing your role as part of a "royal priesthood" help you address this challenge? [34:33]
6. Think about a situation where you need to act as a bridge between God and others. What practical steps can you take to fulfill this priestly role in your community? [33:08]
7. How can you cultivate a servant heart like Abraham's, especially towards those who may be difficult to love or understand? What is one action you can take this week to serve someone in need? [36:25]

Devotional

Day 1: The Priestly Role as a Bridge
Abraham's intercession for Sodom in Genesis 18:16-33 illustrates the priestly role as a bridge between God and humanity. A priest stands in the presence of God and advocates for others, demonstrating both intimacy with God and sympathy for people. This dual grounding is essential for effective intercession. Abraham's willingness to plead for Sodom, a city known for its wickedness, shows his deep concern for others and his understanding of God's character. His actions challenge us to consider how we can stand in the gap for others, bringing their needs before God with compassion and understanding. [04:38]

"For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness." (Hebrews 5:1-2, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life needs someone to stand in the gap for them today? How can you intercede for them in prayer, bringing their needs before God with compassion and understanding?


Day 2: Universal Concern in Prayer
Abraham's prayer is remarkable for its universality. He pleads not just for his family but for the entire city, including those who are not part of his people. This reflects a deep understanding of God's love for all humanity and challenges us to broaden our intercessory prayers. Abraham's example encourages us to look beyond our immediate circles and consider the needs of those who may be different from us, recognizing that God's love extends to all people. As we pray, we are invited to embrace a broader vision of God's kingdom, one that includes every tribe, tongue, and nation. [13:11]

"Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart." (Zechariah 7:9-10, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a group or community outside your immediate circle. How can you intentionally include them in your prayers this week, asking God to show His love and mercy to them?


Day 3: Theological Exploration of Righteousness
Abraham's dialogue with God is a profound theological exploration of God's justice and mercy. He questions whether the righteousness of a few can save the many, pointing to the possibility of corporate righteousness. This foreshadows the ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, whose righteousness is sufficient to cover the unrighteousness of the many. Abraham's boldness in approaching God with these questions reveals a deep understanding of God's character and invites us to explore the depths of God's justice and mercy in our own lives. [15:58]

"Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord." (Jeremiah 9:23-24, ESV)

Reflection: How do you perceive God's justice and mercy in your life? What steps can you take to deepen your understanding of these attributes of God?


Day 4: The Need for a Greater High Priest
Abraham's intercession is incomplete, highlighting the need for a greater high priest. Jesus Christ fulfills this role perfectly, offering his righteousness to cover the unrighteousness of the many. His sacrifice provides the basis for our salvation, demonstrating the ultimate act of intercession. Unlike Abraham, Jesus not only prays for those who harm him but also sacrifices his life for them. This profound act of love and mercy invites us to rest in the high priesthood of Jesus, trusting in his righteousness and sacrifice for our salvation. [27:15]

"For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself." (Hebrews 7:26-27, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways do you rely on your own efforts for righteousness? How can you more fully rest in the high priesthood of Jesus, trusting in His sacrifice for your salvation?


Day 5: Becoming a Priestly Community
As believers, we are called to be a royal priesthood, bridging the gap between God and humanity. This involves both intimacy with God and deep sympathy for others. By resting in the high priesthood of Jesus Christ, we can develop the prayer life and servant heart needed to bring redemption to our cities. Embracing our role as a priestly community means actively seeking ways to serve and intercede for those around us, reflecting God's love and mercy in tangible ways. As we do so, we participate in God's redemptive work, bringing hope and healing to our communities. [34:33]

"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." (1 Peter 2:9, ESV)

Reflection: What specific actions can you take this week to serve and intercede for your community, reflecting God's love and mercy in tangible ways? How can you encourage others to join you in this priestly work?

Quotes

Abraham's intercession is remarkable for its universality, theology, and partiality. He doesn't just pray for his family but pleads for the entire city, including the Canaanites, showing a universal concern for all people. His prayer is deeply theological, as he explores the possibility of the righteousness of a few saving the many. [00:12:37]

Abraham is not just praying; he is priesting. He has been invited to be the legal representative of a particular city before the almighty God. This is the first example, the first case study of Priestly activity. We're going to learn here about the first priest, the great priest, and the new priest. [00:03:38]

God invites Abraham to step forward and intervene. What's intriguing is that God invites the intervention and interaction with Abraham in three ways. He sends the other two away so that he and Abraham are totally alone, inviting him to open and talk. God is treating us as people, individuals, persons that he wants interaction with. [00:08:38]

Abraham's prayer is like an unfinished symphony. It gets right up to the climax, and then he stops. We're waiting for Abraham to say, "Lord God, would you save for one?" But he doesn't do it. He goes home at ten. Abraham discovered a principle, but he couldn't walk it himself. [00:24:52]

Abraham discovered the principle that the righteousness of someone else can save me. Abraham discovered that principle, but Jesus Christ executed the principle. Jesus Christ came to Earth and on the night before he died, he gave the Great High Priestly prayer, saying, "Father, I want you to love them as even as you love me." [00:28:38]

The Bible says that priestliness, that access to the presence of God, and that ability to minister and serve people, which once was only for the elites, is now the calling in the office of every single Christian believer. We are called to be a royal priesthood, bridging the gap between God and humanity. [00:34:33]

The only way you're going to become like Abraham is if first you believe in the one to whom Abraham points. You'll never be like Abraham unless you rest in and believe in the one whom Abraham points. All failures to be like Abraham stem from a failure to truly believe in the one to whom Abraham points. [00:37:36]

If Jesus Christ is not just your example or your helper but your high priest, in yourself you are deeply flawed; in him, you are completely righteous at the same time. That leads to a counter-intuitive combination of boldness and humility that no other spiritual condition can create. [00:39:56]

The intimacy that you see in prayer comes because Abraham has some grasp of the Gospel, and you have far more information than Abraham had. If Jesus Christ is your high priest, you can have that kind of prayer life. On the other hand, where does the servant heart come from? [00:40:19]

If in the high priest you are utterly flawed, that makes you so humble that you can't feel superior to anyone. But if in Jesus Christ your high priest, you're completely righteous and loved, that means you can feel inferior to nobody. Anybody that you are ticked at or angry at, it's because you are not recognizing Jesus Christ as your high priest. [00:40:35]

Little communities, even ten, in a big city like New York, little communities of people that have that kind of joy in their heart, that kind of access to God, that kind of intercessory prayer for their friends and neighbors, that kind of sympathy and service, servant heart to the people around them, that'll redeem cities. [00:42:59]

Father, we thank you that Jesus Christ is our high priest, and because he's our high priest, we can become a priestly people. What great blessing we can bring to the folks around us if we live that way, if we understand his priesthood for us, we can be priests to others. [00:43:23]

Chatbot

  • I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from Aug 10, 2015. Do you have any questions about it?

Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?