On Supplication

And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. 

Matthew 15 : 7 

Supplication is a deeper dimension of prayer. It is resolving to stand in the place of prayer in a very dogged, cause-pleading, fervent, heartfelt, earnest, yet submissive and humble manner until you get the answer you are looking for. It is an entreating and unyielding way of making request to God with all sincerity of heart, backed up up with tangible reasons from the Scripture. Supplication does not let go till it get what it asks. 

The opening scripture is the heartfelt plea of a woman in that position and desperately needed an answer and won't go until she gets it. Matthew 15: 21-28 tells this amazing story thus : Jesus was within the area of Tyre and Sidon, and this woman came crying in the most pleading manner she could muster, explaining the predicament of her daughter and requesting healing from Jesus. Surprisingly, Jesus did not answer her one word! Jesus, the almighty, compassionate and liberal healer refused to answer her. Now, that could be quite disheartening but she still pressed on even with the silent treatment from the ultimate healer, to the point where it started getting embarrassing. Then, the disciples asked Jesus to send her away so that she could stop bugging them. Even at that point, Jesus still didn't look her way; instead he turned to his disciples and said, 'I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel'. She was not a jew, she was Greek, so she wasn't qualified. 

While still dealing with that stigmatization and to make matters worse, on approaching closer to him in pleas, Jesus dealt the second blow, and said to her, it is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to the dogs. Dogs!!! According to Jesus, she belonged to the dog-category.This is quite an uncomfortable position to be in, yet it didn't deter her; it rather fueled her determination the more. And her next response made Jesus to bend a rigid standard and grant her request; she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. A very apt and disarming response that could break the strongest protocol and get to her; and she eventually went home to a healed child. 

This woman was given the silent treatment, deliberately ignored, stigmatized, snapped at, and put in the class of dogs who were neither qualified nor unworthy; YET she kept at her plea. She was neither discouraged nor offended instead she argued her case in the most humble manner from her 'dog-classified' position! She was wise, insistent and diplomatic; this was so imploring and unexpected that Jesus commended the woman remarking how that was a display of great faith. He said to her, O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire. So, Jesus considers tenacity and humility in pleading our case, a great faith that produces tremendous power to give us the result we want. This lesson here also validates James 5: 16 which explains that the heartfelt continued and persistent prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available and it is dynamic in its working. Now, that's supplication! Most times, we get what we desire by an unyielding entreaty, not necessarily by exerting physical force, yelling or being offended. 

Have you once seen yourself or currently in the position where you feel ignored, classified as unworthy, stigmatized or even offended at the delay in response? Don't be discouraged or offended; pick yourself back up and re-strategize using this woman's style. It never fails and God always answers to it. Remember, a broken and a contrite heart, he will never turn away (Ps 51: 17). Get back to God and get what you desire! 

God bless you!