Jonathan Edwards - The Most High a Prayer Hearing God

Key Takeaways

• God's hearing of prayer involves both accepting the supplication as an offering and acting agreeably to that acceptance, often through spiritual discoveries or providential mercies.
• The Most High is eminently a prayer-hearing God because He grants free access to all, including the most vile sinners, through Christ, and delights in being sought.
• God's readiness to hear prayer is shown by answering speedily, sometimes before or while people pray, as seen in Isaiah 65:24 and Daniel's experience.
• Delays in answering prayer are not from reluctance but from God's wisdom to prepare His people or choose the fittest time for their good.
• God allows and even encourages earnest, importunate prayer that takes no denial, as illustrated by Jacob wrestling and the persistent widow parable.
• True prayer includes submitting to God's will and trusting His grace, as Hannah's example shows, where God's manifestation brought quietness and composure.
• The doctrine distinguishes the true God from false gods who cannot hear or answer, pointing to the gospel era when all flesh would come to this prayer-hearing God.