As we state everyday in the Amida (ki Ata shomea' Tefilat kol pe) our God, the God of Israel, listens to our prayers. There is no need to wait for auspicious hours or calculate the astrologically positive times as the pagan prophet Bil'am thought to do. We can pray to HaShem any time we want. And we can expect Him to listen to our Tefilot. But there are exceptions. These exceptions are not time-bound limitations, as the pagans thought. They are related to our behavior.
No one described this scenario better than the prophet Yesha'ayahu when he said in the name of haShem: (1:15) "When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you. Even when you offer to me many prayers, I am not going to listen". Yesha'ayahu said that sometimes HaShem "hides" and rejects our prayers.
Now, in which situations God rejects our prayers? The end of that verse 1:15 says it explicitly. I'm not listening to your prayers because "...your hands are full of blood". People were corrupt. They killed, robbed, cheated, bribed. They did not protect the widow, the orphan, or the poor. The opposite: they abused those who were not able to defend themselves. This is why HaShem did not listen to their prayers. Because they were behaving badly! They would come to the Bet haMiqdash, after doing all these immoralities, and expect to pray to God as if nothing happened! As if HaShem could be "bribed" by loud prayers or dramatic gesticulations.
Yesha'ayahu said it clearly. It does not work that way! HaShem will reject the prayer of the corrupt (even if he prays during "auspicious" times!). Unless he repents and improves his behavior. For that situation to be reversed, and for God to be willing to listen to their prayers, Yesha'ayahu recommended:(1:16-17) "Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight. Stop doing wrong.Learn to do the right thing. Seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the orphan. Plead the case of the widow ". Then HaShem will listen to our prayers.
Segula: Repeat these 3 pesuqim, Isaiah 1:15 to 1:17, every day as many times as needed.
DON'T MISS THIS PRESENTATION
Andrew Klavan and his one state solution
for the Middle East
