"MORNING PRAYER"
"And Abraham gat up early in the Morning to the place
where he stood before the LORD"

There are a lot of diverse subjective teachings on the discipline and times when one should pray.  So often ministers preach their convictions or experiences regarding a subject without understanding the extent of their influence.  Words are seed.  If one takes root in a prepared heart it will grow up and produce after its kind.   When we teach or speak in the stead of God after our own beliefs or the beliefs of others without studying the subject for ourselves, we may be planting seeds in the hearts of others that are detrimental to their walk with God.  We can always find scriptures that agree with our perspective, but the Word teaches us to seek and to search Him and His ways.

One morning after teaching Morning Prayer to a congregation, and elderly lady approached me.  She said, “I have always believed in Morning Prayer.  But some time ago a preacher came through and told us that we didn’t have to be so structured in prayer and seemingly shared scriptures such as, “David communed with God on his bed” as proof text that structured Morning Prayer was not necessary.”  She further went on to share how after that time, her Morning Prayer life diminished until now.  I had a similar experience and you may have had such too.

We are living in a day that even for the most learned and prayerful among us are subject to teaching that is contrary to the ways of God.  And given that we live amongst ideologies that seem harmless, but are truly God-less we must be careful to search the scriptures for ourselves.  A man or woman of God should also teach and preach “the Word” and not our own personal convictions or lifestyle experiences unless they flow into the Word of God.

As I continue to pursue God and His ways, I am becoming increasingly convinced that God is a God of order and discipline.  Although His ways are not our ways, he is very structured and works according to principle.   Even the leading of His Spirit works within the confines of His Principles.  Therefore, it behooves us, as the people of God, to understand His principles and teach them in accordance to the leading of His Spirit.

So, let me ask you, “What is significant about Morning Prayer and Why should you personally take the time to prayer in the morning?

In the Hebrew language the word “Boker” is “Morning.”  It means, “dawn, break of day, early, morning.”  It comes from the root word “Bakar” which means, “to plough, to break forth, to inspect, admire, care for, consider:—to make inquiry, to search, to seek out.” Bakar is also is the name of an Oxen type animal.

The three consonants used in the word “Bakar and Boker” are B, K and R.  There is an acronym that accompanies these three letters that can be applied to Morning Prayer.  It is:

• B stands for Ba’yit.  Ba’yit in Hebrew means, “House.”
• K stands for Kadosh.  Kadosh in Hebrew is, “Holy.”
• R stands for Ra’eh.  Ra’eh means, “Sight.”

Could it be that when we meet with God in the Morning and make our earthly temple and the House of God a “house of prayer” that we see God’s Holiness?  God said that, “His house shall be called a House of Prayer for all nations.”  Could it be that those who arise in the morning to enter into His House will taste of His Holiness and leave seeing through His eyes?”  Jesus said, “I only do that which I see the Father do.”   As believers for us to enter into the “works of the LORD” we must first learn to “see what the Father (Sprit) is doing.”  When do we learn to see?  When we seek Him in the Morning.

Morning is not daytime.  It is separate and distinct from what is considered as the day. Although Morning is part of the day, it is the transitional time from darkness into light.  Morning is usually divided into three time periods:  Early Morning 3:00-6:00AM, Morning—6:00AM-9:00AM and Late Morning 9:00AM to 12:00PM.

Throughout the scriptures the word Boker is used when describing the time period when prayer, sacrifice, obedience and work were initiated.  From Abraham to the Apostles we find the same pattern of rising early in the morning.

When and where was Morning Prayer instituted? The Rabbi’s teach us that it was Abraham who instituted Morning Prayer. Abraham rose early in the morning to stand before the LORD, thus Abraham initiated Morning Prayer.  In addition, the Patriarch’s prayed where they built their altars and then they pitched their tents next to their altars.

To understand the word Boker (Morning), let us first examine the word “dawn” a specific term used when defining morning.  Let’s use the following passages in conjunction with their Strong’s reference number.  Dawn: Mt. 28:1—2020, 2 Peter 1:19—1306, Josh 6:15—5927, Jg 19:26—6437, Job 7:4—5399, Psalm 119:147—5399.

Let us begin with the scriptures in the Tanakh (Old Covenant) and work our way to the Brit Chadasha (New Covenant). 

Joshua 6:12 & 15 says, “And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD…And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day….” In this scripture the word “Dawning” in Hebrew is “Alah.” “Alah” means,  “to ascend (be high) or act.”  To rise up, arise, raise, restore, recover, scale, set up, shoot forth, spring up, stir up, take away (up), work.  Burnt offering.”

It is interesting to note that there is an association between “Dawning” and “Burnt Offering.”  What could a Burnt Offering have to do with Morning Prayer?  Throughout the Torah we find the Patriarchs rising early to offer up sacrifices before God.  It seemed that sacrifice and prayer went hand in hand.  On the way to Egypt Jacob (Israel) stopped in Beer Sheva and offered up sacrifices upon the Altar that his fathers built.  His purpose was to seek assurance from God that he was in His will going down into Egypt.  You may recall that his father Isaac desired to go down to Egypt during famine and God forbade him.  That evening God appeared to Jacob in a dream and assured him that he was in His Will and that He would be with Jacob in Egypt.  Hence, the altar of sacrifice secured Jacob’s assurance and favor from God necessary to move ahead.

Exodus 29:38-42 teaches us that a lamb was to be offered both morning and evening as a brunt sacrifice day by day.  It was to be a continual offering.  The only exception was that the fat and the kidneys could not remain until morning.  This teaches us that a sacrifice has to be renewed daily.  The Fat symbolically represents the choicest-richest part of the animal.

It was the Levitical Priests that offered these sacrifices unto the LORD.  A main purpose of the Levitical laws was to free the whole conception of sacrifice from all heathen associations. This made it necessary to clearly indicate Who was to be the sole object of devotion. The Name of God largely used in Leviticus is Adonai (LORD—Y-H-V-H), the Deliverer and Guardian of Israel, and not Elohim, the term for ‘God’ used by non-Israelites.

In Exodus chapter 40:15 God called Israel to be a nation of Priests.  In 1st Peter 2:5 the church is likened unto a lively stone, as our LORD and Savior:  A stone disallowed by men but chosen of God.  “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus the Messiah.  Our Messiah is the High Priest and has an unchanging Priesthood.  In other words, he will always be the High Priest.  Verse 9 reads, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:  Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God:  which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.  Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.  Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles...”  (1 Peter 4:1-2)

The Hebrew word for sacrifice is “Korban.”  Notice that the word “Korban” possesses the same three letters as in the Hebrew word “Boker”---KBR.  “Korban” means, “that which is brought near to God.” 

The burnt offering embodied the idea of the submission of the worshipper to the will of God in its most perfect form, as an entire animal was placed upon the Altar to be burned.  The Hebrew word for burnt offering is “Olah.” It signifies that which ascends, symbolizing the ascent of the soul in worship.  By making an offering that ascends to heaven, the one who offers it is expressing his own desire to ascend to Heaven.  He is devoting himself entirely to God and His service.

The burnt offering was not only offered by individuals spontaneously as they felt their need to draw near to God, but also daily, as noted above, in the name of the community (Exodus 29:38-42).

Along with the Burnt Sacrifice, a lamb for the Sin Offering was also offered both morning and evening.  Its’ meaning is, “something that will purge, purify, and wash away sin.” The sin offering symbolically represents the “sorrow a man has at having erred from the ways of God and his resolve to be reconciled to God Repentance is a lifestyle; a constant acknowledgement of our sins before God.  In II Corinthians 7:10, Paul speaks of  “godly sorrow” that works repentance to salvation not to be repented.  This godly sorrow that Paul speaks of works “a repentance in ones life that produces a resolve to be reconciled with God and to never turn away.”  Therefore, as we place ourselves upon the altar early in the morning, we also allow the humility of “godly sorrow” to work in our hearts a work of repentance.

It is interesting to note that the sin offering not only applied to any one, but also to the High Priest.  The High Priest was the teacher and leader of his community.  Consequently any error he committed would tend to “bring guilt on the people.”  After making the Sin-Offering upon the Brazen Altar, the High Priest would take its blood and ascend to the Golden Altar also known as the Altar of Incense.  He would place the blood of the sacrifice upon the horns of this Altar.  These horns were the corner pieces rising upwards.  Their significance lay in the fact that they pointed heavenward; and the application of the blood to these horns directed the thoughts of the sinner to God.   An error on the part of the High Priest could easily result in the entire community going astray.  As the High Priest is himself one of those who has to be reconciled to God, he cannot, therefore, partake of the sacrifice.  The holy meat had to be destroyed by fire outside the camp, in a place free from ceremonial defilement.

Today, it is equally as important for the ministry to offer itself every morning before God, as it was the High Priest.  We need the throne of God’s grace as much, if not more, as all saints and sinners.  The principal of sin in leadership causing the entire community to become estranged from God is not one to be taken lightly.  Most likely all of you, at one time or another, have seen this scenario; be it in ministry or government.

Another offering is known as the Peace Offering.  Peace Offering in Hebrew is “Zebach Shelamim.”  This was a “thanksgiving offering.”  A sacrifice made in fulfillment of a vow, or in gratitude for benefits received or expected.  Its purpose was for man to “make peace with his creator.”  In the Peace Offering there was inherent a feeling of joyousness, such as is felt in celebrating a happy occasion.  A small part of the sacrifice was burnt upon the Altar and it was accompanied by the meal offering.  It promoted the feeling of solidarity in the nation of Israel or the individual family, and it also pointed to dependence upon God for protection and for all the blessings of life.

Today, when we fulfill vows that we make to God, there is a tremendous sense of accomplishment coupled with a peace in our hearts.  This is also true from God’s perspective.  Have you experienced God’s joy when you have overcome a particular temptation or accomplished His will?  It is during these times, that we must offer up a spiritual sacrifice of thanksgiving and acknowledgement to God that He alone was the source of your strength and the enabler of your accomplishment.  Jesus himself thanked the father acknowledging him continually for the “works” that he was able to do.

The Meal Offering in Hebrew is called “Minchah.”  The afternoon prayer service in the Temple is also called, “Minchah.”  There is a commentary in the Talmud that resounds with insight into this particular offering. “Only a very poor man would bring a meal-offering instead of an animal or birds; and God views his sacrifice as though he had offered his very soul.”   There is a similar observation told by Jesus: The story of the widow woman with two mites.  “As Jesus sat over against the treasury, he beheld how the people cast their money into the treasury: And many who were rich cast in much.  Then there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites.  Upon seeing this Jesus called his disciples and told them that, ‘this poor widow has cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:  for all they did cast in was of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.’”

The Meal Offering did not involve the slaughtering of an animal, but on that account it was not less ancient or important.  Originally the term Minchah was used in a wider sense and embraced an offering made to God, whether animal or meal; Gen 9:3.  The Meal Offering could not contain any leaven or honey (rising agent).  The two constituent parts of this offering were flour and oil.  Oil in the scriptures is used for sanctification—the process of separation unto God.  Flour and oil, although they are common articles of food, they are not natural products.  They are obtained as the result of hard work (toil).  Symbolically, it typified the consecration of man’s work to the service of God.

Why wouldn’t God accept a meal offering with leaven or honey? Leaven was regarded as the symbol of fermentation and corruption; and man’s tendency to sin was later viewed as a process of moral fermentation.  Honey was deemed in health cults a favorite food of the gods, and its prohibition was intended to free the mind of the Israelite from any degrading notion that sacrifices might be the food of God.

Although leaven and honey could not accompany a Meal Offering, salt was to accompany every Meal Offering.  Why salt?  Salt prevents putrefaction while leaven and honey produce it.  Salt is a preservative, and typifies that which is abiding; “an everlasting covenant of salt.”  (Numbers 18:19)  Among most ancient peoples salt was a sign of friendship ‘to eat salt together.’

Even though we pray in the Morning, it is important to renew our consecration to God’s service in the afternoon, as well as evening.  When we renew our consecration through daily afternoon prayer, we are bringing to our remembrance, “ why we exist—to serve God.”  Oftentimes, the demanding pressures of our jobs, household responsibilities, and relationships cause us to forget our purpose.  Man takes great pride in his labor (which he should) and the work of his hands.  Such pride also, if not kept in check, can cause his heart to be lifted up and forget the One who gave him the ability, strength, intellect and resources to work.  This may be why King David and Daniel were both men after the heart of God and dearly beloved; they knew how to bow their hearts and their knees to God every day at the noon hour.

One of the most dramatic offerings was the Congregational Offering.  Daily the Jewish Community gathered together to pray, both men and women.  The Congregational Offering shows forth a vital lesson of interdependence of all members of the congregation as a sacred Brotherhood.  It kept alive the consciousness of Sin and the need for reconciliation with God in the nation.

Now, let’s continue with our story of Joshua and the Children of Israel ascending up to Jerusalem.  The word “Alah” is the root word of a term used by Jewish people returning to live in the land of Israel, “Aliyah.”  The first city that they were to conquer was Jericho.

In Judges 19:25-26 we read, “But the men would not hearken to him: so the man took his concubine, and brought her forth unto them: and they knew her, and abused her all the night until the morning: and when the day began to spring, they let her go.  Then came the woman in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the man’s house where her lord was, till it was light.”

Here the word “Dawning” in Hebrew is “Panah”—to turn; to face, i.e. appear, look etc.  To behold, empty, cast out, regard and respect.”

In this very heartbreaking story, the men who raped the concubine (man’s wife) fled at the break of dawn.  The content of the story contains some very valuable insights about the morning.  Evil works in darkness.  Evening always proceeds the morning and dawn is that moment when darkness transitions into light until light breaks forth.  Evil cannot work in the light because of its deeds being exposed.  Evening consists of four watches: 6:00-9:00 PM, 9:00-12:00 PM, 12:00-3:00 AM and 3:00-6:00AM.  The day consists of 12 hours and during Temple times three sacrifices coupled with prayer—The morning sacrifice and prayer 5:00-10:00 AM, The afternoon sacrifice and prayer 12:00-3:00 PM and the Evening Sacrifice and prayer 5:00-8:00 PM.

Job 7:4, “When I lie down, I say, when shall I arise, and the night be gone?  And I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.”

• Dawning:  Nashaph—“to breeze, i.e   blow up fresh (as the wind):  blow, a breeze, dusk, dark, dawning of the day.”

Psalm 119:147, “I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried:  I hoped in thy word.  Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in your word.” (Same definition as above)

Matthew 28:1, “In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher.  And behold there was a great earthquake:  for the angel of the LORD descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.”

• Dawn:  To begin to grow light:--begin to dawn.  To illuminate—give light.

2 Peter 1:19, “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto you do well that you take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:  knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.”

• Dawn:  To glimmer through, break, day, the channel of an act and to beam forth—shine.

Dawn:

• Time between the end of night and the beginning of day.
• Time of Burnt Sacrifice:  Represents “An individuals self-surrender to G-d’s will.” Romans 12:1-2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God. That you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world:  but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
• Time of Beholding—Looking unto the author and Finisher of your faith
• Time of reverence—The Fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom
• Time of shooting forth—O Mountains of Israel Shoot forth thy branches
• Time of Springing Up—Spring up O well
• Time of Stirring Up—Stir up the gift that is within you
• Time of Illumination—The Spirit knoweth what is the Will of God/Reveal his Son in Me
• Time to Rise Up—Arise Shine for the glory of the LORD is come
• Time of the Day Star Arising—Until the Day Star arise in Your heart
• Time of the Breath of God—Breath upon me a fresh and a new

In Summary:
Morning is a Time of Beholding—looking up:  Our Father who art in Heaven Hallowed be thy name.  Bless the LORD O my soul, and all that is within in me, bless his holy name.  I will lift up my eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help;  my help cometh from the LORD maker of heaven and earth.
 
Morning is a time to Plough:  In ancient times plowing was done with two oxen.  You were not allowed to plough with an Oxen and an Ass together.  When yoking two Oxen together the farmer chose one strong oxen and yoked it with a weaker oxen.  A farmer always arose early before the heat of the day to begin ploughing the field and sowing seed.  Jesus also arose early to offer himself daily to the Father.  He teaches us to  “come unto him and to take upon ourselves his yoke for he is meek and lowly and his yoke is easy and his burden is light.”  The Apostle Paul understood the importance of this yoke when he said, “His grace is sufficient for me, for when I am weak then is he strong.” Furthermore he said, “I delight in my infirmities that the power of Messiah may rest upon me.” 

• 1 Corinthians 9:9-10, “For it is written of the Law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn.  Doth God take care for the oxen?  Or saith he it altogether for our sakes?  For our sakes, no doubt, this is written:  that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.”
  
  
• Luke 9:62, “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Morning is a time of Inspection:  “For if we confess our sin he is faithful to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us of all unrighteousness.”  Paul said, “If I judge myself, I will not be judged.”  When you stand praying “Forgive.”  “Cleanse your hands ye sinners and purify your hearts ye double minded.”
 
Morning is a Time of Dieing:  In addition to taking upon himself the yoke of God every morning, Paul also died daily.  Every morning during the time of the Burnt offering, Paul presented his body as a living sacrifice before God—surrendering to God’s will.
 
Morning is a Time of Sowing:  “In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thy hand:  for you knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike.  Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eye to behold the sun.”
 
Morning is a Time of Seeking:  “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.”  “Ask and you shall receive, Seek and you shall find, knock and the door shall be opened unto you.”  “You shall find me when you shall seek me with all of your heart.”  
 
Morning is a Time to Search:  Search the scriptures for these are they, which testify of me.” “Yea if you cry after knowledge and lift up you voice for understanding; if you seek her as silver and search for her as for hid treasures; then shall you understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.”
 
Morning is a Time to Break Forth:  “Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations:  spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; for you shall break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.”  “He shall break forth into Singing.”