Psalm 107…a psalm for the church.
I have been quoting mainly from the New Revised Standard Version and today’s blog will come from that version as well. At least a portion of it. Verse 16 says, “He shatters the doors of bronze, and cuts in two the bars of iron.” Have you ever prayed and it seemed like the heavens were brass…like there were brass doors to the throne and they were shut , even slammed in your face? That there were bars of iron in front of the doors? Have you felt that the LORD wasn’t listening?
I’m aware that I may be taking liberties here with the text, however I see at least a parallel here. There are two parables found in the Gospel of Luke that may help you when it seems like God isn’t listening. The first one that comes to mind is found in the 18th chapter and it tells of a widow and an unjust judge; He uses this example to show those He was talking to, their need to always pray and not lose heart. It reads thusly: verse 2.“In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for the people (you’ll find that’s usually the case, if you do not fear God, then it is highly unlikely that you will respect people, including one's self).3. In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, “Grant me justice against my opponent.”4. For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, 5. yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.”
In the next three verses Jesus gives us an answer when it may seem that the doors to heaven are solid brass and they are locked up securely…6.” And the LORD said “listen to what the unjust judge says, 7. And will not God grant justice to His chosen ones who cry out to Him by day and by night? Will He delay long in helping them? 8.I tell you He will quickly grant justice to them.” The Psalmist said “He shatters the doors of bronze, and cuts in two the bars of iron.” There is a soul-searching question in this parable that our LORD asks “And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” The only real faith on earth has to be found in the church, the living, breathing church of the LORD Jesus Christ, the church of the living God.
The other parable that comes to mind is found in the 11th. Chapter of St. Luke’s gospel verses 5 through 13 and again it talks of the need to persevere in prayer…you can look it up in your Bible if you want to but I’ll make it easy for you and quote it here, this time from the New International Version
5Then he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.'
7"Then the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' 8I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness[a] he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
9"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
11"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for[b] a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
Does it seem like the heavens are like doors of brass? Remember by persevering in prayer, God will shatter the doors of bronze for you today and He will answer…don’t give up.

Friends, the church is in crisis today, or at least it may look that way but remember Jesus said “I will build My church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”. We need old fashioned prayer meetings, persevering prayer meetings, prayer meetings that will shatter the doors of bronze and cut in two the bars of iron. It is our only hope.

Remember this…old fashioned revival, which we so desperately need, only comes through old fashioned prayer and old fashioned repentance…..that includes all of us...the church!