SECOND QUARTER 2026
SABBATH SCHOOL INSIGHT #6
MAY 9, 2026
"PRAYER WARRIORS".

 

“Let Your work appear to Your servants, And Your glory to their children. And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us, And establish the work of our hands for us; Yes, establish the work of our hands” (Psalm 90:16,17, NKJV).

This text is the part of the prayer of Moses found in Psalm 90. Note that his prayer in Exodus 33:18, “Please, show me Your glory,” is reflected here. 

Here we are in the middle of this cosmic battle, warriors for the cause of God. Our work is difficult. But as we are told, “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:4,5). Prayer is our request to see God’s glory and beauty revealed, as well as His work in us, for us and our children, calling upon the mightiest of prayer warriors in this battle, Jesus.

Is prayer not therefore the mightiest weapon? The prophecies of Daniel are by and large answers to prayer. And Daniel understood that even though the promise was that “the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times,” prayer was needed for the prophecy to be fulfilled.

The situation was this: The Jews had the decree of Cyrus to sustain them in all that they were doing. The Samaritans knew that it was vain to try to get that decree reversed while Cyrus lived. But the funds for the building work must all pass through the imperial treasury. These hired counsellors were officials of the court and council of Cyrus, and they accepted from the Samaritans bribes to be on the watch for the affairs concerning Jerusalem, and block every procedure possible. They could hold back the supply of funds; they could delay the official applications for funds; by empty technicalities they could force tedious correspondence and delay in reports; they could prevent correspondence and even messengers from reaching Cyrus, or even Daniel;—in a thousand ways they could frustrate the purpose of the builders at Jerusalem.

Daniel was still prime minister at the court of Persia, and it was not a great while before he discovered that the work in Jerusalem was being hindered, and his own efforts hampered in the court of Cyrus, by influences and actions so subtle that it was impossible definitely to expose or successfully to check them. This caused him great and anxious concern for the work of God. Yet he spent no time in attempting to arrange, or to carry on any counter-intrigue; he appealed direct to God.

By those hired counsellors, the Samaritans had got their schemes to working at the court of Cyrus in the latter part of the second year of Cyrus. On the third day of the first month of the third year of Cyrus, Daniel began his appeal to God in fasting and mourning and prayer. This he continued three full weeks, before he was positively informed that his appeal was heard. Yet his appear was heard, the very first day. But the adverse influences at the Persian court were so strong that Gabriel dared not leave the presence of the king. And these adverse influences were just then so determined and so persistent that every possible thing was done, every conceivable device was employed, and every moment of the time was occupied, during the whole of that three weeks, in the endeavour to turn Cyrus from his true course and to frustrate the purpose of God concerning Jerusalem. To defeat the subtle devices and continued efforts of the enemy, Gabriel must be ever watchful. He continued thus three full weeks. Daniel continued his earnest praying. Still the angel could not leave the presence of the king. Yet Daniel's prayer must be answered by Gabriel in person. It was a crisis in the cause of God in the earth. Then Michael, the first of the heavenly princes, came to help him. This secured victory; the enemy's siege was broken, and Gabriel went to Daniel by the river Tigris. 

His own words in explanation of the three weeks delay are these: "Fear not, Daniel; for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia, withstood me one and twenty days; but, lo, Michael, the first of the princes, came to help me; and I kept the victory with the kings of Persia. Now I am come to make thee know what shall befall thy people in the latter days; for the vision is yet for many days. . . Knowest thou why I am come unto thee? And now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia. . . . But I will show thee that which is noted in the Scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things but Michael your prince." Dan. x. 2-4, 12, 13, 20, 21. Verse 12, margin, and Luther's Translation. 

Thus, through prayer and faithfulness to God, Daniel and his people were victorious against all the machinations of Satan and his instrumentalities. And so shall it ever be. The heavenly agencies are always ready to co-operate with the faithful ones of earth to-day, as in the days of Daniel, Jeshua, Zerubbabel, and their companions. Prayer to God, that obtains the co-operation of heavenly messengers, is even to-day worth infinitely more in securing the co-operation or restraint of the powers of earth, than could be all the political wire-pulling and lobbying that could ever be employed. The hearts of kings are in the hand of the Lord, and only He can move them right.— A. T. Jones, Present Truth UK, September 4, 1902, pp. 565-566. 

I would propose that this is true in the church as well. We believe the sanctuary will be cleansed (based on the 2300 years of which the 490 years were detailed). It is frustrating to see trouble in the church (and in us) delaying God’s purposes. But if more of us become prayer warriors like Daniel rather than internet or social media warriors, imagine what things God will do! Yes, the “appointed time [is] long” (Daniel 10:1). We have reason to pray the prayer of corporate repentance of Daniel in chapter 9.

Whatever our physical posture in prayer, the most important posture is that of our mind and heart. Certainly kneeling can reflect our reverence and submission, but prayer can and should be ubiquitous in our lives. We have a brief summary of Enoch’s life, but it is clear that he “prayed without ceasing” as he walked with God, communing throughout the day. He, like Moses and Daniel, was a friend of God.

Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend. Not that it is   necessary in order to make known to God what we are, but in order to enable us to receive Him. Prayer does not bring God down to us, but brings us up to Him. When Jesus was upon the earth, He taught His disciples how to pray. He directed them to present their daily needs before God, and to cast all their care upon Him. And the assurance He gave them that their petitions should be heard, is assurance also to us.

 Jesus Himself, while He dwelt among men, was often in prayer. Our Saviour identified Himself with our needs and weakness, in that He became a suppliant, a petitioner, seeking from His Father fresh supplies of strength, that He might come forth braced for duty and trial. He is our example in all things. He is a brother in our infirmities, "in all points tempted like as we are;" but as the sinless one His nature recoiled from evil; He endured struggles and torture of soul in a world of sin. His humanity made prayer a necessity and a privilege. He found comfort and joy in communion with His Father. And if the Saviour of men, the Son of God, felt the need of prayer, how much more should feeble, sinful mortals feel the necessity of fervent, constant prayer.  {SC 93.4}   —Ellen G. White, Steps to Christ, p. 93,94.

The purpose of prayer is not so much to bring God close to us, but to make us aware of how close He already is, and to enlist His direction and help, to experience his indwelling, especially at this time in earth’s history.

Never are we absent from the mind of God. God is our joy and our salvation. Each of the ancient prophets spoke less for their own time than for ours, so that their prophesying is in force for us. "Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come" (1 Corinthians 10:11). "Not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into" (1 Peter 1:12).

The Bible has been your study-book. It is well thus, for it is the true counsel of God, and it is the conductor of all the holy influences that the world has contained since its creation. We have the encouraging record that Enoch walked with God. If Enoch walked with God, in that degenerate age just prior to the destruction of the world by a flood, we are to receive courage and be stimulated with his example that we need not be contaminated with the world but, amid all its corrupting influences and tendencies, we may walk with God. We may have the mind of Christ. —Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, Vol. 3, p. 338.

On April 14 the study guide touched on the humility of Moses. His humility mirrors that of Christ in Philippians 2, as Moses is willing to be blotted out from the book of life to save the people he is tasked with leading to the promised land. Because his glory had been humbled in the dust of Midian, he could more clearly God’s character revealed in grace and mercy, and earnestly pray for a clearer view of God’s glory. His prayers in Exodus 32-34 are a beautiful example to us, as discussed in this week’s lesson. 

Moses’ prayers were not always of this exemplary character. Nevertheless God was merciful and graciously answered even his more self-centered prayer.

…Moses, himself, came very near distrusting the Lord. Even in his perfect physical strength and vigorous intellect he was staggering under the weight of responsibility, made so much heavier by the wicked complaints of the people. The burden seemed almost insupportable. Did not Moses at this time regret that he had not consented to have Israel destroyed, and himself made a great nation? Such temptations troubled him. It grieved him sorely to have them direct their complaints against him, as if every supposed deprivation was chargeable to him. And this was the very people for whom he had prayed that his name might be blotted out of the book of life rather than that they should be destroyed. He had imperiled all for them, and here was their response. His heart sunk within him; but he turned to the only One who could help him in his trouble. His was a prayer which was almost a complaint. "Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favor in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?" "Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh that we may eat. I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me. And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favor in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness.”

This prayer does not do honor to Moses, who had seen so much of the power of God. The burdens of care had overtaxed him. He could have borne them all had the people stood by him; but he knew that their perverseness would only be quelled by the display of God's wrath, and he preferred death rather than to see Israel disgraced and their enemies triumph. The Lord heard the prayer of his servant, and the answer came, strong and positive, directing him to gather before him seventy men, whom he knew to be elders in Israel,--men not only advanced in years, but possessing dignity, sound judgment, and experience, and who were qualified to be judges or officers. "And bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee. And I will come down and talk with thee there; and I will take of the Spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone.”—Ellen G. White, Signs of the Times,  August 12, 1880.

We should be encouraged to pray. “If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself” ( 2 Timothy 2:13).

God’s grace and mercy extends even to our prayers. Ellen White writes it so beautifully:

The religious services, the prayers, the praise, the penitent confession of sin ascend from true believers as incense to the heavenly sanctuary, but passing through the corrupt channels of humanity, they are so defiled that unless purified by blood, they can never be of value with God. They ascend not in spotless purity, and unless the Intercessor, who is at God’s right hand, presents and purifies all by His righteousness, it is not acceptable to God. All incense from earthly tabernacles must be moist with the cleansing drops of the blood of Christ. He holds before the Father the censer of His own merits, in which there is no taint of earthly corruption. He gathers into this censer the prayers, the praise, and the confessions of His people, and with these He puts His own spotless righteousness. Then, perfumed with the merits of Christ’s propitiation, the incense comes up before God wholly and entirely acceptable. Then gracious answers are returned.—Selected Messages, Book 1, p. 344.

As the sinner's sincere, humble prayers ascend to the throne of God, Christ mingles with them the merits of his life of perfect obedience. Our prayers are made fragrant by this incense. Christ has pledged himself to intercede in our behalf, and the Father always hears his Son. Pray then; pray without ceasing; an answer is sure to come.—Review and Herald, October 30, 1900.

Pray, pray, pray!

 

—Todd Guthrie