Requesting from God a definite direct response to a particular question. In the OT, people are frequently said to enquire of God for knowledge or guidance, often through the intermediacy of a priest or prophet.
Enquiring of God for knowledge
Genesis 25:22–23 See also Judges 13:17, Judges 18:5–6; 1 Samuel 10:22
But the children inside her struggled with each other, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” So Rebekah went to inquire of the LORD, and He declared to her: “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.”
Enquiring of God for guidance
2 Samuel 2:1 See also Judges 20:18, Judges 20:23, Judges 20:27–28; 1 Samuel 23:2, 1 Samuel 23:4, 1 Samuel 30:8; 2 Samuel 5:19 parallel 1 Chronicles 14:10; 2 Samuel 5:23 parallel 1 Chronicles 14:14
Some time later, David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” “Go up,” the LORD answered. Then David asked, “Where should I go?” “To Hebron,” replied the LORD.
Enquiring of God through intermediaries
Priests
Judges 18:5–6 See also Numbers 27:18–21; 1 Samuel 22:10, 1 Samuel 22:13–15
Then they said to him, “Please inquire of God to determine whether we will have a successful journey.” And the priest told them, “Go in peace. The LORD is watching over your journey.”
Prophets
1 Kings 22:6–9 parallel 2 Chronicles 18:5–8 See also 1 Samuel 9:6–10, 1 Samuel 28:6; 2 Kings 3:11, 2 Kings 22:11–20 parallel 2 Chronicles 34:19–28; Jeremiah 21:1–7, Jeremiah 37:6–8; Ezekiel 14:7
So the king of Israel assembled the prophets, about four hundred men, and asked them, “Should I go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should I refrain?” “Go up,” they replied, “and the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king.” But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there not still a prophet of the LORD here of whom we can inquire?” The king of Israel answered, “There is still one man through whom we can inquire of the LORD, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good for me, but only bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.” “The king should not say that!” Jehoshaphat replied. So the king of Israel called one of his officials and said, “Bring Micaiah son of Imlah at once.”
Enquiring of God by casting lots
Acts 1:24–26 See also Numbers 27:21 The Urim and Thummim were sacred lots carried in the breastpiece of the High Priest's ephod; 1 Samuel 10:20–22, 1 Samuel 14:36–42
And they prayed, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen to take up this ministry and apostleship, which Judas abandoned to go to his rightful place.” Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias. So he was added to the eleven apostles.
Enquiring of God in prayer
Enquiring of God at the tabernacle
Exodus 33:7 See also Judges 20:26–28; 1 Chronicles 13:3; 2 Chronicles 1:5
Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it at a distance outside the camp. He called it the Tent of Meeting, and anyone inquiring of the LORD would go to the Tent of Meeting outside the camp.
Devotion to God as a necessary prerequisite for enquiring of him
Ezekiel 20:30–31 See also Ezekiel 14:1–11, Ezekiel 20:1–3
Therefore tell the house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: Will you defile yourselves the way your fathers did, prostituting yourselves with their abominations? When you offer your gifts, sacrificing your sons in the fire, you continue to defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. So should I be consulted by you, O house of Israel? As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I will not be consulted by you!
Failure to enquire of God displeases him and heralds disaster
1 Chronicles 10:13–14 See also 1 Chronicles 15:13; Jeremiah 10:21; Zephaniah 1:4–6
So Saul died for his unfaithfulness to the LORD, because he did not keep the word of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance, and he failed to inquire of the LORD. So the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.
The Holy Spirit and enquiring of God
John 16:23–24 See also John 16:13–15
In that day you will no longer ask Me anything. Truly, truly, I tell you, whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you. Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.