Lowly-minded Perseverance in Prayer.
I. Consider the example of faith we have set us here. Though Apostles were rejected entreating in her behalf, yet this woman "cries unto" our Lord, because He alone could save her. And though she had heard them say He was not sent to those of her race, yet she repeats her entreaty, as confident He could help whom He would; she did not say "Pray for me," or "Entreat for me," but "Help me," as believing the help was in Himself to bestow. But our Lord was pleased to try her yet further and more sharply. He answered, and said, "It is not meet to take the children's bread and cast it unto dogs." Thus, when He did answer her, His words to her were at first more discouraging than silence. He calls the Jews now not sheep only but children, and her nation dogs. He no longer refers to the will of another, "I am not sent," but withholds what she asks, as though it were not in His own judgment meet that it should be granted. But the woman, so far from being disheartened, makes for herself a fresh plea from those very words of His "Yes, Lord, yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs." She acknowledges herself a dog, and the Jews children, nay masters; but on this very ground she claims to partake a little of the blessed privileges of His presence and healing, so fully enjoyed, though so little valued by those whom she is not reluctant to call children, nay, even masters.
II. And now we may see, partly, why it was our Lord continued so long to refuse her. He knew she would say this; and it was His gracious will to give her occasion to exercise and show forth this faith and humility. Else, if it had been His purpose from the first to deny her, He would have refused her still, for He was not a mere man that He should repent and change His mind, so that it was not in sternness He kept silence, but in order to unfold the concealed treasure of her humility and faith; and also that we might draw from her history a full assurance that, however severe and repeated the discouragements we may meet with in prayer, and in our endeavours after holiness, we have but to persevere in faith with humility, and we shall obtain in the end an abundance of blessings, the more ample the longer our faith is tried.
Plain Sermons by Contributors to "Tracts for the Times,"vol. vii., p. 28.
References: Mark 7:24-30. Christian World Pulpit,vol. iv., p. 65.Mark 7:27; Mark 7:28. Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. xxii., No. 1309. Mark 7:28. Preacher's Monthly,vol. vi., p. 50. Mark 7:28; Mark 7:29. J. Keble, Sermons from Lent to Passiontide,p. 140. Mark 7:31-37. Clergyman's Magazine,vol. iii., p. 83; Homiletic Quarterly,vol. i., p. 347.; H. M. Luckock, Footprints of the Son of Man,p. 161; W. Hanna, Our Lord's Life on Earth,p. 237.